With the current fad for
‘staycations’, my better half and myself decided to head off to a place we’ve often promised to visit but somehow never got around to – the Causeway coast at the very tip of Northern Ireland.
Stretching from Belfast to Derry, the area features some stunning scenery – enough so to become one of the hip locations for the blockbuster series
‘Game of Thrones’. We made our list of places to see on our two-day jaunt, and off we went.
After the easy drive up the M1, we made our way from the impossibly pretty Ballintoy harbour to the much-photographed Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge, and it was then that my wife began to get second thoughts about strolling across a bridge that crosses over a 30-metre deep, 20-metre wide chasm, one traditionally erected by salmon fishermen. However, the itinerary must be obeyed, I informed her. Stony silence ensued.
Now, I’m no fan of heights myself – sitting atop a tall barstool is about as adventurous as I like to get in that regard – but the sheer visceral thrill of traipsing across this bridge is something you won’t forget.
We descended down a steep set of steps and, before we knew it, we were taking our first cautious steps across. Halfway over we were getting all
‘Indiana Jones’, stopping to take in the breath-taking views and wondering should we take out our phones to take snaps. I’m pretty sure my insurance doesn’t cover gadgets plummeting to their rocky doom from a roped suspension bridge, so I demurred.
Once across, my better half breathed a sigh of relief, and shrieked:
“Yes! I’ve done it!
? I watched her facial expression slowly change as she realised she had to do it all over again to get back to the mainland but, after spending a while exploring the small island the bridge gives you access to, she plucked up the courage and traversed it again – this time with a (relatively) casual swagger. Show off.
Next on our itinerary was the legendary – in more ways than one – Giant’s Causeway. Featuring an impressive new Visitors’ Centre, the Causeway is a must-see attraction. To some, it’s a
‘pile of stones’ – to others it’s a mythical, mystical place of legend and home to the tallest of tall stories, most relating to the giant Finn McCool.
Be sure to pick up the free audio guide as you make your way to it, where a local story-teller fills you in on all the myths, folk tales and historical data associated with the area.
Sure, there could hardly be a person alive in Ireland who hasn’t seen photographs of the unique hexagonal basalt columns that make up Northern Ireland’s biggest tourist attraction, but whether you consider it a
‘pile of stones’ or not, it should be on everyone’s bucket list of things to see.
There’s plenty to do here, and if golf is your thing you can rip it off the tee at the fantastic Portstewart Golf Club links, or let your spikes follow the footsteps of some of the world’s golfing elite after their visit during the Irish Open to Royal Portrush Golf Club.
There is also Dunluce Castle, built on the very edge of a cliff and unmissable on your way in to Portrush. Take your camera!
No trip to the Causeway Coast would be complete without a visit to the famous Bushmills Distillery. We joined in one of the many tours that run daily where you get to see, up close and personal, the goings-on behind the ancient walls and doors of this working distillery – and, of course, sample some of the finest
‘uisce beatha’ in the world.
Originally built in 1608, the distillery retains much of its old-world charm and you can certainly see why hordes of tourists – some 120,000 each year – make the trip to visit. I suppose you could say it’s a pilgrimage of sorts.
Copper pot stills, sherry casks and aged port and bourbon barrels all add to the distinct aroma in the distillery, and you start to get a sense of what makes certain whiskies taste a particular way.
And, believe me, there’s plenty to choose from; Bushmills original, Black Bush, Bushmills Irish Honey whisky, 10, 16 and 20-year-old single malts – there is plenty here to satisfy the taste buds of newbies and seasoned tipplers alike.
And I can heartily recommend booking a private tasting afterwards, where an expert will guide you through the many flavours put in front of you. As far as I remember it was a great afternoon but, to be honest, I was perhaps a little too enthusiastic in my investigations!
We headed back to our base, Portballintrae’s Bayview Hotel, which overlooks the picture-postcard setting of the horseshoe-shaped Ballintrae Bay – a location as perfect as you could imagine.
After we arrived we immediately dashed over to the picnic tables outside the front door to take a load off while sipping on a cold brew and to watch the late evening sun going down. We spent an hour just gazing out at the perfect vista in front of us, chatting and laughing and getting that goose-bumpy feeling that such a moment deserves.
Ok, ok
?¦ I’m getting a bit gushy, but all I’ll say is if you could bottle days such as this you would keep them forever, opening them every now and then when the everyday grind gets you down – just to remind you of how great the simple things in life can be.