Day 1: Belfast to Ballygally

Stop off at Jordanstown Loughshore Park.

Continue along the Causeway Coastal Route to Carrickfergus, County Antrim’s oldest town. Home to the 12th-century Carrickfergus Castle, one of the best-preserved Norman castles in Ireland. Established in 1178 by John de Courcy, the castle houses an audio-visual exhibition on its history.

Lunch at Dobbins Inn Hotel
6 / 8 High Street
Carrickfergus
Antrim
BT38 7AF
T: + 00 44 (0) 28 9335 1905
W: www.dobbinsinnhotel.co.uk

Over the years, Dobbins Inn Hotel has served as a family castle, a townhouse, a gaol (jail), an armoury, a collection point for the fledgling postal service and, since 1946, a hotel.

 

Travel to the small seaside village of Whitehead, which in 2005 and 2006 received silver at the Britain in Bloom Awards.

Overnight stay in Ballygally Castle Hotel
352 Coast Road
Ballygally
Co Antrim
BT40 2QZ
T: +00 44 (0) 28 2858 1066
W: www.hastingshotels.com

Overlooking Ballygally Bay, the Castle is the only 17th-century building still used as a residence in Northern Ireland today. The hotel is reputedly haunted by a friendly ghost, Lady Isabella Shaw, and brave guests can visit the ‘ghost room’ in one of the towers to see for themselves.

Day 2: Ballygally to Whitepark Bay

Depart Ballygally and continue along the Causeway Coast Route for Glenarm; one of the Nine Glens of Antrim.

Visit Glenarm Castle & Walled Garden
2 Castle Lane
Glenarm
BT44 0BQ
T: +00 44 (0) 28 2884 1203
W: www.glenarmcastle.com (Seasonal)

Glenarm Castle & Walled Garden is one of Northern Ireland’s oldest estates; take a short tour of the Walled Gardens, dating back to the 18th century. Recommend having coffee and some homemade treats in the Tea Rooms (seasonal).

 

Continue your journey along the route driving up to Glenarm glen and down Glencloy; the road meanders through the glen with overhanging trees where you will see a haven of wildlife. At the foot of Glencloy, the second of the Nine Glens of Antrim, lies the village of Carnlough with a picturesque harbour that overlooks Carnlough Bay. Continue along the Causeway Coastal Route following the signs for Glenariff Forest Park.

 

Suggest lunch in Laragh Lodge
120 Glen Road
Glenariff
Co Antrim
BT44 0RG
T: +00 44 (0) 28 2175 8221
W: www.laraghlodge.co.uk

After lunch suggest exploring Glenariff Forest Park, spectacular glen walks and waterfalls await you, scenic paths and trails lead through tranquil woods and up to magnificent mountain viewpoints.

 

Continue your journey along the coast and if you have a head for heights follow the route around Torr Head for fantastic views to Scotland and panoramic cliff views (suitable for cars only).

Continue along the Coastal Route arriving at Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge, which links the mainland to the tiny Carrick Island. Enjoy the challenge of crossing the precarious bridge, which crosses a 24m-deep and 18m-wide chasm. Enjoy the stunning views over the sea to the Scottish coast (weather permitting).

Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge
119a Whitepark Rd
Ballintoy
Ballycastle
County Antrim
BT54 6LS
T: +00 44 (0)28 2076 9839
W: www.nationaltrust.org.uk

Recommended accommodation:
Whitepark House
150 Whitepark Road
Whitepark Bay
Ballintoy
T: +00 44 (0) 28 2073 1482
W: www.whiteparkhouse.com

Day 3: Whitepark Bay to Downhill

Continue along the Causeway Coast Route passing Dunseverick Castle where part of a tower is all that remains today and is surrounded by the ocean on three sides.

Depart for Giant’s Causeway; recognized as one of the natural wonders of the world and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it consists of thousands of hexagonally-shaped basalt columns, some up to 160 meters high, formed 60 million years ago from volcanic lava.

Giant´s Causeway
44 Causeway Road
Bushmills
Co Antrim
BT57 8SU
T: +00 44 (0) 28 2073 1855
W: www.giantscausewaycentre.com

 

Travel to the town of Bushmills and visit Bushmills Distillery. During the tour you will learn the secrets of Ireland’s oldest licensed whiskey distillery. Pass by the shinning copper stills and age oak casks before sampling the finest Irish Malt Whiskey.

Bushmills Distillery
Distillery Road
Bushmills
Co Antrim
BT57 8XH
T: +44 (0) 28 2073 3218
W: www.bushmills.com

Suggest lunch at Bushmills Inn
9 Dunluce Road
Bushmills
BT57 8QG
T: +44 (0) 28 2073 3000
W: www.bushmillsinn.com

 

Depart Bushmills and continue your journey along the Causeway Coastal Route passing through the small village of Portballintrae. Off the coast a team of Belgian divers brought up the greatest find of Spanish Armada treasure ever recovered from a wrecked ship. Continue travelling along the coast towards Portrush and suggest stopping at Dunluce Castle, 16th-century castle, strikingly perched on rocky cliffs and overlooking the North Atlantic.

Dunluce Castle
87 Dunluce Road
Bushmills
County Antrim
BT57 8UY
T: +00 44 (0) 28 2073 1938
W: www.ehsni.gov.uk

 

Enjoy the picturesque Whiterocks Beach; pass the world-famous links golf course of Royal Portrush on the journey towards Castlerock to visit Mussenden Temple and Downhill Demesne.

Visit Mussenden Temple - perilously close to the edge of a sheer drop stands this beautiful 18th-century folly, originally inspired by the Tivoli Temple of Vesta. It is a much photographed landmark built close to the extensive gardens, grounds and forest of the ruined Downhill Castle.

Mussenden Temple
107 Sea Road
Castlerock
Co. Londonderry
BT51 4TW
T: +00 44 (0) 28 7084 8728