The Causeway Coastal Route

Friday 6^th September

Today’s pedometer reading is 10.74 k’s

This morning we left Belfast and travelled along the Causeway Coastal Route to Derry. It’s about 165 k’s and hugs the Antrim Coast across the north coast of Ireland. The road traverses bridges, arches, hairpin turns, passes sheer cliff coves, deserted beaches and otherworldly rock formations.

We passed through Carrickfergus, and admired the town’s harbour-side Norman 12th century castle. It's seen over 800 years of action, right up until World War II, with portcullis, ramparts and canons.

Our first stop was Ballycastle a dainty marina framed by colourful town houses and extensive seaward views. We stretched our legs and visited the tourist information center.

The town and marina from the breakwater.

We loved this statue…there was a similar one featuring a school of fish.

Between Ballycastle and the Giant’s Causeway was the most scenic stretch of the drive, with sea cliffs of striped black basalt and white chalk, lovely harbours and broad sweeps of beach.

We stopped along this stretch to visit the Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge and were pleasantly surprised to find it was managed by the National Trust, so parking and entry were free. We walked along the cliff-top trail and marveled at it’s story…

some variety of rope bridge has connected the tiny island of Carrick-a-Rede to the mainland for over 250 years, serving commercial fishermen catching salmon off the island until 2002. Hanging gracefully over a 75ft deep chasm of rocky cliffs and blue- green waters, the latest version is sturdy enough to stay up all year round and now serves those who dare to cross to the island for the striking views of the Causeway coast. Andrew is not fond of heights so he was chief photographer.

You can see the bridge on the left of this photo…if you click on the photo it will enlarge the size. If you look carefully in the middle of the picture you’ll see a white chimney that is part of the precariously placed fisherman’s hut and a black pulley system that the fisherman used to lower and raise their fishing boats!

You might like to note that a couple of people are on the highest part of the island

Yes that’s me on that highest part of the island.

It's me again...crossing back to the mainland…quite exhilarating!

The very helpful person at the information centre suggested lunch at the café at Ballintoy Harbour. We drove through the beautiful little village of Ballintoy looking for a sign to the harbour and thought we must have missed it…then we noticed a small sign that said ‘Harbour’ with an arrow pointing to the right & I INSISTED we drive down…it was very narrow, windy and steep…Andrew was carrying on and said it had to be a mistake and then we saw this…

We sat at one of the little tables outside and it was such a beautiful setting…

Next stop… the big drawcard…The Giant’s Causeway featuring about 40,000 narrow basalt columns. Once again the National trust manage this site, they have built a fantastic Visitors Centre and we feel very happy about our membership. In 1986 the Giant’s Causeway was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Causeway is backed by dramatic cliffs rising 100m, the whole place is awesome.

It’s me with cliffs behind

Yep...me again!

One of Andrew’s artistic shots.

Our last stop was Dunluce Castle it dates back to the 14^th Century and clings fast onto a dramatic clifftop. The story goes that at one point, part of the kitchen next to the cliff face collapsed into the sea, after which the wife of the owner refused to live in the castle any longer. Since that time, the castle has deteriorated and parts were scavenged to serve as materials for nearby buildings.

Dunluce Castle

From there we drove on to Londonderry and checked into our B&B…our room is tiny and not at all glamorous but it is clean and the owner seems very nice, he suggested a local pub for dinner and it was great. It was only a 5 minute walk and on the way we saw the medieval walls that we plan to walk along tomorrow.