STAYCATION # 6
CAUSEWAY COASTAL ROUTE, NORTHERN IRELAND
When to go: in summer, when the days are at their longest
How long to go for: take your time over four or five days.
This road trip covers more than 150 miles between Belfast and Derry, starting in the buzzing capital. Less visited by travellers until recently, Belfast has gained ever-increasing popularity as a city break in Europe which is not surprising when there really is so much to do and see, a weekend is no where near enough time! You may not be thinking of studying but you really should go and visit Queen’s University campus. The Botanic Gardens, established in 1828 they remain an essential part of Belfast’s Victorian heritage.
Victorian Square Dome for a unique 306° view of the city. Parliament buildings – Stormont, a beautiful estate just outside of the city centre. C.S. Lewis Square, dedicated to the literary great. Sir Thomas and Lady Dixon Park – 128 acres to wonderful parkland, meadows, copses and woodland and an ideal location for a picnic. River Lagan, St George’s market, Crumlin Road Gaol, City Hall etc.
We need to stop somewhere so you can get on with your tour but can’t finish with Belfast until we tell you about their Cathedral Quarter. Belfast is renown for its incredible nightlife and Cathedral Square houses some of the best bars and restaurants in the city. Oh, and if you are in for a spot of fun (and why not) jump on the Wee Toast Beer Bike Tour – make new friends and learn how to ride a bike sideways!
Approx 30mins up the M2/A26 you will arrive in Ballymena. Just outside of Ballymena is Galgorm Jacobean Castle dating back to 1607. The castle was the filming location for The Frankenstein Chronicles and is reported to be haunted. Around the castle there is a spa, world renown golf course, gardens and a Fairy Trail which is ideal for kids and still interesting and fun for adults.
A further 30mins up the A26/A44 you will find the 18th Century avenue of beech trees known as the Dark Hedges (Kingsroad) is worth a detour. The eerie road was used as a filming location for GOT – where Arya Stark had escaped from King’s Landing during the 2nd season). If you are a GOT aficionado also visit Ballintoy where you could go on a pub crawl to find the various doors that have been carved from trees from Kingsroad. If you need an excuse for a Guinness that is! And in Ballintoy you can test your stress by walking across the Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge. It’s only 66’ long but it has a drop of 100’ and you can get a bit of a swing going on a windy day.
And if you wanted to see another stunning castle detour slightly to Lissanoure Castle – the earliest record of this castle dates back to 1360 and it has been rebuilt and restored a number of times. There is soooo much history we can’t begin to start with it, but really recommend you take this route to Dark Hedges to see the castle in all its glory for yourselves. It is privately owned by the Mackie family who live in the grounds (being passed down over the generations) and now used for functions – it is on an estate with farming, forestry etc. So much to see and learn.
There’s a clutch more spots from the HBO show on this route, including Sallagh Braes, an area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and the dramatic Cushendun Caves. Game of Thrones (where Melisandre birthed her shadow monster) and Sir Jaime had a sword fight with Eurion). To get to the caves you will need to head east from Dark Hedges and approx. 30m ins later you will arrive in Cushendun. (yes, so far everything is approx. 30 mins apart or less, this is not a typo!).
From the caves head north for approx. 25 mins, to Torr Head where you will have spectacular views over the Mull of Kintyre, Scotland (on a clear day) and also find the ruins of Altagore Cashel which date back to the 6th Century.
Ballycastle is just 20mins ‘up the road’and there you will find another smorgasborg of things to do and see. Now if GOT interests you, LarryBane Quarry is the site of Renley’s Camp. Or you could get the ferry over to Rathlin Island for some lunch. Wander down to the harbour for a drink, Or pay a visit to the picturesque Bonamargy Friary – right in the middle of a golf course 😊 This is a very well maintained historic site dating back to 1485 and it has witnessed many clans fighting in the grounds since then – in the grave yard you will find graves of soldiers/sailors from WWII who were washed ashore at Ballycastle. Worth a visit to pay your respects.
Just over 20 mins up the road (again) you will arrive at The Giant’s Causeway. The Giant’s Causeway is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The 40,000 interlocking basalt columns that make up this massive, nature-made monument were formed 50 to 60 million years ago by volcanic fissure eruptions. There are some really stunning and interesting walks to do around this area. What you could do is drive directly to Bushmills and take a trip on the Bushmills RailwayTramway to the Giant’s Causeway – avoiding the busy car parks there. The Tramway originally opened in 1883 and was the worlds first hydro-electric powered tram. It’s only 2 miles so you could get the tram there and walk back to your car.
Next stop is Coleraine, you can either jump on the B17 which will take you directly there in about 20 mins or you could follow the coast road round to Portstewart then take the A2 to Coleraine. Just east of Coleraine is Mountsandel Forest which is home to Mountsandel Fort – an ancient Mesolithic site claimed to be the oldest site of human settlement in Ireland and predates Stonehenge by 4,500yrs, predates, the pyramids by 5,000yrs and the Great Wall of China by 7,000yrs! It can be accessed through the entrance near to Coleraine Courthouse.
Final leg. Follow the A37 until you pick up the A2. The A2 will take you directly to Derry City Airport (30 mins) if you are dropping your rental car there to fly home. If you are heading into Derry, just keep following the road and it will take you there (40mins).
Derry is Northern Ireland’s second-largest city, where the brilliant Channel 4 sitcom Derry Girls is set. There are just so many ‘must dos’ but we will list a few; The Guildhall, built in 1890, check out the incredible pipe organ in the main hall. The Walls of Derry, 1.6kms, were built in 1610 to defend the city and colonists, along with 24 cannons.
St, Eugene’s Cathedral, St Columb’s Cathedral and St Columb’s park. Siege Museum, Museum of Free Derry and Tower Museum. Visit Free Derry Corner and view the Bogside murals which are a poignant reminder of Derry and Northern Island’s difficult past. This part of the city is where Bloody Sunday took place and the Battle of Bogside. A more recent history lesson for us all. AND you could ride the train to Coleraine, this trip has been described by Michael Palin as one of the most beautiful in the world.
So whether you are doing this trip for the history, the Game of Thrones film sets, the breathtaking coastal drives, for the pubs and Guinness or just because you can, there is so much for everyone, loads more to see and do than we could ever include here.
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