Category: Visit

Portballintrae

Portballintrae, 10min drive

A popular seaside resort, Portballintrae village is situated just off the Causeway Coastal Route Road, to the north of Bushmills and to the east of Portrush and Portstewart. Originally a fishing village, nestled around the horseshoe-shaped Ballintrae Bay, it was a cluster of whitewashed fishermen’s cottages nestling around the bay. Today, many of its earlier buildings have been restored and maintained, with several of its original houses still standing along the seashore. It also features buildings of historical interest such as the Seaport Lodge, built in the 1770s by the Leslie family as a bathing lodge.

Portbradden

Bushmills, 15min drive

You’ll find this seaside cottage at the western end of White Park Bay with great views all around. Listen to the waves crashing on the craggy shores. Nestled in the western end of White Park Bay in the old fishing hamlet of Portbradden, you’ll have all-encompassing views of the beach and out towards the western cliffs of Rathlin Island. 

The hamlet has an ancient salmon fishing station. A popular saying states that Portbraddon contained the smallest church in Ireland, and the building in question was constructed in the 1950s as a cow byre, which the government listed without prior research. The church, which was named after St.Gobban, and measured 11 feet 4 inches long, 6 feet and 9 inches wide, was demolished in 2017 by the new owner.

Whitepark Bay

Ballintoy, 20min drive

The spectacular sandy beach forms a white arc between two headlands on the North Antrim Coast. Its secluded location means that even on a busy day there is plenty of room for quiet relaxation.

The beach is also backed by ancient sand dunes that provide a range of rich habitats for bird and animal life.

Enjoy lazy summer days, picnics, making sandcastles and long walks. You’ll find that even on a busy day, this is a secluded and relaxing place to be.

Game of Thrones tour

Derry, 20min drive

Welcome to Game of Thrones Tours! The epic HBO series is filmed in stunningly beautiful places, most of which are remote and hard to find. We trek you deep into old growth forests, along wild sea cliffs, across rocky beaches, into caves and crumbling medieval ruins. We have Stark and Iron Born cloaks, swords, shields and banners available for use, at no extra cost. So choose Game of Thrones Tours, where every day is a Westeros day!

Although this is a coach tour, please note that this coach tour also includes two long walks, one in the morning at Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge (2kms), the other in the afternoon at the Giant’s Causeway (2kms). Accordingly, this tour is not recommended for anyone with limited mobility.

Kinbane Castle

Ballycastle, 15min drive

Kinbane Castle is situated in County Antrim, Northern Ireland, on a long, narrow limestone headland projecting into the sea, approximately 5 km from Ballycastle on the road to Ballintoy. The name Kinbane means White Head and refers to the white limestone on which the castle stands. The area surrounding Kinbane Castle is a Scheduled Historic Monument, it also offers spectacular views of Rathlin Island and Dunagregor Iron Age fort.

Portstewart

Portstewart, 5min drive

The town of Portstewart and the Strand are located just west of Portrush. Walk along the promenade through town and on to the Strand. You can enjoy the impressive Gothic mansion and coastal views, and relax or walk along the two miles of golden sand beach. This area of natural beauty and of scientific interest is owned and managed by the National Trust.

Portstewart Strand holds the prestigious Blue Flag award for the management, cleanliness and quality of water and it is also one of the few remaining beaches in Ireland where cars still have access and permission to drive onto the beach- perfect for families who wish to picnic on the golden shores. 

Ballintoy Harbour

Ballycastle, 15min drive

The small fishing harbour can be found at the end of a small narrow steep road down Knocksaughey Hill, which passes by the entrance to Larrybane and Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge. The village itself, which is just one kilometre from the harbour, has a charming array of small shops, two churches, including the quaint white Ballintoy Parish Church on the hill above the harbour, as well as tourist accommodation, restaurants, commercial and social facilities.

It has been used as a filming location in HBO’s epic series Game of Thrones. This stunning harbour location has been used for exterior Pyke shots and as the Iron Islands. 

Downhill Forest & House

Coleraine, 15min drive

Downhill Forest is a small mixed woodland of 83 hectares just inland from the North Coast of Northern Ireland, near Castlerock. The Forest was originally part of the estate of Frederick Harvey, the 4th Earl of Bristol and Bishop of Derry, which included Downhill Castle, now maintained by The National Trust.

A walk through Downhill Forest will allow you to view one of Northern Irelands fattest Sitka spruce (in 1962 the girth was approximately 6m), an Early Christian Promontory Fort and an old water-powered sawmill with its lade running around the small lake in the middle of this woodland.

Mussenden Temple

Coleraine, 15min drive

Mussenden Temple is located in the beautiful surroundings of Downhill Demesne near Castlerock in County Londonderry. It perches dramatically on a 120 ft cliff top, high above the Atlantic Ocean on the north-western coast of Northern Ireland, offering spectacular views westwards over Downhill Strand towards Magilligan Point and County Donegal and to the east Castlerock beach towards Portstewart, Portrush and Fair Head.

The temple was built in 1785 and forms part of the estate of Frederick Augustus Hervey, Bishop of Derry and Earl of Bristol. The temple was built as a summer library and its architecture was inspired by the Temple of Vesta in Tivoli, near Rome. It is dedicated to the memory of Hervey’s cousin Frideswide Mussenden.

Dark Hedges

Armoy, 12min drive

This beautiful avenue of beech trees was planted by the Stuart family in the eighteenth century.

It was intended as a compelling landscape feature to impress visitors as they approached the entrance to their Georgian mansion, Gracehill House. Two centuries later, the trees remain a magnificent sight and have become one of the most photographed natural phenomena in Northern Ireland. In fact, the iconic trees have been used as a filming location in HBO’s epic series Game of Thrones®, representing the King’s Road.

White Rocks

Portrush, 10min walk

Awarded the prestigious Blue Flag Award again in 2015, Whiterocks Beach has become a favourite with locals and a must-see destination for international visitors.

The beach, situated just off the Causeway Coastal Route, enjoys a stunning natural coastal location, with the limestone cliffs of the White Rocks stretching from Curran Strand to Dunluce Castle. These soft, sedimentary rocks have been carved through centuries into a labyrinth of caves and arches.

Dunluce Castle

Portrush, 5min drive

Not to be missed on a trip through the Causeway Coastal Route, Dunluce Castle is one of Northern Ireland’s most famous and most photographed landmarks. The medieval ruin stands on the edge of a cliff and can be approached only by a bridge. Dating from 1500, it has a fascinating history – it was once owned by Winston Churchill – tea room, café and amazing sea views. Well worth a trip.

Giants Causeway

Bushmills, 10min drive

Giant’s Causeway, Northern Ireland’s first UNESCO Heritage Site, is a geological wonder and home to a wealth of history and legend. The 40,000 basalt stone columns left by volcanic eruptions 60 million years ago intrigue and inspire visitors.

State of the art interpretation within the award-winning Visitor Centre unlocks the mystery and stories of this amazing place and offers a unique glimpse into the wonder that is the Giant’s Causeway.

Visitors can explore way-marked trails and enjoy spectacular coastal scenery accompanied by an innovative audio-guide available in 11 languages.