Causeway Coast and Glens
The beautiful Causeway Coast has something for everyone ... including the Giant's Causeway!
If water is your element, plunge into the Blue Flag breakers at Ballycastle and Portrush, or the bracing waters of Portballintrae. Cliff-topped beaches stretch for miles. Watersports abound; sailing, surfing, sea angling and scuba, with many charter hire and marina facilities. Dive deep into the clear waters around Rathlin Island with Aquaholics Dive Centre. Or walk above the waves on the Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge.
Plenty for families too: safe sandy shores, open farms, rides and amusements, and the Dunluce Centre with viewing tower and 3 adventure areas - even an indoor Waterworld at Portrush.
Whatever your resort requirements, the Causeway Coast has it. Tiny hamlets, family places like Ballycastle and bustling Portrush teeming with nightlife, or Portballintrae for a quieter, adult break. Why not cruise to Rathlin and commune with nature?
It's not all surf, sand and castles crumbling off clifftops (Dunluce Castle). The Causeway Coast has some of the world's best golf - 30 top courses with the links at Royal Portrush being the granddaddy of them all. After 18 holes, head inland to Ireland's oldest working distillery, Bushmills.
As one of Ireland's top tourist areas, there's plenty happening. Just for starters, the Seniors' Open, the Ould Lammas Fair, Rathlin Festival and the North West 200.
The Glens of Antrim
From the County Antrim town of Larne, rugged cliffs stretch north for 80 miles, broken only by 9 deep green glens.
Winding on past spectacular scenery, solve the mystery of the beech maze at Carnfunnock Country Park. Splash down at the beaches of Ballygally, Glenarm, Carnlough, Cushendall or Cushendun. The Glenarm Estate is certainly worth viewing on its open days. Not far inland is Slemish Mountain, where St. Patrick tended sheep as a young slave.
The coast road becomes even more tortuous, but the views of Scotland are worth it. Glenariff, Queen of the Glens, is fairest of them all with the wild beauty of its waterfalls and trail skirting a sheer plunging gorge.
Cushendall, capital of the Glens, is a lively centre of music, dance and craic. Next stop is Cushendun, a National Trust preserved village, famed for its Cornish cottages.
The Glens are equally famous for their festivals, exemplified by the Heart of the Glens festival at Cushendall in August. Not to be outdone, Glenarm, Carnlough and Cushendun have festival weeks in July.
For further information on area visit www.causewaycoastandglens.com
