Embracing the Causeway Coast with FlipFlopsAndFloaties

Eager for a giant escape, Tara O’Byrne (@flipflopsandfloaties) and her family loaded up the car and enjoyed a brilliant short stay on the Causeway Coast. Here’s what Tara, her partner Brian and children got up to...

Day One

It will come as no surprise, but as a family taking wee breaks together, is one of our favourite things to do. And, with the kids at the age they are, getting the opportunity to make giant memories together is just too good to miss.

As soon as I told them about our plans for the weekend, they were very excited. They have never been along the Causeway Coastal Route before and couldn’t wait to see the famous Giant’s Causeway and spend some time at the beach. Thankfully, packing for this trip was effortless. We had no luggage limits to worry about – we just put everything we needed in the car and hit the road. We drove from our home in Drogheda and were on the Causeway Coastal Route in under three hours.

I really do love road trips with the kids – travelling at your own pace removes practically all of the stress from any trip! There is no need to panic about anyone making a scene in front of others, bathroom breaks can be planned and the eye-spy opportunities are limitless. When we arrived at our hotel - the award winning Portrush Atlantic Hotel - everyone was delighted with its location – centrally located in Portrush, the kids were delighted with how close we were to the sea and the amazing playground at Portrush Recreation Grounds, while Brian and I loved being so close to Ramore Head.

It is the perfect spot for your family getaway, we stayed in a front facing family room and the bed’s were super comfy. It is the ideal base for visiting the Giant’s Causeway, Old Bushmills Distillery, Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge, Dunluce Castle and the Game of Throne self-drive tours.

We arrived on the Friday evening and check in was so quick and easy. Before we knew it we were sitting in the hotel enjoying a delicious meal at The Port Kitchen and Bar. This restaurant was awarded the 2022 Hotel Restaurant of the Year at the Northern Ireland food hospitality awards, and it lived up to its reputation! The spring rolls were delicious, as was the shredded salt and chill chicken with sweet chill dip, and the kids loved their sausage and mash.

With a giant day of adventure ahead, after dinner we made the decision to get an early night.

Day two

After a great night’s sleep, we were up bright and early and ready for adventure. But first, it was time to enjoy a cooked breakfast with an unforgettable view of the Atlantic Ocean.

Much like our dinner the night before, the breakfast was perfect for everyone – there were lots of options to choose from. Both Brian and I ordered a cooked breakfast (the sausages were delicious!) while the kids enjoyed their cereal. Well-fed and fuelled for the day ahead, we made our way to the Giant’s Causeway Visitor Information Centre. It is a stunning site and a location that is perfect for the entire family on the Causeway Coastal Route, providing a range of interactive exhibitions, outdoor audio guides, tourist information and a bureau de change. Visitor experience tickets include reserved on-site parking, guided tours with the award-winning storytelling team, use of handheld audio guides, access to the visitor centre exhibition and interpretation area, the shop café and use of all the facilities.

We decided to do the self-guided tour using the audio guides. It was a great option with kids, who enjoyed burning off energy on the short 1km path down to the famous basalt columns. A shuttle bus also does frequent trips between the causeway and visitors centre, and costs just £1 per child and 50p per adult.

After our exploration of the Giant’s Causeway, we stopped at the onsite café for some refreshments. Brian and I grabbed a quick coffee while the kids enjoyed some hot chocolate.

Then, jumping back in the car and just 15 minutes from the Giant’s Causeway, the next stop on our giant adventure was Carrick-A-Rede Rope Bridge. This is a National Trust site, offering free entry for members. There's a bit of a walk to get to the bridge beforehand which I hadn't realised, although the scenery is beautiful and Ellie and Oscar absolutely loved the thrill of crossing the bridge as it swayed (slightly!) in the breeze.

On our walk back to car we took the opportunity to stop and take in the views. Oscar spotted a jet-skier on the water and it’s safe to say a jet ski is now firmly on his Christmas list! A few minutes later we were back in the car, and travelling back to Portrush, although along the way we decided to be spontaneous and stop off at Magheracross View Point. The views from the car on this drive are full of the ‘wow’ factor – it’s a journey you could make every day and still find amazing – but to get out of the car at Magheracross and take in the panoramic views of the Causeway Coast’s natural environment from the purpose-built viewing platform is truly something special, it’s a great spot for capturing gorgeous family photos! That evening we had dinner at the Ramore Wine Bar. The food and drink were sensational, we are all big fans and recommend you add this place on your Portrush itinerary; you won’t be disappointed.

After dinner we enjoyed a walk around Portrush, which is a small town, and stopped off for some fun and games at Curry’s Fun Park. The kids were in their element here. It's an arcade/entertainment centre, and Oscar absolutely loved the caterpillar roller coaster and the thrill of the ghost train, while Ellie couldn’t get enough of the bumper cars and the cyclone. Afterwards, we took a stroll along the West Strand and exhausted from a great day, made our way back to the hotel. I didn't hear a peep from the kids, or Brian after their heads hit their pillows - always a sign of a good day!

Day three

After another delicious breakfast we checked out of the hotel and made our way to the next stop on our giant Causeway Coastal Route adventure, Glenarm Castle and Garden.

The walled garden here is one of the oldest gardens in Ireland and is open to the public from April until September. It is filled with many distinctive and delightful flowers and is the perfect place for a stroll on a nice day. Ellie was really taken with the array of colourful flowers on display and spent the morning skipping around the gardens, stopping only when we told her it was her turn on the Mini Land Rover Experience.

Located on site at Glenarm, this specially designed course features miniature Land Rovers for kids, complete with fun obstacles for them to navigate. Both of our kids had an absolute blast – it’s an unforgettable experience that’s definitely worth adding to your to-do list while you’re in the area.

Then on the way home, we decided to stop off and visit Carrickfergus Castle, which is an impressive historical site perfect for letting the kids explore. The self-guided tour of the castle was really interesting and brought us up to speed on history I’d long forgotten since school! There are interactive elements and lots of nooks and crannies to discover, plus a beautiful walk along the sea front right outside.

This short break on the Causeway Coast was exactly what we all needed, and picking where to visit during our trip was made easy using Discover NI’s Things to Do section. If you’re looking for that perfect mid-term adventure, check out the variety of family activities and attractions on offer across Northern Ireland, and fill your free time with something for everyone.