Making unforgettable memories along the Causeway Coastal Route

If you're considering a short break away in Northern Ireland, make sure that the Causeway Coastal Route is on your wish list. Recently, we sent Alan Wallace (@inspiringbelfast) and his partner Patrice off to spend three days exploring some of the best bits that the area has to offer.

Day One

It’s no secret we love a short break and the chance to enjoy three days of fun filled adventure on the Causeway Coast was just too much to resist.

They say in life the journey is half the fun, and on this drive that really proved to be the case! The entire journey took less than 90 minutes and was such a breeze. With the sun shining, we kicked off our break with a stop at the iconic Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge. Crossing this narrow bridge above the sea can get the heart racing, but the stunning views on offer from both the bridge itself and the island it is connected to are worth it. It was the perfect way to start our giant adventure and National Trust members can visit and cross the bridge for free, but pre-booking is essential for everyone.

Having made the short trek back to the car, we headed for Bushmills and took an impressive VIP tour of Old Bushmills Distillery. This was a fascinating experience that taught us how the local landscape and terrain help give the whiskey its legendary character and how the copper pot stills and production processes help make the triple distilled whiskey. Our guide was so friendly and knowledgeable, they were willing to answer any question we had and on top of it all we even got to taste some of the whiskey ourselves – this is a real treat for anyone who appreciates a good tipple!

After our tour, we didn’t have to travel too far for dinner as we made our way to the cosy Bushmills Inn. The food here was so delicious and the atmosphere with the open fire crackling in the background provided the ideal way to unwind after being out all day. The steak was perfectly cooked and I had to sample some of Patrice’s hearty Guinness and onion soup! Thankfully it was as mouth-wateringly delicious as it looked.

After dinner, we made our way to the Cromore Estate and spent the night under the stars in a bubble dome at Cromore Retreat. Each secluded dome offers a panoramic view of the night sky. It was a magical feeling lying on our four-poster bed stargazing in the night sky and we would definitely recommend.

Day two

After that night’s sleep, waking to the gentle sounds of the forest and the first rays of light flickering through the trees is quickly moving up the list of our favourite ways to start the day!

We dusted off the cobwebs with an incredibly energising HotBox sauna experience on Benone Beach. It is such an energising experience and being able to step from the hot sauna into the wild Atlantic waters is a great way to awaken your senses.

Before embarking on this break, we asked our followers for recommendations on places to go – one of the most popular recommendations was Mussenden Temple and wow – how right they were! We parked at Lion’s Gate took a walk through Downhill Demesne’s walled garden and along the cliff-top path to the temple, were we were treated to some truly breathing taking views. Musseden Temple is perched right on the cliff edge and from both inside and outside you are treated to amazing panoramic views of the North Atlantic Coast and Downhill Beach

A great tip for warming up on your way back is to stop at Al’s Coffee Bar and grab a cuppa – the coffee was delicious and really helped warm us up. We then took another of our followers recommendations and made our way to Ballintoy Harbour and the Giant’s Causeway.

Ballintoy is a beautiful little spot that looked picture perfect from every angle. The art deco Bendhu House on the drive down the narrow twisty lane to the harbour’s car park is also worth taking the time to visit. The Giant’s Causeway is a must see on any trip along the Causeway Coastal Route and it’s no surprise it's so often recommended. The visitor centre has lots of interactive exhibitions and tells the tale of Finn McCool. We were really invested in the self-guided audio tour, it taught us lots we didn’t know, even though we’ve been here many times before, and by the time we made our way back to the car, it was time to think about dinner.

Luckily, there are so many wonderful restaurants in this part of the world, but given the opportunity, it was a no-brainer - we simply had to try Ramore Restaurant’s Neptune and Prawn. This restaurant is opposite the main Ramore complex so make sure you don’t miss it next time you’re here. The food and drinks were simply unreal. I had the bang bang chicken, which was delicious, and Patrice had the chilli monkfish Thai bowl. The food was brilliant and it’s safe to say we were both guilty of stealing food off each other’s plates. The cocktails were also delicious- I’d really recommend their signature Blood Orange Collins and Patrice’s Grapefruit Paloma tasted amazing too.

After dinner we made our way back to Cromore Retreat for our final night sleeping under the stars.

Day three

It really is hard to beat the view from these domes as you wake up, there is something about the forest that surrounds it at this time of the morning that is just so magical and awe-inspiring.

Not yet ready for our adventure to end, we stopped by Magheracross Viewpoint to soak in the epic views one last time. The platform provides incredible panoramic views of the coastline, perfect for some very impressive photos.

We took the Causeway Coastal Route home and cruised past stunning spots and coastal villages before we arrived in Larne for a delicious dinner at The Diary. The food here is so tasty and all homemade - or at least tastes that way! It’s really worth making a point of visiting if you can. I chose the succulent Buttermilk Chicken while Patrice had Maggie’s Stew, complete with a slice of toasted soda bread. It was the perfect way to end our short break.

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Although we were sad that our trip had come to an end, it really highlighted to us what amazing things are on our door step, and its all so easy to plan too. Check out the Things to Do on Discover NI, and sort where you'll be sleeping using suggestions from their Accommodation section. Really simple, bursting with ideas and before you know it, you'll be out on your next giant adventure.