Eager for a giant adventure, Belle Azzure and her family travelled from Dublin along the Causeway Coastal Route, one of the world’s most scenic drives. Here’s what Dearbhla, Harry and their two young boys got up to.
Day One
Short breaks as a family are such a special time and none of us had visited the Causeway Coast before so we were all very excited for this family weekend away to begin.
I’m not sure who was more excited, them or us.
We set off shortly after lunch and the drive up the road was stunning. It was a three-and-a-half-hour trip and we took breaks along the way but it was such an incredible experience - this route has views for days.
When we made it to the beautiful seaside resort of Portrush we checked into our accommodation.
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Our home for our action-packed weekend was a DB Stays self-catering apartment in Portstewart. It was the perfect spot for the boys who loved looking out at the sea from the floor to ceiling windows and it was so close to West Strand beach, restaurants and cafes and so much room they could play in.
With such an exciting weekend planned, the self-catering option meant we could eat out when and where we liked and I could be sure the children would eat something as, if needed, we could rustle up some of their homecooked favourites. This place has it all, they even have a spa with a sauna, ice bath and hot tub.
Day Two
We started our day bright and early and made our way to The Chocolate Manor in Castlerock where we were given such a warm and friendly welcome from Geri. Northern Ireland has incredible sights but it’s really the people that make it an even better experience.
We had so much fun with Geri as we all got to try our hand at making our own chocolate bars. This was a great experience for the kids who absolutely adored it, perfect for ages 5+ but my 4 year old had a ball! He just loved drawing his own design and making it come to life. We made so much chocolate during this experience and I’m going to give some to his creche teachers.
The Chocolate Manor offers so many cool chocolate making classes and it is not just for kids – making chocolate pizzas was a real highlight of my weekend and anyone can design their own creations or use the templates provided - we’ll definitely be back!
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Once we stocked up on chocolate, we made our way to Portstewart Strand. This is a National Trust beach so members can take their car on as part of their membership, but it was only a small fee for us and totally worth it for the experience. We even parked up and got out and took a gorgeous walk along the beach. We grabbed lunch at Harry’s Shack – this is one of the must visit food spots along the Causeway Coastal Route. It was delicious and sitting watching the ocean waves crash onto the shore was so relaxing.
The kids had a margherita pizza and ice-cream for dessert while Harry enjoyed a smoked salmon and haddock fishcake and my Shack Fish and Chips was just amazing.
With lunch over, and everyone eager to continue exploring, we drove further along the Causeway Coastal Route, heading past Portrush and out to the Giant’s Causeway.
The views from the car on this drive are breathtaking – it’s a journey we could make every day! I’ve always wanted to visit the Giant’s Causeway and wow – it is a must see on any trip along the Causeway Coastal route - it’s a breathtaking site for people of all ages.
The boys loved the visitor centre with all its interactive exhibitions and tales of Finn McCool. The self-guided audio tour was really helpful and taught us lots of stuff we didn’t know.
They even have audio tours for under 12s, which is the cutest thing ever. The stories and language used on this version of the tour really kept it interesting for him – it was the perfect explainer for someone his age.
We took some really lovely photos on the Wishing Chair and at the famous honeycomb like columns themselves. The kids really enjoyed the trek to the top of the hill and looking out over the Giant’s Causeway!
I don’t know if it’s just me, but I get really happy when I see other tourists coming to visit and enjoying the sites we have to offer and to say I was delighted with our Giant’s Causeway experience is an understatement – you really must visit if you get the chance.
For dinner, we headed for the Bushmills Inn. The menu was perfect for us (the steak was expertly cooked!) and the kids menu was even better. It’s the little touches like kids’ cutlery that really goes a long way and they had such cute cosy snugs – we really liked the vibe!
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Day Three
With such an action-packed day yesterday, we had a bit of a chill one today but still had so much fun! We bought stuff for breakfast yesterday so were able to have a stress-free start to the day with food I know the kids love. When we were ready, we made our way outside and said hi to some seagulls and enjoyed a walk along the beach in Portrush before treating ourselves to some delicious drinks from the Juice Jar.
We then took a drive out to Magheracross Viewpoint and oh my days! The views of the rugged coastline from the viewing platform were truly special. It’s a great spot for some family selfies and the ice-cream on offer from the Cream of the Coast was delicious too.
We also took the opportunity to explore the nearby Dunluce Castle – it’s an iconic spot and the boys loved walking through the ruins and letting their imagination run wild.
From here, we made our way to Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge. It was unbelievable, if you haven’t done this you need to. I had the best time. Crossing the bridge is such an adrenaline rush, I wasn’t quite prepared for just how thrilling it was.
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From the people to the food and the sites, Northern Ireland has it all. There is so much to do along the Causeway Coastal Route, we can say it’s been ticked off the list but we barely scratched the surface and with the kids sound asleep for the whole journey home, Harry and I both agreed we will be back soon.
We’re so lucky to have so much on our doorstep - we’re already planning our exciting trip in Northern Ireland which is made so easy thanks to Discover NI’s website where you can find a huge list of family activities and attractions to help you discover your next giant adventure.
Be inspired by The Forest; capturing all the transformative magic of forest bathing and bringing it to this breathtaking space at DB Stays. Celebrating the beautiful, life-giving, freshness of the forest, this apartment is a perfect ode to nature’s brilliance. Offering guests an interior with rich greens, earthy palettes and a calming aura, you’ll be sure to find a restful stay. Why not take things up a notch and visit the communal wellness suite while you’re here?
West Strand Beach, also known as West Bay or Millstrand is a popular resort beach in the heart of the busy seaside resort of Portrush. Bounded at its northern end by the busy habour and flanked along its eastern boundary by a well used pedestrian/cycle promenade, visitors will find easy access to and from the town centre and all associated amenities/services.
Learn basic chocolate making skills with Geri at The Chocolate Manor in Castlerock. Led by Chief Chocolatier at The Chocolate Manor, Geri Martin will help you create a selection of moulded chocolate treats.
Between Portstewart and the mouth of the River Bann lies the golden sands and domineering sand dunes of Portrush Strand Beach. This area of natural beauty and of scientific interest is owned and managed by the National Trust.
A shack, located on arguably one of the most beautiful beaches in Northern Ireland - Portstewart Strand - which serves fresh local fish, meats, vegetables and more. What's not to love!
Flanked by the wild North Atlantic Ocean and a landscape of dramatic cliffs, the Giant's Causeway 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, has captured the imagination of all who see it.
Located within the Giant’s Causeway Visitor Centre an enthusiastic team of staff is on hand to offer practical help, advice and assistance to both local residents and visitors to Northern Ireland.
The Bushmills Inn Restaurant is situated in an enviable location a stone’s throw from Royal Portrush Golf Club, The Giant’s Causeway, Old Bushmills Distillery and Dunluce Castle, it is one of the most idyllic places to eat in Bushmills.
The purpose-built viewing platform offers panoramic views of the Causeway Coast's stunning natural environment and coastal headlands, including views of Dunluce Castle and Whiterocks Beach
Dunluce Castle is located dramatically close to a headland that plunges straight into the sea, along the North County Antrim coast.
Carrick-a-Rede one of Northern Ireland’s most loved attractions, cared for by the National Trust. Enjoy the stunning views along the Causeway Coastal Route; known for its incredible scenery and natural beauty.
