A Drive through Causeway Route – Northern Ireland

 

Northern Ireland is part of the United Kingdom, along with England, Scotland, and Wales. The country is famous for the Causeway Coastal route, which is one of the most scenic drives in the world mentioned by National Geographic. This 120-mile drive offers dramatic clifftop walks, captivating coves and areas of outstanding natural beauty with golden sandy beaches & charming towns & villages.

Day 1        |        Belfast Airport -> Carnmoney        |        13.5 miles, 22 min

We were in Glasgow and so chose to fly from there to Belfast. We had picked a late flight & stayed near Belfast airport.

We had our dinner from an Indian restaurant Mama Masala which was fairly good. The restaurant seemed to be run by women as there were no male staff even though we had been twice for dinner.

Day 2        |        Carnmoney -> Mourne Mountains      |        49 miles, 1hr 7min

This day was assigned for hiking at Mourne mountains. But due to unfavorable weather, we had to change our itinerary. We drove to Ott car park to follow yellow trail/upper path. When we reached the place, it was very windy & cold. So a new plan was made after spending some brainstorming session sitting at Spelga Dam.

                           Mourne Mountains -> Spelga Dam      |           2.5 miles, 5 min

Spelga Dam, a man made dam built in 1960 is a famous landmark in Mourne mountains known for its scenic beauty. The reservoir is home to trout because of the chill weather throughout the year.

                          Spelga Dam -> Strangford Lough        |        51.2 miles, 1hr 27min

Strangford Lough is a large sea lough or inlet in County Down, in the east of Northern Ireland. It is the largest inlet in Ireland and the wider British Isles, covering 150 km². The lough is almost fully enclosed by the Ards Peninsula and is linked to the Irish Sea by a long narrow channel at its southeastern edge. It is of international importance for its marine life and coastal birds, making it an epic spot for wildlife photographers.

                       Strangford Lough -> Ulster Folk Museum     |     18.4 miles, 33 min

The Folk Museum endeavors to illustrate the past & present way of life and traditions of the people in Northern Ireland. Similarly, there is a transport museum as well that explores and exhibits the past & present methods of transport by land, sea and air. Earlier these used to be operated as single museum. The museum was created to preserve the rural way of life from the danger of disappearing forever due to increasing urbanization and industrialization in Northern Ireland. The folk museum exhibits variety of old buildings and dwellings which have been collected from various parts of Ireland and rebuilt in the grounds of the museum, brick by brick along with the recreation of the periods countryside complete with farms, cottages, livestock. There are featured shops, churches, and both terraced and larger housing and a Tea room along with a set of regular activities like open hearth cooking, printing, needlework, and traditional Irish crafts demonstrations. The museum visit provides you an insight of traditional way & lifestyle of people in Northern Ireland.

                             Ulster Folk Museum -> Carnmoney    |       14.3 miles, 24 min

We chose to stay at the same place and get recharge for our journey on Causeway Route.

Day 3        |        Carnmoney -> Carrickfergus Castle        |      7.4 miles, 16 min

The Norman castle right at the starting point of Northern Ireland's Causeway Coastal Route, offering stunning views and a rich history is nestled in the charming seaside town of Carrickfergus, County Antrim, right on the shores of Belfast Lough.

Unlike many ancient castles, Carrickfergus Castle is still standing tall and proud even after going through a lot of sieges namely by the Scots, Irish, English, and even the French, and it served a key military role until 1928. Due to the unsuccessful military penetrability, the town thrived even when surrounding villages suffered defeats.

                 Carrickfergus Castle -> Blackhead Lighthouse    |    5.7 miles, 13 min

Blackhead Lighthouse was built at the turn of the 20th century, near Whitehead in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. It marks the northern end of Belfast Lough where it opens out into the North Channel that separates Northern Ireland and Scotland. There is a path offering stunning views & you can enjoy the bracing walk by the sea. This 5 Km walk includes a coastal path and country road. From the car park follow the coastal path towards the Blackhead, an ancient volcanic plug.

This path allows you to enjoy the marine traffic passing by along with the marine wildlife including seals, birds, pods of dolphins etc. The most dramatic part of the walk is around the catwalk at the base of the headland, where the sea has gouged magnificent sea caves. The route next climbs steep flights of steps to reach the lighthouse owned by the Commissioner for Irish Lights. The views from the walkway around the lighthouse are stunning.

From the lighthouse the route follows the country road westwards, contouring the slopes of Muldersleigh Hill. The road splits Whitehead Golf Club in two, before descending steeply into the B150 road. From the road there are fine views of the southern end of Larne Lough below the rolling fields of Carnbrock. Vehicular access to the Lighthouse is restricted to residents only as this is a private road.

Route : Blackhead Car Park - Coastal Path - Lighthouse - Country Road - Golf Club - B150

Distance: 5km (3.1 miles)                                              Time: 1 hour 30 minutes

                            Blackhead Lighthouse -> Gobbins Cliff     |    5.6 miles, 14 min

The Gobbins Cliff Path takes between 2.5 and 3 hours to complete which depends on the fitness level of the group. It is a strenuous 3 mile walk with a steep access path to the lower cliff path which includes gradients of up to 1:4 in places. The path is narrow with many hand carved steps that wind up and down along the bottom of the cliff. It is the equivalent of climbing and descending 50 flights of steps. It is bit adventurous which includes swaying/suspension bridge, tunnel, sandy cave, tubular bridges etc and we wanted to go for that. But, since that path was destroyed by a cyclone, it was closed. But then people at Gobbins visitor center gave us an alternative option of walking along the cliff from top. In Gobbins cliff path, a guide takes a group of people whereas, in cliff top path, one has to do it alone. Even though the chance to experience the Gobbins was taken, we could view it from the top all along from our top path.

The cliff top path is not adventurous as cliff path even though the duration for cliff top path is close to 2 hrs. One gets a different view & enjoy the beauty of the sea from top all along the cliff. This is a normal walk which requires minimum fitness.

                        Gobbins Cliff  -> Ballymoney        |        50.6 miles, 1hr 11min

After a long day of hiking it was time for us to rest for which we chose a lovely house at Ballymoney. We completed all the iconic places on the causeway route from this place. It is always advisable to choose a central place like Carrickfergus, Glenarm, Cushendall, Cushendun, Ballycastle, Bushmills, Portrush, Portstewart etc. where the iconic places on the Causeway routes are close-by. Also one can enjoy the stay at these country side places instead of staying at Belfast.

Day 4        |        Ballymoney -> Dark Hedges        |        8 miles, 15 min

The Dark Hedges is an avenue of beech trees along Bregagh Road. The trees meet overhead, forming a tree tunnel used for location shooting in HBO's popular television series Game of Thrones, which made the avenue a popular tourist attraction.

                        Dark Hedges -> Kinbane Castle        |        9.5 miles, 16 min

The views are great, particularly the castle ruin that is looking back to the cliffs behind the castle. The ruin itself isn't that extensive but the location is what that makes it stunning. One can walk along the short headland behind the castle after which the path gets narrow with drop offs on each side. This is one of my favorite places along with the Giants causeway on the causeway route. The path to the castle is a series of steep steps from the car park. But it’s worth climbing them especially on a perfect sunny day. Make sure you carry a bottle of water along with you if you have decided to climb the steps.

                        Kinbane Castle -> Dunluce Castle        |        14 miles, 25 min

A ruined castle with breathtaking views of Atlantic. One can meander around the ruins of the castle and descend a stairway, external to the castle grounds, to visit the cave beneath Dunluce. The location is what makes the castle dramatic with the main castle perched on rocks only accessible by a bridge from the mainland.

            Dunluce Castle -> Mussenden Temple   |      16.4 miles, 27 min

Mussenden Temple is located in the beautiful surroundings of Downhill Demesne near Castlerock in 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.

Downhill Demesne offers a stunning cliff top walks around this diverse historical site. The temple was built as a summer library and its architecture was inspired by the Temple of Vesta in Tivoli, near Rome.

Both the Temple and the breathtaking views are among the most photographed in Ireland. The Temple itself was under danger of being lost to the sea due to the erosion of the cliff which brought Mussenden Temple ever closer to the edge. In 1997 the National Trust then carried out cliff stabilization work to prevent the loss of this lovely building.

Always try to choose the closest car park so as to walk little. There are multiple trails from different car parks that lead to the temple. Also, keep track of the map as we got lost multiple times ending up walking a lot. We were damn tired as we reached the temple. 

Mussenden Temple  -> Ballymoney        |        14.7 miles, 26 min

After a long day of hiking, we thought of taking rest. But then we remembered our landlord mention about River Bann which was at a walkable distance from our place of stay. River Bann is the longest river in Northern Ireland flowing from the Mourne Mountains through Lough Neagh, and into the Atlantic Ocean, known for salmon fishing, scenery, and its divided into upper and lower sections, offering boat tours, locks, and water sports, making it a vital waterway for nature and recreation. The River Bann is known as Bhan Abha in Irish Gaelic, which means white river.  

Day 5        |        Ballymoney -> Glenariff Forest        |        21.3 miles, 34 min

Glenariff Forest Park is an 1185-hectare forest in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. It is part of Glenariff glen itself. The forest is managed by the Northern Ireland Forest Service. The forest park is famous for its glens, waterfalls, woodlands, & wildlife that offers trails for walking, horse riding & camping. It spans both the sides of the valley offering a number of walking routes that can be chosen according to one’s fitness & time and for which information is available on an information board put up at the car park area or you can get from visitor center located nearby.

We took a waterfall boardwalk which was refreshing. When you start the hike, you could hear the water falling sound from a long distance itself. But you have to walk down a bit before your eyes could get the treat. There are some shallow areas wherein you can get into the water as well. Even though the information board are good, the maps on the way are awful & some junctions miss the signboard as well which could end up in taking longer routes sometimes.

                        Glenariff Forest -> Torr Head        |        16.5 miles, 40 min

The coastal route from Ballycastle to Cushendun is to be done, but pushing a bit more until Torr Head can be cherry on the cake. Even though Torr Head was in our itinerary, we could not explore as the place is currently owned by a private party & so entry to Torr Head was prohibited. The road leading to Torr Head is very inclined & narrow. It is very difficult to keep your eyes on the road due to the breathtaking landscapes.

                     Torr Head -> Carrick-A-Rede      |     13.5 miles, 31 min

A rope bridge suspended over the Atlantic Ocean that is connected to the cliffs. Carrick-a-Rede Island which is home to a single building - a fisherman's cottage, is also the final destination. The bridge is suspended almost 100 ft (30 m) above sea level, the rope bridge was first erected by salmon fishermen over 250 years ago. The bridge even though spans only 20 meters, crossing it is a big deal and is not meant for weak hearts. It is an exhilarating experience as the bridge sways in the wind making each step difficult. There are steps which has to be climbed down to walk across the bridge which can be bit difficult for people with mobility issues as the steps are steep & narrow.

The island is home to many birds & marine lives which can be enjoyed sitting on the small hills basking under the sun.

                        Carrick-A-Rede -> Dunseverick Castle        |      4.8 miles, 11 min

There is nothing much to see as you can hardly see any ruins of the castle. But this is an impressive way to start your hike along the Giants Causeway.

                        Dunseverick Castle -> Ballymoney        |      15.8 miles, 27 min

It became a habit of having a meal at Nandos located at Coleraine which was less than 10 miles always from our last destination of site seeing to Ballymoney.

Day 6        |        Ballymoney -> Bushmills Distillery        |        10.9 miles, 16 min

Along Ireland’s rugged north coast, there is an age old distillery which produces world’s best Irish whisky. Bushmills is home to the oldest licensed whiskey distillery in the world. Its rich heritage & proximity to some of the country’s famous attractions makes the visit to the distillery viable. It’s a village, where family, friends and neighbors work side by side at the distillery. You will get to know that this is true when you walk around the distillery. This is the place where water from the river Bush flowing over basalt rocks turns into “GOLD”.

                      Bushmills Distillery -> Giants Causeway        |        2.8 miles, 10 min

The Giant's Causeway is an area of approximately 40,000 interlocking basalt columns, the result of an ancient volcanic fissure eruption, that was active in the region during the Paleogene period. What makes this place fascinating is that, these basalt columns formed are regularly hexagonal shaped in perfect horizontal sections, forming a pavement. We took the cliff way while going & returned along the coastline hopping over these basalt columns which took around 3 hours including stops for photographs. Walking along the cliff can be a bit strenuous.

                   Giants Causeway -> Portaneevy Viewpoint     |        9.3 miles, 20 min

There is ample space for parking here. On a sunny day, one can see Carrick-a-Rede bridge, Rathlin Island, Sheep Island and even Scotland from this place. And right below, one can see a pasture of sheep on the edge of the cliff.

                        Portaneevy Viewpoint -> Ballymoney        |        17.8 miles, 33 min

We watched the setting of the Sun from Portaneevy & then left for the place of dwelling bidding a bye to Causeway. Next day, we had to start bit early as it was a long day drive filled with attractions as well.

Day 7        |        Ballymoney -> Correl Glen        |        92.3 miles, 2hr 25min

After sunny days for past few days, it was time for the moody weather. The people of Northern Ireland commented that, we were damn lucky as we had got sunny weather for these many consecutive days. The bright skies turn to dark ones every 2-3 days because of the proximity to Atlantic Ocean. As per itinerary, this day was dedicated to Lower Lough, Cliffs of Magho Point, Blackslee waterfall. But entry to these were restricted as the roads were blocked by numerous tree falls happened due to recent cyclone. We came to know only when we arrived here as the information was not yet updated on website/google. Note : Those who read & attempting the itinerary please try to include the before said points rather than below given itinerary.

We were upset as we did not know how to spend an entire day. Then a local lady who knew we were tourist, shared so many nearby places when she understood our dilemma and thus a new itinerary for this day was formed. She had suggested many other places as well, but since Northern Ireland shares borders with Republic of Ireland, permission might be denied. Indians can travel in Northern Ireland with UK visa whereas Republic of Ireland accepts only Schengen visa.   

The Correl Glen trail follows small wooded riverine cut by the Sillees River. The path ascends onto Heathland overlooking panoramic views of Fermanagh Scarplands and Carrick Lough. This is a damn shady woodland and so sturdy shoes advisable. Correl Glen is home to many different species of butterfly and dragonfly.

                        Correl Glen -> Magho Jetty    |           8.8 miles, 13 min

The Magho Jetty & Correl Glen are on the opposite sides of the two entry points to the Lough Navar Forest Drive which was in the previous itinerary for the day. The grassy path from car park if followed will lead you to the shore and then to Magho Jetty. Lough Erne is a beautiful & peaceful lake.

                        Magho Jetty -> Tully Castle    |           5.5 miles, 9 min

A Scottish style Castle, built by Irish hands, is located on the shores of Lough Erne, three miles north from Derrygonnelly. Tully Castle was built for Sir John Hume who hailed from North Berwick. He built a bawn with four corner flankers within which he built a strong castle. The windows are grooved for glass. It is a beautiful setting with views of the Lough Erne & good walkway.

                        Tully Castle -> Portora Castle |           11.1 miles, 18 min

Portora Castle guards a former crossing point where the river joins Lough Erne. Built in 1613 by Sir William Cole, it consisted of a 3 storey house enclosed with a defensive bawn, the wall of which was equipped with 4 circular towers to add further protection.

                        Portora Castle -> Armagh       |           51.7 miles, 1hr 13min

From sacred sites and ancient legends to Georgian charm, cider orchards, and warm welcomes, Armagh is full of surprises. Foodies, adventurers, families – there’s something here for everyone. And with plenty of great places to stay, you can take your time and enjoy it all.

Before heading back to Glasgow, we spent two nights in the ecclesiastical capital of Ireland.

Day 8        |        Armagh -> Gosford Forest Park        |        7.2 miles, 14 min

With some 240 acres of diverse woodland and open parkland set in gentle rolling drumlin countryside, Gosford Forest Park is an adventure paradise for outdoor enthusiasts of all ages. With so diverse an environment this fabulous natural playground is perfect for gentle walks, challenging trails and treks, cycling as well as wildlife spotting and adventure sports.

                            Gosford Forest Park -> Clare Glen     |           5.7 miles, 12 min

Clare Glen is a natural woodland with the River Cusher running through it. There are multiple bridges across the river. If crossed can be a loop. We took the entire loop and it was fun as there was no one in the park then.

Clare Glen -> Corbet Lough         |       13.8 miles, 24 min

This place was not enlisted in our itinerary. We happened to see this place from far while driving and thought it was just a country side. The roads were also not big enough to park a vehicle, so that we could enjoy the scenery. That’s when, there were signboards showing Corbet Lough and thus we stopped here for a short while on our way to Tollymore Forest Park.

                Corbet Lough -> Tollymore Forest Park          |      15.6 miles, 29 min

This picturesque country park is just stunning with lots of beautiful walks. Huge trees, lovely stream and levelled ground makes this place ideal for camping. Covering an area of almost 630 hectares at the foot of the Mourne mountains, Tollymore Forest Park has panoramic views of the surrounding mountains and the sea at Newcastle. The trail through coniferous trees & broadleaved woodland makes the trail even more refreshing.

                  Tollymore Forest Park -> Armagh               |           37.2 miles, 57 min

After three hikes, it was time for some rest. Hence we returned to our place of stay at Armagh. Our landlord suggested an ice-cream place when somehow the conversation landed on Desserts. Its called Mackles Ice Cream. They have wide choices of flavors & you will get confused seeing the options. We went there twice and we liked their ice-creams on both the days.

Day 9        |        Armagh -> Castlewellan Forest Park        |        38.3 miles, 1 hr

Castlewellan Forest Park is one of the most outstanding tree and shrub collections in Europe. The Forest Park is located within the Mourne Mountains in County Down. A dramatic setting of mountains and sea. The main activities include, walking, mountain biking, canoeing, fishing (with a permit), paddle boarding, cycling and horse-riding. Please note that swimming is not allowed.

                  Castlewellan Forest Park -> Belfast Castle      |     37.5 miles, 1hr 3min

Belfast Castle sits at the foot of Cave Hill and is one of the most iconic locations from which to view the stunning skyline of Belfast. There are beautiful walks/trails around the castle suitable for different levels of fitness.                

Belfast Castle -> Belfast Airport           |         14.8 miles, 25 min

After an eventful week in Northern Ireland, it was now time for us to go back to home. We had booked our flights back to India from Glasgow for which we had to fly to Glasgow from Belfast.

Another restaurant which we recommend is Nandos wherever present. We had been to the following locations. 1) Nandos Antrim Junction   2) Nandos Coleraine   3) Nandos Rushmere Center

If you are planning to hire a rental car, make sure you have an international driving permit because without which you are going to ruin your entire trip. Another thing to be noted is that there are numerous picnic spots all along the way whichever road you take up. So stock up enough from supermarkets so that, you can choose to picnic or camp depending upon your time.