Bushmills & The Antrim Coast
Located in the South West of Ireland in the County of Kerry
- Ireland's premier visitor destination. Killarney offers so
much to visitors with plenty to see and do all year round. It
sprang into prominence when 18th century tourists were drawn
to its wonderful setting under the shadow of Ireland's
highest mountains and beside its scenic lakes. Killarney is
also the starting point of the drive around the Iveragh peninsula,
a dramatically scenic route, commonly known as the Ring of Kerry.
The complete route is 100 miles long but your journey will be
broken by many stops to admire the scenic beauty of the area
that changes dramatically around every corner.
Local Places of Interest and Activities
The
Giants Causeway — According to legend, the symmetrical
columns reaching out to sea were the work of the giant, Finn
MacCool. Today geologists try to convince us that thousands
of polygonal columns were formed 55 million years ago, when
a lava flow cooled and solidified, and that the oldest rocks
of the Causeway started posing for visitors about 600 million
years ago. The facts and the fiction of this "World Heritage
Site" are vividly presented in the Causeway Centre, where
there is an audio-visual theatre, tea room and gift shop.
Carrick
a Rede Rope Bridge — There has been a rope bridge
here for over 200 years, but in earlier times it had just a
single hand rail. It was first erected to reach an important
fishery. Salmon entering the bay below Carrick-a-Rede will not
swim through the narrows below the bridge, but are deflected
by the island into the fish nets. Crossing this narrow bouncy
bridge of planks and ropes, precariously poised 80 feet above
the sea, is not for the fainthearted. It is erected each Spring
and is normally taken down in mid-September.
Dunluce
Castle — The dramatic ruin of Dunluce Castle
forms the remains of the largest, most sophisticated castle
on the Northern Irish coastline. Perched on an 100 foot-high
sheer cliff, the only way to enter is across a long narrow bridge
overlooked by the battlements. The castle dates from the 10th
century, and the history of the castle is a story of the legendary
"Sorley Boy" of the wild MacDonnells from Scotland,
and their terrible feuds with the O' Neills of Ulster
and the forces of the English crown.
Bushmills
Distillery — King James I granted the original
licence to distil "Aqua Vitae" at Bushmills in April
1608 and so the village has been making the finest Irish malt
whiskey for almost 400 years. The distillery is situated just
two miles from the Giant's Causeway and close to the Bushmills
Inn. "Old Bushmills" runs a guided tour for you
to see everything first hand and of course no visit is complete
without enjoying a glass of the final product. The Bushmills
Inn naturally features the full range of Bushmills whiskey including
its own unique 25 year-old private cask pure malt.
Ballintoy
Harbour —Ballintoy's hidden beauty is found
at the end of the harbour road where you will find a small beach
and a limestone harbour. In recent years the harbour has been
upgraded and is very popular with fishermen and deep sea divers
alike. The beautiful limestone and basalt cliffs, the caves
and headlands in the harbour area are a spectacular site. You
will be encouraged to arrange a fishing trip in one of the local
boats or you can simply watch the artists painting.
Tours to take of the surrounding area
The
Glens of Antrim — Continue on the Antrim Coastal
Road over bridges and under arches, past bays and beaches into
the Glens of Antrim. Wild in their beauty, each glen deserves
a visit, but above all else don't miss Glenariff, the
queen of the glens with its gushing waterfalls and scenic path
skirting the sheer sides of the plunging gorge.
The
City of Derry — You can enjoy a walking tour
of the historical city of Londonderry. The Derry walls are one
of the finest examples in Europe, built during the period 1613-1618
as defences for early seventeenth century settlers from England
and Scotland. They have withstood several sieges, the most celebrated
lasting 105 days and encircle the old city, a circuit of one
mile.
The
Inishowen Peninsula — Tour the Inishowen Peninsula
in County Donegal. 26 miles in length and breadth at its greatest
point. It is the most northerly part of Ireland, Lough Swilly
forms its westerly boundary and Lough Foyle its eastern. Monuments
of an earlier age grow from the landscape as castle towers and
ancient churches. The Celtic crosses and the pagan monuments
come together in a colourful tapestry with these great houses
of the last century, to leave lasting memories for the visitor
of this undiscovered part of Ireland.
The
Grianan of Aileach — one of the finest stone
forts in Ireland. From the hill-top there are commanding views
over Lough Foyle, Lough Swilly, and Londonderry. In the walls
are small chambers, a series of stairs at regular intervals
inside the walls gave access to the wallwalk. Legend says it
was built by the ancient gods; the ring fort was known as the
Sun Palace and was held sacred.
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