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| Carrick-a-Rede |
Today we’re on a tight schedule so we need to get away
quickly so by 9am we’re heading out the hotel and driving to our first
destination Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge. We’ve been advised to arrive early to
avoid the crowds and queues, a few others have the same idea and together we
all march smartly along the clifftop eagerly anticipating our first glimpse of
the bridge. I’m feeling quite nervous as I don’t like heights, but I am
determined to get across the bridge. Around the last corner and there it is,
swaying in the breeze… I take a deep breath and set off across the bridge, you
didn’t turn around for a picture says Dave, my hands and feet were too busily
engaged going forward and trying not to look at the sea underneath! The panoramic
views are worth the effort, there’s only the trip back now to negotiate. That’s
the first part of our mission accomplished.
It’s now a short drive to our next destination, The Giant’s
Causeway and we arrive there with 10 minutes to spare from the end of our timed
entry ticket. However, there is an enormous group of people in front of us
causing chaos, thankfully the reception lady takes pity on us and ushers us
through. The visitor centre is full of every nationality of tourist imaginable
and Dave is not coping well getting very grumpy with all these bodies. It
wasn’t like this last time he grumbles, well things have changed since 1979! As
we exit the centre and start walking towards the Causeway we’re kept
entertained by the audio guide and as the crowds thin out we both begin to
enjoy the scenery. I find it amazing that those rocks are naturally formed, and
it is all highlighted by blue skies glittering with silver, blue skies and lush
green grass. We clamber over the causeway rocks taking pictures with the rest
of the tourists before setting off up the track to the clifftop and is it steep
or what. By the time we reach the top oxygen would have been nice and a new set
of legs, we both lean on the fence gasping, pretending to admire the view.
There are very few people around now and by the time we’ve strolled along the
cliff to “The Amphitheatre” we’re on our own with just the sound of the
seabirds screeching around us. The walk back to the centre and the car is
pleasant but the crowds are no better.
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| Giants Causeway |
We’re now nearly halfway through our challenges,
refreshment is needed and the aptly named Red Door Café provides a welcome rest
with a picnic table in their lovely garden and equally welcome seafood chowder
and Brie panini. Suitably refreshed we drive down to Ballintoy Harbour stroll
out to the rocks and learn about the limestone quarried nearby and then shipped
to Liverpool for paving.
 |
| Dark Hedges |
The afternoon is to be devoted to finding more recent sites
of interest. So, our third challenge is to find “Dark Hedges” which features in
a scene from Game of Thrones. It’s a bit like an orienteering challenge driving
with other cars across the countryside until we all end up in a hotel car park.
This really doesn’t look right but after following further signs we come to the
road and it is impressive. Approximately 70 surviving beech trees planted along
the sides of a road to give an impressive entrance into Gracehill House. The
shapes of the trees with the sunlight streaming through the gaps makes for a
very eerie scene, I can almost see the grey lady who is supposed to haunt the
road.
 |
| Bushmills Distillery |
Our fourth challenge is to go to Bushmills Distillery, this
is easily achieved but as 4 coaches have just turned up and are streaming
through the doors I refuse to go inside and take a tour. A picture of the
outside will have to do.
Our fifth and final challenge is to find Dunluce Castle
which is perched on the edge of the cliff on the way back to Port Rush. It is
again eerily atmospheric even in the bright sunshine. The ruins look broodingly
back at us.
 |
| Dunluce Castle |
Missions accomplished it’s back to the hotel for a well-deserved
rest, I can’t believe it when not only is the lift out of action and we have
use the stairs but our room card doesn’t work and when we get back to reception
we have to change rooms… the challenges just keep on coming today! Thank
goodness our evening meal proves to be an easy choice, the hotel restaurant
proves to be an excellent choice, fish platter of smoked salmon, prawns, cod
bites and calamari followed by seabass on seasonal vegetables, phew we need a
lay down after all that exercise and food.
Today we’re on a tight schedule so we need to get away
quickly so by 9am we’re heading out the hotel and driving to our first
destination Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge. We’ve been advised to arrive early to
avoid the crowds and queues, a few others have the same idea and together we
all march smartly along the clifftop eagerly anticipating our first glimpse of
the bridge. I’m feeling quite nervous as I don’t like heights, but I am
determined to get across the bridge. Around the last corner and there it is,
swaying in the breeze… I take a deep breath and set off across the bridge, you
didn’t turn around for a picture says Dave, my hands and feet were too busily
engaged going forward and trying not to look at the sea underneath! The panoramic
views are worth the effort, there’s only the trip back now to negotiate. That’s
the first part of our mission accomplished.
It’s now a short drive to our next destination, The Giant’s
Causeway and we arrive there with 10 minutes to spare from the end of our timed
entry ticket. However, there is an enormous group of people in front of us
causing chaos, thankfully the reception lady takes pity on us and ushers us
through. The visitor centre is full of every nationality of tourist imaginable
and Dave is not coping well getting very grumpy with all these bodies. It
wasn’t like this last time he grumbles, well things have changed since 1979! As
we exit the centre and start walking towards the Causeway we’re kept
entertained by the audio guide and as the crowds thin out we both begin to
enjoy the scenery. I find it amazing that those rocks are naturally formed, and
it is all highlighted by blue skies glittering with silver, blue skies and lush
green grass. We clamber over the causeway rocks taking pictures with the rest
of the tourists before setting off up the track to the clifftop and is it steep
or what. By the time we reach the top oxygen would have been nice and a new set
of legs, we both lean on the fence gasping, pretending to admire the view.
There are very few people around now and by the time we’ve strolled along the
cliff to “The Amphitheatre” we’re on our own with just the sound of the
seabirds screeching around us. The walk back to the centre and the car is
pleasant but the crowds are no better.
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