You voted for Causeway Coast on our MoreBelfast Instagram, and you’ve been voting for your favourite places.
The results are in:
- Carrick A Rede Rope Bridge 12%
- Giant’s Causeway 28%
- Ballintoy Harbour 27%
- Mussenden Temple 32% - WINNER
Your favourite beach:
- Portstewart Strand 36% - WINNER
- Whitepark Bay Beach 18%
- White Rocks Beach 30%
- The secret beach at Ballintoy 16%
THE CAUSEWAY COAST
Our Antrim Coast road trip route ran from Belfast to Ballycastle. So our Causeway Coast route takes in the rest of the route between Ballycastle and Derry~Londonderry.
Starting at Ballycastle you may well have been on a trip to Rathlin Island. As kids we had many annual trips to the Auld Lamas Fair at Ballycastle, for a child in the 70’s that was a big day trip. With memories of Yellow Man and thousands of cars parked in a field.
From Ballycastle you head west to Kinbane Castle (that’s an experience getting back up from the castle!), Portaneevy Viewpoint and Carrick-a-rede Rope Bridge then Ballintoy. En route you should stop at The Fullerton Arms for lunch and to see the Game of Thrones door.
After Ballintoy head towards the harbour and visit its secret beach, it’s hidden around the corner on the right, although it’s not so secret any more and people have discovered it’s beautiful setting.
Next stop on the right is Whitepark Bay Beach, if you walked along the coast between the harbour and this beach you’ll pass Elephant Rock. It’s a stunning walk! If you’re lucky you’ll see the resident cattle roaming Whitepark Bay beach.
Before reaching Giant’s Causeway you pass Dunseverick Castle. Giant’s Causeway is always worth visiting and we think it looks particularly good on a stormy day, it suits the drama.
You could nip into Bushmills next and visit the distillery for a tour.
Continuing west you can’t miss Dunluce Castle, sitting atop a cliff. Stop on a lay-by before you get to the castle ruins and enjoy that view. Or after the castle there’s the new Magheracross Viewpoint, a free place to stop and walk out into the viewing platform over the cliff.
Right after that you’re at White Rocks Beach then Portrush. Make sure you visit Curry’s Fun Park. You’ll know it as Barry’s, it’s a simple name change, but still an iconic seaside fun park.
Portstewart and Portstewart Strand sit at the end of this section of the coast before you have to head inland to Coleraine to cross the River Bann. After Coleraine you head back out onto the coast towards Castlerock, Downhill and Mussenden then the beautiful Benone Beach. Gortmore viewpoint is well worth going up the hill to visit, the views are outstanding, and it’s here you’ll find the Manannán Mac Lir Statue.
And finally you’re on the final stages of the Causeway Coastal path towards Derry~Londonderry.
That’s a day trip in itself if you want to experience most of it. And you’ll deserve a great meal once you reach Derry. We’d recommend Browns on the Hill for a 5 star fine dining experience.
Keep an eye out for our A-Z progress on @morebelfast instagram and here.
