Belfast to Portrush to Boyle

A big day of travel but some spectacular scenery. We left early for the drive up the Antrim coast towards the Giant’s Causeway. The coastal route really was beautiful and we made several stops for photos and to visit landmarks. We stopped at Ballymena- Glenariff for a coffee at the quaintest tearooms yet. We entered to find the shopkeeper taking the scones out of the oven! We settled in and David found great amusement reading “Cooking with Men in Mind”, one of many books to be found amongst the 1960’s surrounds. It was incredible! Finally moved on and drove to the site of the Carrick- a -Rede Rope bridge on the Northern coast. It was full of tourists but very organised. We walked down a track for about 2 kms before crossing the bridge to the tiny island of Carrickarede. The bridge itself was fairly stable and not so long, but still exhilarating. The coastline views were beautiful. We then drove down the road and found yet another quaint little cafe where we enjoyed soup and homemade bread for lunch. Our next stop was the Giant’s Causeway. It too was full of tourists and buses but again very well managed. We wandered down a long pathway to the rocks below. They were amazing and we clambered freely up and down them taking many photos. We were lucky that the weather was so mild and we were actually hot after the walk back up the track. The next 3 hours were a long and reasonably boring drive to Boyle where we ate at a lovely new restaurant with great staff and plenty of atmosphere. We stayed at our one night of luxurious accomodation (off season rates!). It was 3 kms out of Boyle and was an old manor house set in the country. It was simply beautiful with the highlight being the four poster bed which gave me the most incredible sleep ever. Will never forget how I felt waking up, all made extra special by Alanna’s message during the night to say she had won a permanent job at Addington School in Christchurch!Read more