CAUSEWAY COAST and GLENS Visitor Guide Welcometo the CAUSEWAY COAST and GLENS
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CAUSEWAY COAST AND GLENS Visitor Guide WelcomeTO THE CAUSEWAY COAST AND GLENS the No 1 Best Region to visit in 2018 Think dramatic cliff edges and coastline, Whether you’re thinking of coming to your accommodation booking, It’s supposed to be magnificent beaches, Ireland’s the Causeway Coast and Glens for the whether you are looking for a hotel, about the journey, oldest whiskey distillery, stunning first time, or you are a regular visitor, guesthouse, B&B, self-catering archaeological feats and a breath-taking there will always be something new to property, hostel or a caravan park. not the destination World Heritage Site and four Areas of see and do. Some wonderful hospitality The Causeway Coast and Glens Outstanding Natural Beauty you’ve and the finest local produce awaits promises a warm welcome for visitors - and when you look packaged up one of the most stunning you in a choice of cafés, bistros, bars, and an unforgettable experience. areas on the globe. It is easy to see restaurants and hotels. at the Causeway Find out more on why the Causeway Coastal Route is The Visitor Information Centres (see Coastal Route you regarded as ‘One of the World’s Great back for details) will be pleased to visitcausewaycoastandglens.com Road Journeys’ and was recently named provide you with any information can see exactly why. alongside Belfast by Lonely Planet as the on the area and assist you with No 1 Best Region to Visit in 2018. 2 | Welcome visitcausewaycoastandglens.com | 3 Contents 06 114 Welcome 02 Signature Discovery Points Tours and Tour Guides Events 118 Game of Thrones® Filming Locations 14 122 124 18 40 How to get here Useful Resources The Glens of Antrim The Causeway Coast 92 126 Binevenagh and Beyond Causeway Coastal Route Map visitcausewaycoastandglens.com | 5 UNESCO World Signature Heritage Site DiscoveryPoints Giant’s Causeway Giant’s Causeway Visitor first UNESCO World Heritage Site, Visitor Facilities: Interactive Visitor Experience: Experience, 44 Causeway Road, home to a wealth of local history Exhibition, Outdoor Audio Guide January & February: 9am to 5pm; Bushmills, BT57 8SU and legend. Explore the geological (available in 11 languages), Gift Shop March to May: 9am to 6pm; T: +44 (0) 28 2073 1855 phenomenon of 40,000 basalt with Local Crafts, Refreshments, June to September: 9am to 7pm E: giantscausewaytic@ stone columns formed by volcanic Toilets, Tourist Information, Bureau October: 9am to 6pm nationaltrust.org.uk eruptions over 60 million years ago. De Change, Parking and Park and November & December: 9am to 5pm. W: www.nationaltrust.org.uk/ Discover the legend of the Giant Finn Ride Services from Bushmills. The Giant’s Causeway Visitor giants-causeway Mac Cool and search for distinctive Opening Times: Experience is open all year except A geological wonder steeped in stone formations such as the Camel, Stones and coastal path Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and legend and folklore. Discover the Wishing Chair, Harp and Organ. open all year. Boxing Day. Last admission 1 hour Giant’s Causeway, Northern Ireland’s before closing. 6 | Signature Discovery Points visitcausewaycoastandglens.com | 7 Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge 119a White Park Road, Ballintoy, of its time; a testimony to local tenacity. Ballycastle, BT54 6LS Come and enjoy an unforgettable T: +44 (0) 28 2076 9839 experience at Carrick-a-Rede. Tea room, E: [email protected] shop and toilets are available on site. W: www.nationaltrust.org.uk/carrick-a-rede Suitable clothing and footwear Take the exhilarating rope bridge to are recommended. Carrick-a-Rede Island and enjoy a truly Opening Times: magnificent cliff top experience. This 1 Jan to 31 Jan: 9.30am-3.30pm; 30-metre deep and 20-metre wide chasm 1 Feb to 25 Feb: 9.30am - 5pm; is traversed by a rope bridge traditionally 26 Feb to 24 Jun: 9.30am - 6pm; erected by salmon fishermen. Visitors 25 Jun to 2 Sep: 9.30am - 7pm; bold enough to cross to the rocky island 3 Sep to 28 Oct: 9.30am - 6pm; are rewarded with fantastic views across 29 Oct to 31 Dec: 9.30am - 3.30pm. to Rathlin Island as well as amazing The Rope Bridge is open all year flora, fauna and bird life. Only a weather permitting except short distance from the rope Christmas Eve, Christmas bridge is the fishery Day and Boxing Day. Last cottage perched entry is 45 minutes before precariously on the closing. Timed tickets cliff edge, which is are in operation and without doubt visitor numbers may one of the be restricted to architectural access and cross wonders the Rope Bridge. Dark Hedges Bregagh Road, Stranocum, photographed natural phenomena Ballymoney, BT53 8PX in Northern Ireland and a popular T: +44 (0) 28 2766 0230 attraction for tourists from across the This beautiful avenue of beech trees world. The road is reputedly haunted by was planted by the Stuart family in the a spectral ‘Grey Lady’ who appears at eighteenth century. It was intended dusk among the trees. She silently glides as a compelling landscape feature to along the roadside and disappears as impress visitors as they approached she passes the last beech tree. Fans of the entrance to their home, Gracehill Game of Thrones® will recognise it as House. Two centuries later, the trees the Kingsroad from Season 2. Please remain a magnificent sight and have note that the road has been closed to become known as the Dark Hedges. vehicular traffic since October 2017. The Dark Hedges is one of the most Nearby parking is signposted. 8 | Signature Discovery Points ©National Trust, Joe Cornish visitcausewaycoastandglens.com | 9 Downhill Demesne & Hezlett House Mussenden Road, Castlerock, BT51 4RP Opening Hours: Downhill Demesne T: +44 (0) 28 7084 8728 Grounds Open all year. E: [email protected] Downhill Demesne Facilities W: www.nationaltrust.org.uk 10 Mar - 9 Sep (daily) 10am - 5pm; Visit the stunning landscape of Downhill 15 Sep - 4 Nov (weekends only) Demesne, and discover the striking 10am - 5pm. 18th century mansion of the eccentric Hezlett House Earl Bishop that now lies in ruins, then 10th Mar - 25th Mar explore Mussenden Temple, perched (weekends only) 11am - 5pm; on the cliff edge. Extensive parkland, 26th Mar - 8th Apr (daily) 10am - 5pm; gardens and woodland walks. Discover 9th Apr - 17th Jun the fantastic wildlife in the area. As an (weekends only) 10am - 5pm; extra treat learn about the reality of 18th Jun - 9th Sep (daily) 10am-5pm. life in the rural 17th century cottage Admission Charges: Gift Aid Adult £6.20, of Hezlett House and its orchard, Child £3.00 and Family £15.00 Standard allotments and pleasant country Admission Adult: £5.60, Child £2.70 and garden. Facilities include car park, Family: £13.50. Group (15 person +) toilets and light refreshments. Extensive £4.75pp Group (out of hours) £7.50pp events programme throughout the year. Dunluce Castle 87 Dunluce Road, Portrush, BT57 8UY T: +44 (0) 28 2073 1938 Dunluce is one of the most picturesque and romantic of Irish Castles. A defended site from at least 500AD, the present castle ruins date mainly from the 16th and 17th centuries. It was inhabited by both the McQuillan and MacDonnell clans. Historical and archaeological exhibits are open to public viewing. Opening Hours: Feb - Nov: Daily 10am – 5pm , Dec & Jan: Daily 10am – 4pm Note: Last admission 30 minutes before closing. Ruins at Downhill Demesne ©National Trust, John Millar 10 | Signature Discovery Points ©National Trust, Robert Morris visitcausewaycoastandglens.com | 11 Rathlin Island, BT54 6RT T: +44 (0)28 2076 2024 E: ballycastlevic@ causewaycoastandglens.gov.uk W: www.rathlincommunity.org Rathlin Island lies off the coast of Northern Ireland just over six miles from Ballycastle and fourteen miles from the Mull of Kintyre, Scotland. Glendun Situated within the Antrim Coast and Glens Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, it is popular with bird watchers, geologists, botanists, walkers, divers Old Bushmills Distillery The Nine Glens of Antrim and sea anglers – anyone with a love for 2 Distillery Road, Bushmills, BT57 8XH T: +44 (0)28 2076 2024 rugged wild scenery. It includes several T: +44 (0)28 2073 3218 E: ballycastlevic@ important natural heritage sites and is E: [email protected] causewaycoastandglens.gov.uk particularly internationally important W: www.bushmills.com W: www.visitcausewaycoastandglens.com for its flora, seabird colonies and in Visit Ireland’s oldest working distillery Located along the Causeway Coastal some cases its unique underwater (dating from 1608) for a guided tour Route you will find the famous nine marine life. It also has many interesting explaining how the unique triple glens of Antrim: listed buildings and a strong cultural heritage, with storytelling, songs and distilled Irish whiskey is produced. Glencloy – The glen of the hedges Experience all the sights, smells, and music. Legend has it that Rathlin Island Glenarm – The glen of the army noises as malt spirit is produced in was the stopping place for Robert the Glenariff – The fertile glen front of you. In the 1608 Bar, you will Bruce and the famed spider. finish the tour with one of the famous Glenballyeamon – Edwardstown glen To reach the Island, take the ferry whiskeys. Tutored Whiskey Tastings are Glencorp – The glen of the slaughtered from Ballycastle across to Rathlin to also available and the Whiskey and Gift Glenann – The glen of the colt’s foot the harbour at Church Bay, the trip Shop is stocked with exclusive branded Glendun – The glen of the brown river takes about 25 minutes on the Rathlin merchandise. A restaurant is open Glenshesk – The sedgy glen Express. As you sail along, you can identify the main features of the North to the public seven days a week for Glentaisie – The glen of taisie of the Antrim Coast with Fair Head towering coffee and lunch.