Causeway-Coast-And-Glens-Heritage

Home , Causeway Coast and Glens, Dunseverick, Dunseverick Castle, Portballintrae, Straid, Ulster Museum

role as a nationally important breeding site for Cormorants. for site breeding important nationally a as role

White Park Bay ©TourismNI Bay Park White Ballintoy, has been granted this status in recognition of its its of recognition in status this granted been has Ballintoy, columnar basalt and salt marsh. salt and basalt columnar

wintering or migrating birds. Sheep Island, off the coast of of coast the off Island, Sheep birds. migrating or wintering The Giant’s Causeway NNR is designated for its coastal cliffs, cliffs, coastal its for designated is NNR Causeway Giant’s The

species.

on an area with international importance for breeding, over over breeding, for importance international with area an on conserve nature and to promote education and research. research. and education promote to and nature conserve

support some 50 species of birds and more than 200 plant plant 200 than more and birds of species 50 some support

The designation SPA affords a European level of protection protection of level European a affords SPA designation The National Nature Reserves are managed specifically to to specifically managed are Reserves Nature National

of habitats including seashore, marsh and grassland which which grassland and marsh seashore, including habitats of

Special Protection Area (SPA) Area Protection Special National Nature Reserve (NNR) Reserve Nature National The Giant’s Causeway isn’t all just rocks but has a range range a has but rocks just all isn’t Causeway Giant’s The

the Giant’s Causeway. Causeway. Giant’s the

area for Harbour porpoise. Harbour for area

sheet produced the remarkably consistent columns seen at at seen columns consistent remarkably the produced sheet •

Castle Point Castle

sandbank, reef and sea cave habitats and as an important important an as and habitats cave sea and reef sandbank,

across a large area. This very ordered fracturing in the rock rock the in fracturing ordered very This area. large a across

Marine SAC has been designated for its underwater underwater its for designated been has SAC Marine

sense of power. power. of sense basalt cooled and contracted slowly and at an even rate rate even an at and slowly contracted and cooled basalt

• of Narrow-mouthed whorl snail. The Skerries and Causeway Causeway and Skerries The snail. whorl Narrow-mouthed of

ruins are breath-taking, and they still convey an immense immense an convey still they and breath-taking, are ruins remarkable natural phenomenon was created when molten molten when created was phenomenon natural remarkable Ramore Head and The Skerries Skerries The and Head Ramore

vegetated sea cliffs and Northern Ireland’s only population population only Ireland’s Northern and cliffs sea vegetated

waves crashing into the cliffs 35 metres below. The castle castle The below. metres 35 cliffs the into crashing waves or five-sided, with a few that are four or eight-sided. This This eight-sided. or four are that few a with five-sided, or

Coast SAC has been designated because of its important important its of because designated been has SAC Coast

rocky promontory jutting out into the Atlantic Ocean, with with Ocean, Atlantic the into out jutting promontory rocky gently inclined columns, the majority of which are seven, six six seven, are which of majority the columns, inclined gently

•

Dark green fritillary © Richard Donaghey Richard © fritillary green Dark

Carrick-a-Rede protection under European legislation. The North Antrim Antrim North The legislation. European under protection to imagine a more spectacular site for a castle, set high on a a on high set castle, a for site spectacular more a imagine to visitors each year. It is made up of some 40,000 vertical or or vertical 40,000 some of up made is It year. each visitors

are under serious threat and that have been given greater greater given been have that and threat serious under are inspiring sight of Dunluce Castle comes into view. It’s hard hard It’s view. into comes Castle Dunluce of sight inspiring

This world-famous site is enjoyed by over one million million one over by enjoyed is site world-famous This

animals, plants and habitats of international importance that that importance international of habitats and plants animals, possible to smell them too! them smell to possible Approaching the large seaside town of Portrush, the awe- the Portrush, of town seaside large the Approaching

•

Sheep Island Island Sheep

The Giant’s Causeway Causeway Giant’s The The term ‘Special Area of Conservation’ is applied to to applied is Conservation’ of Area ‘Special term The islands close to the rope bridge, and on a warm day it is is it day warm a on and bridge, rope the to close islands

History in stone in History

Kittiwakes, Guillemots and Razorbills breed on the cliffs and and cliffs the on breed Razorbills and Guillemots Kittiwakes,

Special Areas of Conservation (SAC) (SAC) Conservation of Areas Special

•

attractions – the Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge. Fulmars, Fulmars, Bridge. Rope Carrick-a-Rede the – attractions of lava. of Portballintrae

one of Northern Ireland’s most popular, and nail biting, biting, nail and popular, most Ireland’s Northern of one the oldest licenced distillery in the world (1608). (1608). world the in distillery licenced oldest the were long periods of inactivity between each outpouring outpouring each between inactivity of periods long were

Heritage Site. Site. Heritage this entire area 21,000-11,500 years ago. Further west is is west Further ago. years 21,000-11,500 area entire this also home to the famous Bushmills Distillery, reputed to be be to reputed Distillery, Bushmills famous the to home also

to its iron content, the presence of laterite indicates there there indicates laterite of presence the content, iron its to

• Meadow crane’s-bill © Geoff Campbell Geoff © crane’s-bill Meadow

international importance. It is Northern Ireland’s only World World only Ireland’s Northern is It importance. international Giant’s Causeway and Dunseverick and Causeway Giant’s loose boulders laid down by the vast ice sheet that covered covered that sheet ice vast the by down laid boulders loose has over 90 listed buildings including shops and houses. It is is It houses. and shops including buildings listed 90 over has the boundary between the basalt layers. Red in colour due due colour in Red layers. basalt the between boundary the

recognises the spectacular geology which holds holds which geology spectacular the recognises

lines of dry-stone walls criss-cross this area, built using the the using built area, this criss-cross walls dry-stone of lines village was designated as a conservation area in 1991 and and 1991 in area conservation a as designated was village places a layer of weathered basalt called laterite marking marking laterite called basalt weathered of layer a places

renowned site in the AONB. The UNESCO WHS designation designation WHS UNESCO The AONB. the in site renowned characterised by sheer sea cliffs and rough grassland. Long Long grassland. rough and cliffs sea sheer by characterised gives way to mixed farmland and deciduous woods. The The woods. deciduous and farmland mixed to way gives

lava, known as the Lower, Middle and Upper Basalts. In many many In Basalts. Upper and Middle Lower, the as known lava, •

Runkerry

Site was designated in 1986 and is the most internationally internationally most the is and 1986 in designated was Site The eastern fringe of the AONB to the west of Ballycastle is is Ballycastle of west the to AONB the of fringe eastern The the valley of the River Bush and the wild coastal landscape landscape coastal wild the and Bush River the of valley the near Limavady. In fact, there were three outpourings of of outpourings three were there fact, In Limavady. near

The Giant’s Causeway and Causeway Coast World Heritage Heritage World Coast Causeway and Causeway Giant’s The

historic village of Bushmills, the landscape softens around around softens landscape the Bushmills, of village historic north of Belfast and as far west as Binevenagh Mountain Mountain Binevenagh as west far as and Belfast of north

Heritage Site. Heritage

• area experiences intense volcanic activity. Approaching the the Approaching activity. volcanic intense experiences area stretches from the North Antrim Coast to Cave Hill, just just Hill, Cave to Coast Antrim North the from stretches

White Park Bay Park White World Heritage Site (WHS) Site Heritage World

including the Giant’s Causeway and Causeway Coast World World Coast Causeway and Causeway Giant’s the including

basalt rock were formed some 60 million years ago when this this when ago years million 60 some formed were rock basalt that it can be enjoyed by present and future generations. generations. future and present by enjoyed be can it that These vast lava flows formed the Antrim Plateau that that Plateau Antrim the formed flows lava vast These

most stunning scenery and landscapes in Northern Ireland, Ireland, Northern in landscapes and scenery stunning most

Heritage Site. The distinctive columns of five and six-sided six-sided and five of columns distinctive The Site. Heritage is designed to preserve and enhance this wonderful area so so area wonderful this enhance and preserve to designed is

The Causeway Coast AONB encompasses some of the the of some encompasses AONB Coast Causeway The years ago. ago. years •

provide recognition and protection. and recognition provide

Whiterocks lead on to the Giant’s Causeway and Causeway Coast World World Coast Causeway and Causeway Giant’s the to on lead an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The award of AONB AONB of award The Beauty. Natural Outstanding of Area an

Coast, from Ballycastle and continuing west to Portrush. Portrush. to west continuing and Ballycastle from Coast,

these are the dark, hard volcanic basalts from 60-65 million million 60-65 from basalts volcanic hard dark, the are these

rich in biodiversity, some of which have been designated to to designated been have which of some biodiversity, in rich

Continuing west, a series of small rocky bays and headlands headlands and bays rocky small of series a west, Continuing are of national importance and in 1989 it was recognised as as recognised was it 1989 in and importance national of are

AONB which extends for 30km along the North Antrim Antrim North the along 30km for extends which AONB

65-135 million years ago in the Cretaceous era. Capping Capping era. Cretaceous the in ago years million 65-135

Coast AONB is home to a number of important landscapes landscapes important of number a to home is AONB Coast

The special landscapes that make up the Causeway Coast Coast Causeway the up make that landscapes special The

This leaflet will help you to explore the Causeway Coast Coast Causeway the explore to you help will leaflet This limestone.

that can be seen on many cliff faces was laid down around around down laid was faces cliff many on seen be can that

, Causeway Causeway , km 42 only of area compact a only Although Causeway Coast AONB: AONB: Coast Causeway

habitat for flora and fauna. Keep an eye out for fossils in the the in fossils for out eye an Keep fauna. and flora for habitat that give the Causeway Coast its distinctive character. character. distinctive its Coast Causeway the give that years to the Jurassic period. The distinctive white limestone limestone white distinctive The period. Jurassic the to years

valuable natural places. There are nine ASSIs within the the within ASSIs nine are There places. natural valuable

and wildlife and

and value and backed by high basalt and limestone cliffs, provide a rich rich a provide cliffs, limestone and basalt high by backed be able to discover the many intriguing geological features features geological intriguing many the discover to able be

and White Park Bay for example, date back 135-190 million million 135-190 back date example, for Bay Park White and considerable contribution to the conservation of our most most our of conservation the to contribution considerable

sculpted rocks of Ballintoy Harbour at the other. The dunes, dunes, The other. the at Harbour Ballintoy of rocks sculpted as exploring its natural, cultural and built heritage, you will will you heritage, built and cultural natural, its exploring as rocks and landscapes. Some of the oldest rocks, at Portrush Portrush at rocks, oldest the of Some landscapes. and rocks An astonishing variety of landscapes landscapes of variety astonishing An

or physiographical features and to sites that make a a make that sites to and features physiographical or

beauty of places Protecting

Portbraddan at one end of the beach and the naturally naturally the and beach the of end one at Portbraddan alternating layers of black basalt and white limestone. As well well As limestone. white and basalt black of layers alternating

The Causeway Coast AONB comprises of a wide variety of of variety wide a of comprises AONB Coast Causeway The

the best examples of the region’s flora, fauna, geological geological fauna, flora, region’s the of examples best the

arc between two headlands, with the tiny fishing port of of port fishing tiny the with headlands, two between arc Ireland, from pristine dune systems to dramatic cliffs with with cliffs dramatic to systems dune pristine from Ireland,

The ASSI designation provides statutory protection for for protection statutory provides designation ASSI The

A complex rock structure rock complex A AONB Coast Causeway

HERITAGE SITES HERITAGE White Park Bay. This spectacular sandy beach forms a white white a forms beach sandy spectacular This Bay. Park White some of the most beautiful and varied scenery in Northern Northern in scenery varied and beautiful most the of some

(ASSI) The landscape mellows into an important dune system at at system dune important an into mellows landscape The Welcome to the Causeway Coast AONB. This region has has region This AONB. Coast Causeway the to Welcome

GEOLOGY NATURAL DESIGNATED HERITAGE NATURAL

Area of Special Scientific Interest Interest Scientific Special of Area beach of miles Three A place of national importance national of place A

Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) Beauty Natural Outstanding of Area

Causeway Coast Coast Causeway

Dunluce Castle ©TourismNI Causeway Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Common gorse ©Anne Burgess Wildlife watching ©Richard Donaghey FURTHER INFORMATION FLORA AND FAUNA BUILT HERITAGE Ballintoy Ballintoy is best-known for its picturesque harbour, built For more information on the On land, in sea and air Bird life Castles and commerce with massive limestone blocks, and for its white church, a landmark along the Causeway Coastal Route. The harbour Causeway Coast Area of The Causeway Coast AONB contains a diverse range of Many seabirds nest on the rugged cliffs and offshore islands was once the centre of a thriving fishing industry and in the landscapes and habitats, including islands and sea cliffs, of the Causeway Coast, feeding in the rich waters of the Dunluce Castle nineteenth century thousands of tons of cobblestones were Outstanding Natural Beauty sand dunes, grassland and saltmarsh, plus coastal and Atlantic Ocean and the North Channel. These include Dunluce Castle is one of the best-known historic monuments shipped from here to pave the streets of Dublin, Belfast marine areas and farmed countryside, all of which support Fulmars, Black guillemots, Kittiwakes, Razorbills, Cormorants contact: in Northern Ireland. Its history goes back to the medieval and Glasgow. The same limestone that built the harbour a rich and fascinating variety of wildlife. and Eider ducks. period and by the 1500s it was held by the McQuillans. They walls was burned in two huge lime kilns. Mixed with sand Causeway Coast and Glens Heritage Trust The rocky shores support a wide variety of birds were forced out in the 1560s by the powerful MacDonnell and water, the resulting ash formed a lime mortar which The Old Bank Marine life including Ringed plover, Turnstone, Purple sandpiper and clan under their formidable leader Sorley Boy MacDonnell. still holds together many of the Causeway Coast AONB’s 27 Main Street Oystercatcher. A streak of blue may indicate a colourful older buildings. The turbulent, oxygen-rich coastal waters support many Recent excavations near the castle have unearthed the ‘lost Armoy Kingfisher darting rapidly across the River Bush or watch small organisms and fish which attract feeding seabirds, town of Dunluce’. A once prosperous settlement, established Co. Antrim out for the bobbing brown and white Dipper. Kinbane Castle whales, dolphins and porpoises. The Common and Grey around 1607, it was inhabited exclusively by merchants from BT53 8SL seal can both be seen around the coast and the huge and The Causeway cliffs are home to Peregrine falcons and Scotland. The village was burned to the ground in 1641 but T: (028) 2075 2100 This ruined castle sits on a narrow limestone promontory in harmless Basking shark is an occasional summer visitor. It Ravens. The Peregrine falcon, the fastest and fiercest bird what remains is amongst the best preserved seventeenth- E: [email protected] a strikingly beautiful location, looking out towards Rathlin swims slowly, close to the surface, filtering tiny plankton of these cliffs, hunts other birds, plunging down to snatch century archaeology in Ireland. Visit our website - www.ccght.org or Island and beyond that to Scotland. The square tower of from the water through its enormous wide-open jaws. them at speeds of up to 200mph. find us on Facebook and Twitter the castle is all that remains. According to tradition it was Other marine life of the Causeway Coast includes sponges, Dunseverick Castle built in the 1540s by Colla MacDonnell, the brother of Sorley sea squirts, sand eels, crabs, scallops, small fish, and sea Northern Ireland Environment Agency Sand dunes Boy MacDonnell. There is a story that a group of besieging anemones. Wrasse, Pollock, Dogfish and Conger eel can be Set on a wind-swept promontory, Dunseverick castle has a Klondyke Building, Cromac Ave, English soldiers were once trapped and massacred in the found close to shore along the rocky coast and if you are Sand dunes offer one of the toughest environments for history that goes back to the 5th century and it has changed Gasworks Business Park, cave under the castle which is still known as the “Hollow of very lucky, you may spot an otter. plants to survive yet marram grass thrives in this dry, ownership and been rebuilt many times down the years. Lower Ormeau Road, Belfast, BT7 2JA the English”. nutrient-poor and abrasive habitat. Strong yet flexible, it None other than St. Patrick himself visited it on several T: 0300 200 7856 is the anchor that holds the dunes in place putting down occasions and in 870 it was attacked by Vikings. Destroyed Visit our website - www.daera-ni.gov.uk Eider © Tom McDonnell deep roots that bind the loose sand. Marram grass can by English forces in 1641, it has been in ruins ever since. Kinbane Castle ©Kieran Buckley Front cover image - be weakened when undercut by waves and too much Whiterocks Beach ©Tourism NI human trampling can also damage it. Wild thyme, Meadow Bushmills cransebill, and Eyebright grow within the dunes as well as a variety of beautiful orchid species. The rich diversity of The name Bushmills is synonymous with the Old Bushmills wildflowers supports a wide range of insects including the Distillery and uisce beatha, Irish for ‘water of life’, meaning colourful Dark-green fritillary butterfly, Cinnabar moth and whiskey. Whiskey has been produced here since a Royal the White-tailed bumblebee. licence was granted in 1608. The River Bush runs through the centre of Bushmills. Mills once lined its banks and were Yellow flowering Common gorse, or Whin, is commonly used to make products such as corn, flax, spades and of found along the exposed cliff tops and provides shelter for course whiskey. Guided tours of the Old Bushmills Distillery small mammals like the Pygmy shrew. Northern Ireland’s reveal the 400-year old secret of the ‘water of life’ with a only native reptile, the Common lizard, can be spotted on chance to sample a dram of the finest Irish Whiskey. warm sunny days across the AONB. Causeway Coast Guide_Map.pdf 1 11/04/2018 12:00

RATHLIN ISLAND Benbane Head Causeway Coast La Girona Shipwreck Dunseverick Ballintoy Carrick-a-rede Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Castle Harbour Rope Bridge Giant’s White Park Causeway Causeway Rd Bay BALLINTOY Kinbane Castle Giants Causeway and Bushmills Railway Whitepark Rd The Skerries A2 North Coast Sea Kayak Trail PORTBALLINTRAE Whitepark Rd LISNAGUNAGH

C M Dunluce Y Castle A2 A2 BALLYCASTLE CM

CY Coastal A2 BUSHMILLS CMY one Centre Bushmills Ballinlea Rd Ballinlea K PORTRUSH Distillery Ursa Minor Straid Rd Straid Rd Economusee Dunluce Rd A2 Broughgammon Bonamargy A2 Ballywillian Rd Farm Friary Economusee Ballycastle Glenshesk Rd Forest Priestland Rd

Coleraine Rd Key: Moyarget Rd Castlecat Rd Woodland Causeway Coast Way Golf Drones Rd Causeway Sustrains National Parking Bush River Knocklayd Cycling Network 514m Coastal Route Viewpoint A44 Railway Station AONB Boundary Information Coleraine Rail Route Ferry Crossing Beach Ballymoney Dark Ballymoney Ballymena Hedges

Ballintoy Harbour ©TourismNI Giant’s Causeway ©TourismNI Bushmills Distillery © TourismNI Reef © Joe Breen Northern fulmar © Tom McDonnell PEOPLE AND PLACES The Girona SEE AND DO HOW TO GET THERE LEAVE NO TRACE VISITOR INFORMATION The Girona was a large merchant galley of the 1588 Spanish The Causeway Coast AONB is situated on Northern Ireland’s In order to minimise your social and environmental impacts For Further Information on where to stay, Armada. Having fled from Sir Walter Raleigh’s fleet in the north coast and Belfast International, George Best Belfast on the outdoors, please follow the principles of Leave no places to visit or things to do contact: Ancient settlements, Spanish English Channel, she made her way north to escape bad Get out and about City and City of Derry airports are all within one hour’s drive. Trace. Leave No Trace is an outdoor ethics educational weather. Sailing along the North Antrim coast, the ship Bushmills Visitor Information Centre (seasonal opening) shipwrecks and tall stories The Causeway Coast AONB is packed with wonderful sights programme designed to promote and inspire responsible foundered off Lacada Point near the Giant’s Causeway. Ferry access is available to Larne and Belfast from Scotland Main Street to see and amazing things to do. Here are just some of outdoor recreation through education, research and Thirteen hundred lives were lost, including members of the and again the Causeway Coast AONB is within one hour’s Bushmills There is a long history of settlement in the Causeway Coast the places and activities you can enjoy when you’re out partnerships. Spanish aristocracy. There were only nine survivors. drive. Ferry access is also available from Greencastle, Co. BT57 8QA AONB. At White Park Bay evidence of man dates back to and about. the Neolithic period (4000-2500 BC) with a small circular Donegal to Magilligan which is less than half an hour’s drive Causeway Coast & Glens Heritage Trust supports the 7 T: (028) 2073 0390 Sorley Boy MacDonnell, living in the nearby Dunluce Castle, cairn about 11 metres in diameter, three passage mounds from the Causeway Coast AONB. principles of Leave No Trace: W: www.visitcausewaycoastandglens.com quickly recovered three brass cannons and two chests of and other finds. • Take a hike - engage first hand w ith this treasure from the wreck. The cannons can still be seen at w onderful coastline and enjoy its unique Portrush and Coleraine are both part of the Northern Coleraine Visitor Information Centre Given its close proximity, the area also has longstanding Dunluce Castle and many of the lost souls are buried in the natural beauty by follow ing the Causeway Ireland rail network. By road it is recommended that visitors 1. Plan Ahead and Prepare Coleraine Town Hall connections with Scotland. As early as the 5th to 7th St Cuthbert’s Church opposite Dunluce. Coast Way approach the AONB from either the east or west using the 35 The Diamond centuries, this area lay within the ancient kingdom of scenic A2 Causeway Coastal Route. 2. Be Considerate of Others Coleraine The wreck of the Girona was discovered on the sea bed in Dal Riada. Centred around the west coast of Scotland, it Go castle hunting - step back in time at the BT52 1DE 1967 and many of the items recovered – including a beautiful • Within the AONB, Translink offer the excellent ‘Causeway included most of the north coast of County Antrim. Settled deeply atmospheric castles of the Causeway T: (028) 7034 4723 salamander gold pendant, set with rubies - are held as part Rambler’ bus service and in summer there is a regular bus 3. Respect Farm Animals by lowland Scots Presbyterian throughout the seventeenth Coast AONB - Kinbane, Dunseverick and of W: www.visitcausewaycoastandglens.com of a permanent exhibit at the Ulster Museum in Belfast. The service between Larne and Portrush which follows the century, the Scottish influence is still evident in language, course, Dunluce. and W ildlife wreck site was designated under the Protection of Wrecks Causeway Coastal Route. Ballycastle Visitor Information Centre place names, music and dance. Act on 22 April 1993. The Giant’s Causeway - the modern Visitor Portnagree House Harbour and Marina • Cyclists can use the Sustrans National Cycle Network 4. Travel and Camp on 14 Bayview Road Centre brings the whole Causeway experience (Route 93) which passes through the western half of the Ballycastle to life through engaging interpretation and AONB, whilst walkers can enjoy the waymarked trail of the Durable Ground. (only in BT54 6BT interactive displays. Causeway Coast Way across the entire AONB. designated camping areas) T: (028) 2076 2024 Tall tales of the Giant’s Causeway • Carrick-a-Rede. Test your nerve on this W: www.visitcausewaycoastandglens.com nerve-tingling rope bridge. It’s not for 5. Leave What You Find Legend has it that the Irish giant, Finn McCool built the the faint hearted but is w orth it for the Peregrine © Geoff Campbell Tourism NI causeway to walk to Scotland to fight his rival Benandonner stunning view s of the Causeway Coast AONB Linum Chambers but fell asleep before he got to Scotland. When he did not coastline. 6. Dispose of Waste Properly Bedford Square arrive the much larger giant Benandonner crossed the Bedford Street causeway looking for him. To protect Finn, his wife Oonagh • Search for birds, bees and butterflies in the 7. Minimise the Effects of Fire Belfast laid a blanket over him and pretended that he was their baby areas many sand dune systems BT2 7ES For more information please visit: son. When Benandonner saw the size of the ‘infant’, he • Go looking for fossils among the limestone T: (028) 9023 1221 assumed that Finn must be gigantic indeed and fled home outcrops at White Park Bay, remembering to W: www.discovernorthernireland.com in terror, ripping up the Causeway in case he was followed www.leavenotraceireland.org leave what you find. Giant’s Causeway Visitor Information Centre by Finn. Practising a Leave No Trace ethic is very simple: 44 Causeway Road Dunluce Village Archaeological Dig ©Willie Duffin • Try something new - surfing, fishing, photography, coasteering, horse-riding, Make it hard for others to see or hear you and Bushmills kayaking and many other opportunities LEAVE NO TRACE of your visit. BT57 8SU T: (028) 2073 1855 W: www.giantscausewaytickets.com