Gortin Quarry, Carnlough BT44 0JX Journey into the unexpected. To a land shaped by sea and stone. 2 shapedbyseaandstone.com 3 Slemish Mountain, Ballymena BT42 4PF In a world made smaller by tourism, where surprise is no longer on the agenda, how we travellers yearn for the unexpected. No more crowds inching their way through the same old attractions, driving on over-travelled roads to places whose character has been dulled by endless visits, to be welcomed by people who have seen it all before. 4 shapedbyseaandstone.com 5 The Gobbins, Islandmagee BT40 3SL You can get so close to that remarkable coastline you are actually part of it on Europe’s most dramatic cliff walk. When the makers of Game of Thrones® were Where you can revive the soul, watching castle or, overlooking spectacular cliffs searching for a spectacular but unfamiliar the thunderous beauty of water cascading in a beautifully restored lighthouse It doesn’t landscape to film the world’s favourite TV down a waterfall in a forest or, relaxing in keeper’s cottage. series, they knew just where to go. a hot tub by a plunging river, after a hot Where you can get so close to that To a land shaped by the sea, where stone massage in one of Europe’s most remarkable coastline you are actually part have to be a triumph of Victorian engineering created luxurious spas. of it on Europe’s most dramatic cliff walk. one of the world’s most dramatic coastal Where you can travel to the past in an Where, by ancient stone floors and glowing roads, opening up a unique culture sealed unspoilt 18th century village, learn an turf fires, the finest traditional musicians like that. off for centuries. ancient craft at the blacksmith’s forge invite you to a night of music you will never To a land shaped by stone, where green and enjoy the sheer delight of a Victorian forget in Ireland’s oldest thatched inn. valleys lie beneath the most spiritual of steam train experience. Our pace is slower, our people have time mountains and spectacular ridges of rock Where you can taste an amazing food to engage, we are at one with our world tower over a magical landscape. culture in atmospheric venues in one of and we’d love you to share it. Where medieval castles are still occupied Ireland’s Top Ten Foodie Destinations and The path less travelled leads you to us. by the families who built them and take you can choose to stay in a 17th century Tempted? Then read on. you to the heart of a tumultuous history. 6 shapedbyseaandstone.com 7 Welcome Contents Here you will find Coast 11 a taster of things to Wellbeing 27 see & do in the region Game of Thrones® 41 Heritage 55 For full details visit shapedbyseaandstone.com Towns & Villages 75 Hospitality 89 48-Hours 111 8 shapedbyseaandstone.com 9 COAST – SHAPED BY SEA & STONE Garron Point, Causeway Coastal Route BT44 0JS Coast Voted Best in Travel 2018 by Lonely Planet, the world’s leading guidebook, the Causeway Carnlough Glenarm Coastal Route is a journey unlike any other. Ballygally Larne Islandmagee Whitehead Carrickfergus Belfast 10 shapedbyseaandstone.com 11 COAST – SHAPED BY SEA & STONE The Black Arch, Larne BT40 1TZ Before William Bald blasted his coastal road, it was easier for locals to sail the few miles to Scotland than travel to Belfast. Thanks to that triumph of Victorian engineering, this uniquely beautiful area has been opened up and one of the most enthralling road trips on the planet can be enjoyed by all. But the centuries of remoteness have left their mark. A culture isolated from the rest of Ireland developed its own unique ways and they survive to this day - how people speak, their music, myths and folklore, the warmth and genuineness of their welcome and the way they are at one with their breathtakingly beautiful environment. Image courtesy of Bill Guiller Image courtesy of 12 shapedbyseaandstone.com 13 COAST – SHAPED BY SEA & STONE Carrickfergus Castle, Carrickfergus BT38 7BG Morning The Rock of Fergus We begin with breakfast in Carrickfergus and a tour of its 12th century castle. If a castle like this existed in any other place, you would be part of a heaving crowd. But in Carrickfergus, there’s space to breathe in its history. Carrickfergus Castle stands on the rocks where the ship of Fergus, legendary king of Scotland, ran aground, giving this vitally strategic town its name, the ‘Rock of Fergus’. Look across the harbour from the castle walls and you will understand why John de Courcy, Anglo Norman conqueror of Ulster, built his stronghold here to secure the Lough. 14 shapedbyseaandstone.com 15 Blackhead Lighthouse, Whitehead BT38 9PB The story of Ulster Rooms with a view In the castle’s endless history of sieges, That includes the amazing views by one of attacks, captures, burnings and changing Northern Ireland’s most important working hands, lies the story of this part of Ulster. lighthouses, Blackhead. It has protected the Antrim Coast from Irish If you had been standing outside the and Scottish armies, not to mention the lighthouse keepers’ cottages at Blackhead terrifying Sorley Boy McDonnell, and was Lighthouse on April 2nd 1912 you would a key battleground in the war between have had a perfect view of RMS Titanic as James II and William III that changed the she sailed out of Belfast. Today you can course of Irish history forever. become a keeper for the day, scanning the waters for boats, as well as dolphins, French invasion porpoises and even whales. In 1760 came the most surprising invasion The best way to learn about the keepers’ of all when French troops stormed the lives? Live them! Today, their cottages castle and captured the town, during the provide some of the most unique self‑ Seven Years’ War between France and catering accommodation anywhere. Britain. All this and much more can be Sit back in the evening, listen to the crashing discovered on a guided tour around this waves below and transport yourself back remarkably well‑preserved Norman castle. to a simpler time when people were at one with the natural world around them. Fall in love with our coast It’s a holiday for the soul! But the story of our extraordinary coast is only just beginning as we drive the five An experience you will never forget miles along the coastal road to Whitehead, to the best example you will find of an Imagine if you could get so close to this idyllic Victorian seaside resort. now world famous coastline, that you are actually part of it? You can. This area, including neighbouring Islandmagee, offers some of the most When it was opened back in 1902 exhilarating ways to become immersed in The Gobbins Cliff Path was said to have one of Europe’s most dramatic coastlines. ‘no parallel in Europe as a marine cliff walk’ and was five times as popular as the Giant’s Causeway. Since the path was re‑imagined in 2015, a new legion of visitors have come to the same conclusion. The Gobbins Visitor Centre and the tours that depart from it have become one of Northern Ireland’s top visitor attractions. It’s about a 15‑minute drive from The Gobbins Visitor Centre to our next stop, at Billy Andy’s, one of the last original licensed spirit grocers still left in the country. Dating back to the early 1800s this traditional family pub is also famed for its food. You’ll find it near the little village of Glenoe, a hidden gem in the area, and the inspirational Glenoe Waterfall Walk. 16 shapedbyseaandstone.com 17 Drive on the wild side Chaine Memorial Tower, Larne Afternoon BT40 1AD As you leave Larne behind, the scenery We rejoin the coastal road just outside begins to change. The blue waters are Whitehead, taking it to the ancient seaport close to your right, with views of Scotland of Larne. a constant feature on a good day. There’s a sense of wildness too, you are in a Head to the leisure centre carpark and go different world. There are remarkable rock for a refreshing walk along the Promenade, formations on both sides and headlands where you have the option to take a photo appear and disappear in the distance as outside the Chaine Memorial to James the road veers around. Chaine who was instrumental in the building of Larne Harbour. Going in the opposite direction you will come across Larne’s Beautiful beaches very own Jurassic Coastline. Of the many unexpected discoveries you The unique geology that makes up this will make on this trip, not least surprising part of the coast is never more remarkable is the host of secluded sandy beaches, than at Waterloo Bay. Just outside Larne, uncrowded even in summertime. About it’s one of the most important places in the four miles from Larne on the Coast Road world when it comes to fossil‑spotting for you’ll reach Ballygally, where you can surf treasures that date back 200 million years or paddle board off the golden beach ago! Please remember to ‘Leave No Trace’. before retiring to Ballygally Castle Hotel for lunch or afternoon tea. Walk to the end of the Promenade and you will see a small memorial sculpture Ancient waterway overlooking the sea which reads ‘Antrim Coast Road’ constructed 1832 to 1842 by For another seven miles the coastal road the Men of the Glynnes (Glens) under the meanders around headlands, with the direction of William Bald.