Area of outstanding beauty

So.. we have been exploring the Antrim Coast, the title of this blog is what Northern Ireland call pockets of nature reserves.  

From a 400 year old pub to a horse farm in Ballycastle. This is the view from our cottage you can see Scotland from here.

 Today we are off to Carrick-a-rede to walk the rope bridge.  They have improved the rope bridge since 1755 thankfully but I had Temple of Doom visions of machetes and alligators.  We crossed without incident nor a raised heartbeat and explored this old fishing spot and coastline.  Next door is an abandoned limestone quarry and one of the locations for Game of Thrones.  

A potential future painting?


Next off to Dunluce Castle dramatically positioned on a sheer headland between the giants causeway and Portrush.  Built between 15th and 17th centuries.    The drive up the coast was quite stunning and we finished the day in Portrush, we got a tip of where the locals get there grub on a Sunday afternoon and headed to The Mermaid for a hearty lunch and a glass of wine in a very popular restaurant.  We were told that Portrush had the most beautiful beach in the world????  mmm Well it did have sand but I had to laugh that everyone was wearing wetsuits. (16 degrees - summer).  


Today we leave Northern Ireland and make our way to Lough Eske Castle or home for the next two nights.   High tea today and a special 60th birthday dinner for me tomorrow night.


Dunluce castle



Coast towards Portrush


Portrush beach

We arrived at Lough Eske Castle today. An absolutely stunning place. Built next to the shores of a lake with magnificent forests and walking trails everywhere. 



Our first mission though was High Tea! It was three tiers of plates with cakes and scones that were the best we had ever had. We did our best but could not actually finish it! 

The next day was the most important social event on the calendar, Christine’s 60th birthday. After a suitably late start and an enormous breakfast we took in a long walk around the lake. Truly stunning, with water like glass and rolling green hills and manor houses dotted around it. It felt like we were taking a stroll from Downton Abbey down to the village to fetch the pheasant for supper!

After our walk it was an afternoon of lazing around the castle reading and drinking lots of ginger ale - believe it or not it was actually quite warm - and preparing ourselves for the main event, the birthday dinner at Cedars in the castle. It was everything we hoped it would be. The food was sumptuous, the cocktails likewise, and the cake was appropriately enormous! We will be carrying it around with us for some time. 


After waddling back to our room, Christine informed me that she would no longer be doing 60 (except for seniors discounts) but would henceforth be only 55. Whatever works!


The next day we made our way to Knock South in County Mayo via Galway. Galway is a pretty and busy little town with a wonderful main street full of pubs, buskers and shops. Brad is taking credit for spotting what was to become Christine’s birthday present (he had really been sweating this one), a handbag that manages to be very Irish and very Christine at the same time. 



Comments

  1. Julie-AnnAugust 13, 2025 at 1:17 PM

    Perfect present and wonderful birthday celebrations. What a beautiful area.

    ReplyDelete
  2. AnonymousAugust 13, 2025 at 4:57 PM

    Not sure what is more impressive - the areas of outstanding natural beauty or the plates of outstandingly prepared food! The afternoon tea looked truly scrumptious! Fab birthday gift Brad but you do realise a bag is made to carry other purchases… just saying. Lots of love Jules Tanj & Ridge xxxx

    ReplyDelete
  3. AnonymousAugust 16, 2025 at 2:48 AM

    It all sounds absolutely fabulous and a perfect way to celebrate your birthday!. Love Phyllis xxx

    ReplyDelete

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