Northern Ireland

June 2011

After one of our clients held an event in Dublin, I had a few days to spend, before going to South Africa, I had a look at hiking possibilities in Ireland. The choice is vast and it took me some time to narrow down a specific region with several day-walks to be done.

The main destination eventually ended up being Northern Ireland. After looking at getting up there by train and/or bus, I figured out it was just not an option. It is possible, but would have taken far too much time, less the flexibility.

So I rented a car and set off. I did a first stop in Howth, just slightly north-east of Dublin, for a walk around the cape to the lighthouse. It was pouring and the wind was slinging the rain drops on my face like a whip. When getting to the lighthouse, visibility was so bad I could not even see it. So I headed back for what was a good test for my rain garments, keeping me totally dry despite two hours of heavy rain and wind.

Back in the car I then drove up north, in the direction of Belfast. I had a walk around the city of Belfast and then a diner before heading back to the car park…that was closed… They decided to close it at 7pm on Saturdays instead of the usual 8 o’clock… without notice. So as I was already changing plans, thinking of sleeping in Belfast, while walking around the block I met other people with their cars locked in. We finally managed to get hold of a security guy that came over to free our vehicles.  

Then drove up north and checked-in to a traditional comfy hotel in Portrush, from where my two day hike was supposed to start.

Once I had unpacked my stuff I noticed I was missing my camera charger. 

So next day I drove off to Londonderry to buy a charger, had a walk around the old town and on my way back visited the Bushmills whisky distillery. The oldest licensed distillery in the world.

After some food shopping I headed off on my hiking trail that will bring me past the bespoke Giant Causeway site.

The Gianyt's Causeway is an astonishing natural site made out off thousands of hexagonal stones that look man-made but are actually the result of a volcanic eruption. All ahve the same size and shape.
Those stones are mainly at sea level but some others are present at the top of the cliffs and called organ pipes.

And then along the greeny and steep cliffs forming the coast line….

…through Withepark Bay, where cows live on the beach! …

…ending the day in Ballintoy, where I found a youth hostel and had a good meal at the Fullerton Arms pub.

The second day the walking path ends a couple of miles after Ballintoy, having passed the Carrick-a-Red rope bridge. The option then is to follow the road on a few miles to Ballycastle or catch the bus back to Portrush, which I eventually did.

The rest of the trip was a nice car ride from Ballycastle to Belfast, all around the coast line or through the country side but trying to stick the closest possible to the cliffs. 

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