Causeway Coastal Route

Hey Everyone, 

My parents visited me last week and we were in Bushmills (Northern Ireland) close to the Giant Causeway and the Causeway Coastal Route. My parents and I have done, with a car, the major part of the road (We stop at Portrush)

This route begin in Belfast and finished in Londonderry. How it name indicated it, this Route is really close to the Nothern Ireland's coast.

On this Route, there is so many landscapes to take in, and I would like to share with you the ones that I appreciate the most. 

The Giant's Causeway

The Giant's Causeway is located close to the city of Bushmills, close to the Northest coast (County Antrim; 2 miles/4.8 kilometers from the east of the city). It is one of the Nothern Ireland's top tourist attraction and UNESCO World Heritage site since 1986-1987.

It is an are of about 40.000 interlocking basalt columns, the result of a former volcanic eruption. The top of the columns form stones that lead from the cliff foot and sisappear under the sea. The majority of the colums are hexagonal. The tallest are about 12 meters high. 

The site is open for working all the year and it is free to visit it if you don't want to go in the visitor center. The site is managed by the National Trust, a conservation charity which try to keep it as natural as possible for the visitor experience. 

The Carrick-a-Rede

The Carrick-a-Rede is a bridge suspended almost 30 meters above the sea. It was first erected by salmon fishermen 350 years ago. Nowadays, these bridge us a popular tourist destination. It attracts thousands tourist each years. The bridge is long of 20 meters, linking the mainland to "Rocky Island". In these island you have a wonderful view on the Rathlin Island and Scotland.

A short footpath (close to one kilometers) leads to Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge. On the way, there are gorgeous point of view, where tourist take picture of the landscape (there is also some scenes shoting in these county).

Tourist can take the footpath for free but the crossinf of the bridge is not free. (Adult: £5.90, Child: £3.00).

The Bridge is opening: 

1 January - 22 February: 09:30 - 15:30

23 February - 24 May 09:30 - 18:00

30 March -12 April 09:30 - 19:30 (Easter holidays)

25 May - 30 August 09:30 - 19:30

31 August - 25 October 09:30 - 18:00

26 October - 31 December 09:30 - 15:30

Final access to Rope Bridge is 45 minutes before the closing time. It is closed the 24th, 25th and 26th of December.

Ballintoy Harbour

Ballintoy is situated between the Giant's Causeway and Carrick-a-Rede. The Ballintoy Harbour is built from limestone blocks and surrounted by limestone cliffs was once a hub for north coast fishing, boat building and local industries. There is a house which catch the attention. This house was build by Newton Penprase, an artist. Tourist can take a walk close to  the ocean. 

The village was used for the fictional town of Lordsport in the Isle of Pyke in the second season of the TV series Game of Thrones in August 2011.

Whitepark Bay 

This spectacular sandy beach forms a white arc between two headlands close to the North coast. The beach is supported by dunes that provide a range of rich habitats for the wild life, chiefly the bird life. These bay is one of the most natural coastline sites in Northern Ireland. The place is also reknown for archeology, because there is many fossils there. The White Park Bay has been in the care of the National Trust since 1938.

If you want to stay one night their, in a quiet place, the White Park Bay Youth Hostel is perfect for the students (there is also adults who go their). There is a wonderfull view on these bay. 

Carrickfergus

Carrickfergus is a large town in the County Antrim (Northern Ireland). It is located on the north of the city of Belfast, 18 kilometers (11 miles).There is close to 30 ,000 inhabitants in the city. Carrickfergus is one of the most the oldest town of the County Antrim and one of the oldest colony of Ireland. 

Carrickfergus is also the subject of the classic Irish folk song "Carrickfergus".

Here is the Lyrics of the song, written by the Dubliners: 

I wish I was in Carrickfergus

Only for nights in Ballygrand
I would swim over the deepest ocean
Only for nights in Ballygrand
But the sea is wide and I cannot swim over
And neither have I the wings to fly
I wish I had a handsome boatsman
To ferry me over my love and I

(This verse is only sung on the "40 years "cd)
My childhood days bring back sad reflections
Of happy times there spent so long ago
My boyhood friends and my own relations
Have all past on now with the melting snow
So I'll spend my days in this endless roving
Soft is the grass and shore, my bed is free
Oh to be home now in carrickfergus
On the long rode down to the salty sea

Now in Kilkenny it is reported
On marble stone there as black as ink
With gold and silver I would support her
But I'll sing no more now til I get a drink
Cause I'm drunk today and I'm seldom sober
A handsome rover from town to town
Ah but I'm sick now my days are numbered
Come all me young men and lay me down
Come all me young men and lay me down.

The tittle of Bron Carrickfergus was given to Prince Williams on his wedding days on 29 April 2011.

Carrickfergus Castle

Carrickfergus is reknown for its castle. The castle is build in a Norman style. It was the property respectly of Scotish, Irish, English and French. It is one of the best medieval strucutres in Northern Ireland. 3/4 of the castle is surrounded by the water (in modern time it is "only" 1/3). The Carrickfergus Castle is maintained by the Northern Ireland Environment Agency, as a historic monument. 

I hope you enjoy this presentation and those pictures on the Causeway Coastal Route, It is one of my favourite journey during my Erasmus, 

Hope to see you all soon

Cheers, 

Victor ^o^

Bibliography

http://www.causewaycoastalroute.com/causeway-coastal-route.html

http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/giants-causeway/

http://www.ireland.com/campaign/normal-campaign/2013/causeway-coastal-route/

http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/carrick-a-rede/

http://www.discovernorthernireland.com/Carrick-a-Rede-Rope-Bridge-Ballintoy-Ballycastle-P2829

http://www.discovernorthernireland.com/causeway/

http://www.walkni.com/walks/583/ballintoy-to-bushmills/

http://www.hini.org.uk/hostels/White-Park-Bay-Youth-Hostel

http://www.walkni.com/walks/115/whitepark-bay/

http://www.discovernorthernireland.com/Carrickfergus-Carrickfergus-P7124

http://www.irelandseye.com/aarticles/travel/attractions/castles/carrick.shtm

http://www.virtualvisittours.com/carrickfergus-castle/