Hugging the Atlantic coast from Londonderry to Belfast, the Causeway Coastal Route is filled with clean beaches, fishing villages, green valleys and clifftop paths. Absorbing this epic landscape from a car is a wonderful idea, but the other senses could be missing out! The sounds of the crashing waves along the coast, the birds soaring up above, the salty taste from the sea on your lips and the wind whistling past your ears – these are all part of this legendary land’s beauty.
So settle down in a B&B, cozy cottage or hotel in one of a scattering of welcoming towns or villages, and pick a few gems to explore each day. Here are some stops you should make along the path:
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- The city of Belfast is bustling – its iconic attractions and Victorian charm make it the perfect spot to begin your Causeway Coastal Route adventure. Start at Titanic Belfast, an interactive museum that’s an ode to the ill-fated Ship of Dreams. Hear heartbreaking tales about the vessel’s passengers, discover the detail behind the mammoth task of building the ill-fated ship and dive into the depths with an immersive video exploring the wreckage on the ocean floor. Also explore St George’s Market, where you’ll find everything from chocolate to local cheese.
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- Want to visit a storybook castle? Look no further than Glenarm Castle. Inside you’ll find furniture, portraits and much more dating back to the 17th century – this is as authentic as it gets. Take a wander through the castle gardens, too: they are among the oldest in Ireland, and the perfect spot to while away an afternoon in the sunshine.
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- Don’t miss the chance to visit Northern Ireland’s only offshore inhabited island, Rathlin. Chug across the picturesque Church Bay by ferry before landing in the harbor. With a population of just 140 people, Rathlin is home to some incredible legends, just ask the locals! Take a tour of the “upside down lighthouse”, Rathlin West Light, one of the Great Lighthouses of Ireland. You can also discover Rathlin’s wonderful wildlife: look out for seals on the rocks, hares in the fields and seabirds including puffins, kittiwakes, and guillemots.
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- Fill some big shoes at the Giant’s Causeway. There’s nowhere that blurs history and myth quite like County Antrim’s Giant’s Causeway. As Lonely Planet puts it, the Causeway “looks for all the world like the handiwork of giants”. While experts think that this geological wonder was formed by volcanic activity over 60 million years ago, the myth that it was built by warring giants has persisted for hundreds of years. Whether you side with science or prefer a good story, one thing is sure: this is a place of mind-boggling beauty that you should not miss.