|
|
|
| Ballycastle - Giant's Causeway Coast Guide Ballycastle is a small seaside town situated within the Antrim's Glens area, an area of outstanding natural beauty on the northern coast of Ireland. There is a wide sandy beach which attracts a lot of people to the resort in the summer months.
For details of Ballycastle Hotels and Holidays, Guest Houses, Cottages and Attractions. Go to Ballycastle Hotels Guest Houses and Cottages
The marine drive north from Larne, and then west past the Giant's Causeway to the resort of Portrush, follows 60 miles of the most beautiful coast you could imagine. The first 28 miles were blasted out from the chalky cliffs in 1834. Soon after, when the road was opened right round to Ballycastle, all nine glens suddenly became accessible and the farmers could get to market. Just offshore from Ballycastle is Rathlin Island. Rathlin is Northern Ireland's only inhabited island and is chock-a-block with wildlife. Watch out for puffins, buzzards, oystercatchers, Manx shearwaters, seals basking in rocky coves and passing shoals of dolphins and porpoises.
Some ten miles to the west of Ballycastle is situated The Giant's Causeway which is the most famous visitor's sight in the region. The Causeway is a spectacular natural rock formation of basalt columns that was formed some 60 million years ago from volcanic activity. At least that's the official story - local legend has it that the Irish giant, Finn MacCool built the causeway as a route to the Hebrides!
The surrounding coastal area is known as The Causeway Coast and the area offers spectacular coastal scenery, peaceful glens and bustling seaside resorts including Cushenden and Cushendall and Bushmills, home of the famous malt whiskey. Incredibly the Bushmills Distillery dates back to 1608 when a license to produce spirits was grated by King James I. The Causeway Coast also has some of the world's best golf - 30 top courses with the links at Royal Portrush being the granddaddy of them all.
What to see around Ballycastle Dunluce Castle - ruins of 13/15th century castle on clifftops near bushmills Phone: 028 2073 1938 Dunluce Centre - Dunluce Avenue, Portrush, County Antrim BT56 8BF Tel: 028 7082 4444 Ballycastle Museum - 59, Castle St, Ballycastle, County Antrim BT54 6AS Tel: 028 2076 2942 Irish Linen Centre - Market Square, Lisburn, BT28 1AG Tel: 028 9266 3377 Map of Ballycastle area View Larger Map
< Belfast Guide Coleraine Guide > Other sections of the guide you might also enjoy - see below. We will bring you feature articles about the coastline and news items about life in the coastal area. contributions to this section are welcome. Attractions - see listings pages
The National Marine Aquarium - Plymouth
The listings section will also have details of pubs, restaurants, nightclubs and shops available in the locality. Restaurants and shops coming soon..... The Beach Pub - Exmouth
|
Ukcoastguide
|
Ukcoastguide 2019
|
Dunluce
Castle
The
town is situated on the northern slopes of Knocklayde Mountain, which fans
out on reaching Ballycastle Bay. Knocklayde rises steeply southwards to a height
of 1,650 feet and the land north, west and east of the town rises steeply to 200
feet contours. Great views along the coast can be had from the summit of the
mountain.
The Giant's
Causeway
A
huge selection of attractions are available within the coastal area and this
section will have details of many of them. From piers and harbours to fun fairs
and roller coasters, the listings will have details of what's available in your chosen
area. For details of attractions look in the resort pages. 
Whether
your idea of an ideal activity is sunbathing or you prefer something more
strenuous, the chances are that you will be able to pursue this at the
coast. There is a wide selection of activities that can be found on our
coastline - these range from a gentle stroll to the next bay, to swimming and snorkelling,
to more energetic activities such as sailing, surfing, windsurfing and kite
sailing. See Activities section.
Pubs, restaurants and shopping
guide