👋 Hi I’m Brian, Digital Marketing Executive and VagaGuide here at Vagabond Tours.
Having travelled the world extensively, I would undoubtedly rate the Causeway Coastal Route as one of the most scenic coastal drives in the world.
Atmospheric clifftop castles, incredible geology, fascinating history and wonderful folklore await you in Northern Ireland
All of our Vagabond and Driftwood Northern Ireland tours spend at least one day exploring this magical area.
This is one part of Ireland that you definitely don't want to miss
Read on intrepid traveller to explore the gorgeous Antrim coastline with Brian...
🏰 Stay In A 17th Century Castle Hotel
If you're taking one of our tours that visit Northern Ireland, you'll be lucky enough to begin your journey along the Antrim coast from Ballygally Castle Hotel.
Sitting proudly on the Causeway Coastal Route, the 400-year-old castle section of the hotel is the only 17th century building still used as a residence in Northern Ireland today.
Standing within a stones throw of a beautiful beach, this castle features a 400 year old tower house which is home to a friendly ghost. Spooky!
🎩 Stay In Quaint Carnlough
If you're taking one of our active Vagabond tours that visit Northern Ireland, you'll begin your journey along the Causeway Coastal Route from the historic Harbourview Hotel.
This charming Victorian-era hotel is located in a spectacular location, in the heart of a small coastal village of Carnlough, directly on the Causeway Coastal Route.
Once owned by the family of Sir Winston Churchill, the Harbourview Hotel boasts character in abundance.
Sitting in the hotel bar, it's easy to picture the old British bulldog reclining into one of the bar's antique Chesterfield armchairs, waxing lyrical and drinking copious amounts of brandy!
🌄 The 9 Glens of Antrim
Leaving the sea to our right-hand side, we set off for the spectacular Glens of Antrim.
These beautiful valleys were made famous by the song Danny Boy.
"Oh Danny boy, the pipes, the pipes are calling from glen to glen, and down the mountain side."
The names of the 9 Glens of Antrim, translated from Irish, helps shed some light on their original meaning:
Glenarm - glen of the army
Glencloy - glen of the dykes
Glenariff - glen of the plough
Glenballyemon - Edwardstown Glen
Glanaan - glen of the little fords
Glencorp - glen of the dead
Glendun - brown glen
Glenshesk - glen of the sedges (reeds)
Glentaisie - after Taisie, princess of Rathlin Island
🌊 Torr Head
Soon after the Glens of Antrim, we approach Torr Head.
On a clear day, you can catch a glimpse of Scotland from here.
Amazingly, the closest point in Scotland is only 18km (12 miles) away, across the Irish Sea.
After passing through the village of Ballycastle, where Europe's most ancient animal fair still takes place, we begin to climb.
Rathlin Island comes into view offshore. This is where the Vikings first landed in Ireland, around 1200 years ago.
Spotted passers-by in medieval dress? You can safety assume you're looking at a Game of Thrones fan. The famous series was filmed in this area.
😲 Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge
Our next stop on the Causeway Coastal Route is the Carrick-a-rede rope bridge.
Migrating salmon used to be netted by local fishermen here.
Now, the rope bridge attracts a different type of visitor.
You'll need nerves of steel to cross this 20m (66 feet) long rope bridge, suspended 30m (100 feet) over the Atlantic below.
🌋 The Giant's Causeway
The day just keeps getting better!
Next on our itinerary is the legendary Giant's Causeway.
There are just over 1,000 UNESCO World Heritage sites in existence globally. The Giant's Causeway is the only place so honoured in Northern Ireland.
This wonder of geology comprises approximately 40,000 hexagon shaped basalt rocks.
Before scientists suggested volcanic origins, folklore explained the causeway as an escape route for the mythical giant, Finn McCool:
"Finn is having trouble with someone across the water. The Scottish giant Benandonner is threatening Ireland.
An enraged Finn grabs chunks of the Antrim coast and throws them into the sea. The rock forms a path for Finn to follow and teach Benandonner a lesson."
🥃 Bushmills Whiskey Distillery
All this sightseeing is thirsty work!
And it's only the finest whiskey for our Vagabonds and Driftwooders!
With that in mind, the next stop on the Causeway Coastal Route is Bushmills.
Believe it or not, the world's oldest licensed whiskey distillery gained its licence way back in 1608.
Bushmills is the only distillery in Ireland to make triple-distilled single malt whiskey.
Any visit to Ireland is not complete without a taste of Ireland's uisce beatha (water of life).
⚔️ Dunluce Castle
Before we end our Causeway Coastal Route adventure, it would be rude not to stop at the majestic castle ruins of Dunluce.
Originally built in the 13th century, Dunluce was home to the McQuillan family who had come from nearby Scotland in the 1200s as hired mercenaries.
Perched dramatically on the cliff edge gazing out at the North Atlantic, the setting of Dunluce castle really is spectacular. So much so that it is thought to have been a part of the inspiration for C.S Lewis's classic children's fantasy, Chronicles of Narnia.
According to some archaeologists, the medieval town of Dunluce would have had some of Europe's first indoor toilets. What a claim to fame!
Find out more about which of our active Vagabond adventure tours and easy-paced Driftwood tours visit Northern Ireland.
