| Page Views: 137 Last Visit to Antrim: April, 2008 | Antrim - One of Ireland's Most Precious Jewels by pure1942 - last update: May 14, 2008 |
I embarrased to say that it took me 25 years of my life to visit County Antrim and God did I miss out! The Antrim coastline is stunningly beautiful, so much so that I am reconsidering my previous assumption that counties Kerry and Wicklow are Ireland's most scenic counties.
I have travelled extensively, especially over the past two years and yet during my visit to Antrim in April 2008, I am beginning to come to the realisation that I live in a country which boasts some of the most beautiful natural scenery and landscape that the world has to offer. I don't want to blow my country's proverbial trumpet but there is so much natural beauty contained on this small island which can compete with anywhere else in the world.
What to See:
Outsuide the energetic city of Belfast which is gradually shaking off the shackles of its' recent troubles and conflict, County Antrim has so much to see and do. (See my Belfast Page for more on Belfast)
I had only a weekend in Antrim to get a taste of what the county has to offer but am already planning a return trip as soon as possible. The coastline of Antrim is breathtaking with highlights including The Giant's Causeway, Carrick-A-Rede Rope Bridge, Dunluce Castle, Bushmillls Whisky Distillery, Cushendall, Glenariff Forest Park and Waterfalls, Waterfoot, Slieve Mis (Where St. Patrick spent time as a slave), Dunseverick Castle, Portrush and Whitpark Bay - to name just a small sample of what the north of Antrim has to offer. I really can't wait to go back!
Visit www.northantrim.com for more information on the County Antrim coastline and visit my Belfast page for more on the city. |
|  | Giant's Causeway The crowning glory of the north of Ireland is surely the amazing Giant's Causeway. The causeway was formed as a result of an ancient volcanic eruption which resulted in the formation of these hexagonaly shaped columns of basalt. The rock formations have been declared a World Heritage Site and is one of the world's most unique geological sites.
Visitors flock to the causeway coast to marvel at the variety of different formations scattered about the causeway, namely the 'Wishing Chair', 'Chimney Stacks', 'Giant's Boot', 'Organ', Camel' and Giant's Granny'. These are the names given to the various different sections and formations of rock which can be viewed.
Legend of the Causeway:
Legend has it that the giant Fionn Mac Cumhaill (fyun mok cool) constructed the causeway as a crossing to Scotland to fight another scoottish giant. The legend reports that Fionn fell asleep before he made it to Scotland and that the Scottish Giant came looking for him. When he saw the giant coming, Fionn was scared and asked his wife Úna to wrap him in a blanket and pretended he was a baby. When the Scottish giant saw the 'baby' he thought that Fionn Mac Cumhaill was the father and ran away himself, thinking that if the baby was this big, the father (Fionn) must be enourmous!
Check out my 'Things To Do' tips for more on the Giant's Causeway individual formations. |
| | Carrick-A-Rede Rope Bridge Located 20 minutes east of the Giant's Causeway is another of the Antrim coast's finest attractions, the famous Carrick-A-Rede rope bridge. There has been a rope bridge in existence at this location for 350 years and was primarily used as a crossing for fishermen to the small Carrick Island. The bridge is 20 metres long and is suspended 30 metres above the rocks and sea below.
Visitors flock to the rope bridge not just for the thrill of crossing it but also for the amazing views, scenery and wildlife around the coastal area of Carrick-A-Rede and Ballintoy. Views across the sea towards Rathlin Island and across to Scotland can also be enjoyed on a clear day.
Many people who come with the intention of crossing the bridge turn back when seeing it and there have even been incidents of people crossing onto the island but refusing to complete the return and had to be lifted off the island by the coastguard or boat. Don't worry though, the bridge can withstand a weight of up to 10 tonnes! |
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pure1942's Antrim Travel Tips
| Overview | Things to Do
Tips: 12 - Photos: 60 | | | | Restaurants | Hotels & Accommodations | | | | Nightlife | Off The Beaten Path | | | | Tourist Traps | Warnings Or Dangers
Tips: 1 - Photos: 1 | | | Transportation
Tips: 2 | Local Customs | | | | Packing Lists | Shopping | | | | Sports Travel | General Tips |
 Comments for pure1942 about Antrim | | | | |
scottishvisitor Thu Jun 25, 2009 21:05 UTC
Have heard the story of the Giant's Causeway but haven't seen it in reality = I love the coast so a visit to Antrim would be a joy for me | hunterV Tue May 26, 2009 19:07 UTC
Hello, Brian! Good for you! You have paid a visit to such nice places.... | sue_stone Sat May 31, 2008 18:07 UTC
It really is a stunning part of the world isn't it! |
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