Northern Ireland '06

Northern Ireland

Day 3 - Sat 26 Nov 2006

Up for breakfast - it appears that a fry up is the norm over here. The B&B is a bit of a rambling old place with a fireplace in just about every room. Headed off to Mussenden Temple, but the weather is far from great with rain showers and strong winds. There is a wreck of an old house with great views along the coast. Further on there's the temple itself - a circular building with a domed roof right on the cliff edge. The railway line is tunnelled under it (about 200 feet down).

It's normally closed at this time of year, but I was really lucky as someone was in discussions with the key holder about holding their wedding there next year - so I managed to sneak in and look around with them.

Then it was back into the car and off down the coast road, via Bushmills to the Giants Causeway. It costs five pounds to park. Blimey! I guess they have to make their cash someway - and there isn't an admission fee. Walked down to the Causeway itself and climbed out onto the stones to get some photos. It's a lot smaller than I was expecting, but the columns themselves are much bigger and all the same size.

The coastal path led off allowing me to see more of the Northern Ireland coast line, and spectacular it is. The wind hasn't eased up, but the rain has stopped. After the walk it was back up to the NT shop for a cup of tea and a scone, which is just what the doctor ordered.

Onward down the coastal route to Carrick-a Rede, but by that time the sun was on the way down - walked the 1km to the bridge to find that it's removed during the Winter - Oh Well. On the way back to the car the rain started again.

Headed off to Cushenden, a very pretty small place, with some very well done new housing on the harbour wall. On to Cushendall a village a bit more inland, but by this time it was dark, so didn't get to see too much. Decided to head back via the road over the hills. Had to wait while a caterpillar backhoe came down the road, it was so big it filled the whole road. The hills are pretty high, my ears popped!

Ballymoney Clocktower

Found my way back to Ballymoney and the tourist information place told me of a couple of good places to eat. I chose Molly's and it was good food. Made it back to Harmony Hill by about 19:30, there was no one else around so helped myself to a drink from the bar, and left a note detailing what I'd taken. Started inventing bad cocktails - Perno, Lee & Perrins and Balley's. Asleep by 22:00. Walking takes it out of you.