Category: Northern Ireland
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The Mourne Mountains
In September 2009, I paid a flying visit to the Mourne Mountains in County Down. I was taking a group of junior orienteers to the Junior Inter-Regional Championships at the Silent Valley Mountain Park. So I didn’t have the chance to explore the area as much as I would have liked. In fact, now it…
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The Giant’s Boot
Northern Ireland’s most visited attraction is the iconic Giant’s Causeway, polygonal columns of basaltic rock formed sixty million years ago when molten lava spread across the land and created clouds of steam on meeting the sea. The lava cooled and began to solidify into basalt. While most tourists only get as far as the Causeway…
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Chaine Memorial Tower
Two years ago I was waiting to catch the ferry from Larne and ended at the Chaine Tower. I pleasant quiet place to a pass an hour or so away from the hustle and bustle of the terminal. The stone tower was built at the entrance to Larne Lough as a memorial to James Chaine,…
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Chaine Memorial Tower
A stone tower lighthouse at the entrance to Larne Lough and a memorial to James Chaine, a Member of Parliament for Antrim, who died in 1885. Chaine was instrumental in the development of the town and in the ferry service to Stranraer.
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Castle Ward
A lovely National Trust property at the south end of Strangford Lough. Game of Thrones fans might recognise the tower house as the town gate to Winterfell however in the film two towers are shown, one either side of the arched gateway. This was all done with the magic of cgi.
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Castle Espie
A move south of Belfast to Strangford Lough. To the WWT reserve at Castle Espie, the Bishop’s Castle.
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Castle Espie
A move south of Belfast to Strangford Lough. To the WWT reserve at Castle Espie, the Bishop’s Castle.
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Giant's Causeway
It had to be done. The Giant’s Causeway. Arguably Northern Ireland’s most famous tourist attraction. I’m not so sure how I feel about it. Spectacular enough. Geologically superb and steeped in folklore. But the £18.5m visitor centre (of which just over £6m came from the EU); World Heritage Site award; shuttle buses for the 1km…
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Seals, Rathlin Island
A colony of seals, arguing amongst themselves at Rue Point on Rathlin Island off Ballycastle.
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Ballintoy harbour
On the Antrim north coast. A picturesque harbour but very touristy especially on a bank holiday weekend in Ireland. Made even more popular by being yet another Game of Thrones location.