FROSSES TREES, DARK HEDGES, DUNSEVERICK
FROSSES, DARK HEDGES, DUNSEVERICK
The week has flown in. It's Friday night already. Two well-deserved beers are gone and Graham Norton has played another blinder with this week's guest sofa and comical banter.
Saturday is just a few winks away and suddenly it dons - not a single plan made.
"Up early and go north?"
Yep.
FIRST STOP - FROSSES ROAD
If you're not familiar with the name, prior to 2017 this was the stretch of Fir-Tree-lined road between Ballymena and Ballymoney - famous for the 'hold your breath from the first tree to last' game, and for regular traffic jams as 18,000 cars used the route daily.
Thankfully, last year the road was changed to a dual carriageway - reducing travel time to the north coast and leaving the age-old trees as a quiet parking/picnic lay-by.
Great decision.
The road project has also seen the introduction of a roundabout at the junction of Drones Road - the main turn off that eventually brings you to another iconic Northern Irish landmark...
THE DARK HEDGES
Only wanting to make this a flying visit, we were thankful for the morning showers which temporarily quietened the ever-popular tourist spot, brought to fame as the Kingsroad in Game of Thrones.
Anyone else think they look like broccoli from this side?
QUICK, TO THE COAST
As the rain returned, we made a beeline up through the hills of north Antrim, eventually popping out to the coast at Bushmills.
Not a bad spot for a quick hideaway from the rain.
Naturally, one of us had to have an Irish Coffee...the other having an equally tasty, alcohol-free ginger beer.
DUNSEVERICK HARBOUR
In true Irish fashion, the 'all 4 seasons in a day' weather continued to keep us on our toes. With what looked like a decent break in the clouds, we dashed on along the coast to find somewhere to stretch the legs. Spotting the below brown sign that we had only ever driven past before, we took a gamble.
Spotting the walking path sign and knowing we wouldn't be disappointed with a stop at Dunseverick Castle after previous visits (read 2 Castles, 1 Donkey here) - we headed off along the coast.
Despite the wind, the route was an easy one to tackle and with so many stopping points for a nosy around, it's definitely one we'd recommend.
...and in between great bird-in-the-wind impressions, we spotted what looked like a fast-flowing river on the hill in the distance...
DUNSEVERICK FALLS
Another little hidden gem we had never seen or even heard of before.
Check out this beaut pic we found...
Image credit: Enda McAuley (here)
...and this not-so-beaut one.
The countryside is a dangerous place.
Not really, just too busy trying to get a pic of the path behind us, I didn't spot the brown puddle behind me.
And as mentioned above, eventually you'll find yourself joining back up with the Causeway Coast road at the 400+ year old ruins of Dunseverick Castle.
Make sure you venture down the hill and up to see the Castle. Watch where you're walking the entire time though - if the boggy land doesn't get you, one of the sheep might. But well worth the risk for the views up at the castle.
A handy map for saving - starting at the Harbour and coming back up to the road at the Castle. Take care when walking back along the road to the start - there's no footpath in places.
FULLERTON ARMS, BALLINTOY
With the sun all but gone, we dashed further along the Causeway Coast to another of our favourite foodie spots, the dog-friendly, Fullerton Arms with its very own Game Of Thrones door and super-friendly staff.
...and obviously the food wasn't bad either!
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