Shelli's blog: North Coast with Mom

We took my mom to see one of Ireland's great wonders the Giant's Causeway. When we went as a family in the summer all the tour buses were running and it was a lot easier to get around. But thanks to a generous husband we made it work. He suggested using a cab if we needed to. =)

the sun just starting to peek out

We got up early, dark out still early and walked to Central train station where we caught the train to Coleraine. The best part about that early in the morning is that we got a seat on the train. Coleraine is a main stop for the NI Rail but all we have ever seen is the train station and the road out to Portrush. We waited for about 45 minute until our bus arrived then it was off to ???? We were not sure what came first Dunluce Castle or the Causeway. It was decided what ever came first we would go there. That was until we discovered that the bus does not pass by the castle in the fall it lets you walk 2 miles up the road to it. Maybe starting with the Causeway was a better idea.

through the bus window with a nice glare

the coast near Bushmills and the Giant's Causeway

Town of Bushmills where they brew whiskey

the beautiful Causeway Hotel

We had beautiful weather in the morning for our visit to the Causeway. It is such an amazing thing to visit. We took tons of pictures and videos. It was nice to sit on the rock and eat our lunch while watching the waves break across the rare six sided stones. As nice as the sun felt it was still very cold with the wind whipping around us. We spent as long as we dared there was still the castle and the rope bridge to visit.

the waves breaking on the cliffs

first peek at the Causeway as you round the corner of the road

I caught it.

the Giant's Chair

pool of water

waves

lunch on the Causeway Sarah, Samuel and Sabrina

kids resting on a rock

the kids and I with Mom on the small causeway.

After a final goodbye to the Causeway we when to catch the bus to Carrick a Rede rope bridge. I will never take my truck for granted again. Waiting for buses and trains is a slow way to sight see. But it is affordable.

"Carrick-a-Rede boasts an exhilarating rope bridge experience. Traditionally fishermen erected the bridge to Carrick-a-Rede island over a 23m-deep and 20m-wide chasm to check their salmon nets. Today visitors are drawn here simply to take the rope bridge challenge!
The rope bridge originally consisted of a single rope hand rail which has been replaced by a two hand railed bridge by the National Trust.
Once you reach Carrick Island, the reward is seeing the diverse birdlife and an uninterrupted view across to Rathlin Island and Scotland. There is only one way off the island - back across the swinging bridge! Don't look down!
The area is exceptional in is natural beauty, to the left as you come down the steep hill is Larrybane headland which once stretched out towards Sheep Island and had a promontory fort on the top dating to 800AD, underneath large caves once served as home to boat builders and a safe resting place from winter storms. Despite having been quarried in the 1950's this quarry is still worth a visit for its exceptional views." from their web site.

collection of houses and a church near the rope bridge

long fields

Carrick Island

Larrybane Limestone Quarry

steps we had to go down and up

ladder down to the rope bridge, Sarah

view through the rope bridge, the water is so clear.

caves on the mainland

rope bridge from a distance

the steep winding trail we took

lime kiln, heading back up to the bus


Samuel posing while waiting for the bus

Dunseverick Castle

We only got to view this castle from the bus window but here is a bit of history from its web site.

"Saint Patrick is recorded as having visited Dunseverick castle in the 5th century AD, where he baptized Olcán,a local man who later became a Bishop of Ireland.^[2] The original stone fort that occupied the position was attacked by Viking raiders in 870 AD.
In the later part of the 6th century AD, this was the seat of Fergus Mor MacErc (Fergus the Great). Fergus was King of Dalriada and brother of the High King of Ireland, Murtagh MacErc. It is the AD 500 departure point from Ireland of the Lia Fail or coronation stone. Murtagh loaned it to Fergus for the latter's coronation in western Scotland part of which Fergus had settled as his sea-kingdom expanded.
The O'Cahan family held it from circa 1000 AD to circa 1320 AD, then regained it in the mid 16th century. Last one to have the castle was Giolla Dubh Ó Catháin, who left it in 1657 to settle in the Craig/Lisbellanagroagh area. Post 1660 they use the anglicized name McCain/O'Kane.
The castle was captured and destroyed by General Robert Munro in 1642 and his Cromwellian troops in the 1650s, and today only the ruins of the gate lodge remain. A small residential tower survived until 1978 when it eventually surrendered to the sea below.
It was a 'key' ancient site in Ireland. One of the royal roads from Tara, seat of the Kings of Ireland ended at Dunseverick castle."

Dunseverick Castle

We got off the bus in Bushmills and had a crazy time trying to call a cab. Phone books are very rare in the areas we have visited so trying to find the number for a cab company took three stores and at least five numbers. It was well worth the effort we once again were greeted with that amazing Irish hospitality. The company we called did not have a vehicle that would seat us all so they would need to send two cars to get us to the castle. With out our asking he instead phoned a friend that had a van taxi and sent him over to take us to the castle. We were reassured on our return trip one or the other of them would be available to get us back to town an the bus stop. On the return trip though we decided to have them drive us to the train station in Portrush and by pass the waiting for a bus. Our driver took us to the station and advised us we were almost an hour early for the next train she advised we warm up in a little cafe up the street that had good food. We enjoyed a scone and hot chocolate to warm up while waiting for our train.

Dunluce Castle is so neat to visit. Even in ruins it has enough of the walls still standing to feel the greatness of it. As far as castles go it feels like on right out of a book set on an impregnable cliff peninsula. It would have been a cold place to live.