Sue and Martin in Mallorca 2019

Sue and Martin in Mallorca 2019
On the Archduke's Path in Mallorca

Friday 17 June 2022

Saturday 18 and Sunday 19 June 2005 - Northern Ireland


Giant's Causeway Trip 

This entry follows on from the 'Two Peaks' trip on which I reported here. I got home from that trip at 9pm on 17 June... 

The entry, which arises from my steady progress in 'processing' thousands of digital images that were  downloaded and abandoned in the early 2000s, may be of little interest to most readers other than Sue, who also recalls meeting, at Manchester Airport, one of the other delegates to a conference she was attending. Ann was seeing someone off, oblivious to the fact that she should have been seeing herself off, until a 'What are you doing here?' moment with Sue! 

Saturday 18 June 2005

Another 5:30 am start. I drove to Manchester airport for the 7 am flight to Belfast City. (£24 for short term parking.) It left at 8:15, so by the time I had sorted a hire car at Belfast after the Dart 8 flight it was well after 10 am. [£105 from Hertz - extortionate. Flight was with BA - £84, whereas EasyJet from Liverpool would be ~ £20!]

Drove to Coleraine University, starting slowly by going the wrong way all around the ring road, to meet Sue at 12:00 - rendezvoused with difficulty after discovering my mobile phone had been left behind and I didn't have Sue's number!

Anyway, we collected some butties and went to Portrush Tourist Information to book a B&B and restaurant for the evening.

Then off to Giant's Causeway, where after noshing our lunch we enjoyed the rock sceneries known as The Camel, The Granny, The Wishing Chair, The Chimney Tops, The Giants Boot and The Organ. 

Click on any image to access a slideshow




The Wishing Chair


Lots of tourists here, but quite a big site, and enjoyable to visit. The hexagonal blocks are quite amazing. Lots of legends, but not time or space to relate them in this entry.

Lots of birds as well, notably Fulmars, and Black Guillemots - distinctive with their red feet.


The Organ

Wild Thyme

The Granny

The Camel (somewhere in the distance!)




After the enjoyable stroll we adjourned to the tea room before heading a few miles down the coast to Carrick-a-Rede, where we enjoyed the 1 km stroll to a rope bridge - exciting for some, but tame compared with its Himalayan equivalent.

Beyond that, birds were nesting close to us on the cliffs. Very smelly here, but a good place to be.


We returned the same way.


We returned to our excellent B&B - Hillrise, 24 Dhu Varren, Portrush (£54 total), quickly bathed then strolled 10 minutes up the road to Snappers Wine Bar and Seafood Restaurant - recommended by Sue's colleagues.

After an attentive start, the wine took some time to arrive and was not quite cool enough. After a long break, the main courses came and went. Then after a short period the starter arrived - a delicious combo for the two of us - then shortly after that the main courses (scallops for me, chicken for Sue) arrived again. Tasty. Then we shared a waffly pudding after another long break. No decaff here so Sue went without and I enjoyed a cappucino, before we eventually adjourned for an early night. After all the problems, at least the dessert and coffee came free, and the food was very good. The restaurant had been sold to some Italians and was in turmoil.... 

Sunday 19 June 2005

After a good breakfast and a misty start we had a nice beach walk at Portrush (east, below the golf course). Superb sand and huge tunes above us.

Then we sauntered down the Antrim coast in the hired Fiesta, stopping at Cushendun (caves, etc) for a much needed coffee and a visit to the local wood carver Martin O Kane - to whom we gave good custom.


There was a statue of a goat here.



On down to Cushendall for lunch by a noisy road (lots of bikes) before continuing south to Carnfunnock Country Park to spend a pleasant 1½ hours. Walled garden, maze, woodland walk - in lovely weather.




The Ice House at Carnfunnock

Then back to Belfast to return from this short interlude - plane delayed by 2 hours due to storms at Manchester, on the day of flash flooding in North Yorkshire (Helmsley).

Favourite drink in Ireland seems to be Bulmers cider and ice!

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