Causeway Coastal Route: The World’s Prettiest Drive?

Part 2 of our 2 part series on the stunning Causeway Coastal Route to The Giant’s Causeway. If you haven’t read part 1, check out  The Drive to Giant’s Causeway.

In our first installment, we mentioned that the Causeway Coastal Route has been lauded by National Geographic as one of the most scenic drives in the world.  So far we’ve told you about its fairytale glens, rugged scenery, hiking trails, and quaint villages.

But there is a lot more to the route that picture-perfect scenery. The Causeway Coastal Route is home to some spectacular ruins, castles, and UNESCO Heritage Sites

Having covered points A to E in the map above in Part I, we reach the focal point of this drive

f) Giant’s Causeway and Dunsverick Castle

Giant’s Causeway is unlike anything you would’ve ever seen before. A UNESCO Heritage Site, it comprises of 40,000 interlocked basalt columns. The unique columns are a result of a volcanic eruption. The most fascinating bit? Most of the columns are hexagonal – the symmetry is astounding and an amazing reminder of the sheer power of nature.

A long coastal footpath leads to Giant’s Causeway. The first sight of the tall columns and solidified lava looming against the sea is unforgettable. On getting closer, you realise the size of the structure. The site is swarming with tourists, but there is never a dearth of space.

Spend your afternoon prancing on the pillar-like columns and using them as stepping stones to get to the farthest end. It feels like you’re at the end of the world.

Entry– £8.50/adult. There is an extra charge for the shuttle bus that takes visitors to the stones, but we highly recommend walking along the coastal path.

All that exercise is bound to leave you a bit tired. The neighbouring village of Dunsverick offers a perfect picnic spot – it’s a spot you won’t ever want to leave.

The ruins of the Dunsverick Castle boast of a stunning location by the sea. It’s a gem off the beaten path, so there are very few people around. Don’t blame us if you feel like you’re on a ‘Game of Thrones’ set as you munch on your sandwich.

Entry– Free, Parking– Free

 

 

g) Old Bushmills Distillery

Wrap up your day by tasting traditional Irish whisky at Ireland’s oldest working distillery – The Bushmills Distillery. Entry is free and you can try their rich whiskies at the in-house bar. You can even pick a bottle (or two?) of your favourite whisky from their shop.

The Distillery also offers a fascinating tour of the mixing room, bottling plant etc for aficionados and curious souls like us. It lasts 40 minutes, includes tastings of a couple of their smooth whiskeys, and costs £7 (as of July 2013).

Entry– Free, Parking– Free

h) The Ruins of Dunluce Castle

We’re back to dreaming about Game of Thrones.

Dunluce Castle is a medieval Irish castle that stands atop a dramatic basalt cliff jutting out from the sea. It is easy to spend a couple of hours exploring the ruins, the lush gardens, and absorbing the stunning views of the Antrim Coastline

Entry– Free, Parking– Free

i) Mussenden Temple

The last stop on the Causeway Coastal Route is probably the most photographed one. Mussenden Temple is perched on top of a cliff and surrounded by expansive gardens and beaches.

The Mussenden Gardens are perfect for picnics and exciting cliff-top walks.

Entry (to the gardens)– £4.50, Parking– Free

Now for the all important questions :-

Car Rentals – As we mentioned in our previous post, Belfast’s airport has a number of car-rental booths that offer cars at competitive prices. We rented our car with Sixt Car Hire.

The ideal length of such a trip  –  The Causeway Coastal Route is 100 miles long. However it is peppered with some incredibly unique attractions. We suggest you spend 5 days exploring the area. More information about Northern Ireland can be found here.

As you can tell, we’re really quite enamoured with everything that Northern Ireland has to offer. The Causeway Coastal Route is magical and takes you back in time – definitely one for your bucket list!