www.walkforfun.co.uk
e-mail maida.george@walkforfun.co.uk
A WALK ALONG THE GIANTS CAUSEWAY COAST
**Directions To Get Here**
From
Belfast -Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
Take
the M2 to Ballymena, then the A26 to Ballymoney.
Turn
off the 'Ballymoney By Pass' to Dervock. From Dervock follow signs to Bushmills
(turn
left in the middle of the village). Pass through Derrykeighan and on to
then
follow signs for Portballintrae
**THE WALK**
Start Portballintrae To Finish Ballintoy
Please
note this walk is 11 miles allow 6 hours
however
you can do part of it as a circular walk
you
can also use Public Transport for your return
There's
no more splendid walk anywhere in Ireland and it is waymarked almost
all the way.
Beach
road soon gives way to a pleasant path past golf links and a bridge over
the Bush,
a
fine salmon river. Rocky islet opposite Runkerry House is a salmon netting
station,
one
of many on this coast. Follow cliff-top path to Giant's Causeway Centre,
then
take the low road to the Grand Causeway,
Go
on past strange rock formations and secret bays, including Port na Spaniagh
where
the Armada treasure ship Girona sank in 1588.
Then
up Benbane Head via the wooden staircase (a chance here to return along
the cliff top
Stride
on westwards, losing height gradually, to ruined Dunseverick Castle
capital
of the fabulous kingdom of Dalriada and a potentially useful bus stop if
you have walked enough.
On
now to Portbraddan, with Ireland's tiniest church (12ft x 6-1/2 ft),
and
blond Whitepark Bay backed by dazzling limestone cliffs.
At
the end the track passes between islets of Carricknaford and the old shoreline
of a raised beach.
Stone
Age flints have been found in the sea caves.
Ahead
lies Ballintoy, with its boat-bobbing harbour and little white church and,
after
visiting Larrybane visitor centre,finish your day with
an
exhilarating walk along the cliffs to the world famous
swinging
rope bridge that connects Carrick-a-rede island to the mainland.
Disabled & Less Agile Ramblers
Most
of this walk is on good footpaths however some parts of the walk
may
not be suitable for all abilities
There
is also a good bus & steam train service
to
the Giants Causeway