After breakfast we retrieved the car and retraced our journey back to Larne where we joined the Coastal Causeway route, and it really is coastal. Another gorgeous day of weather with the Irish Sea as smooth as a duck pond. Our first brief stop was at Carnfunnock to look at the Maidens (lighthouses on skerries some 12 miles offshore, one abandoned and the other automated). I’d also burnt my arm on spilled coffee so needed some cold sea water to soothe the pain!
We detoured up Glenarm to get some elevation and also made a serendipitous stop at Carnlough to wander round its lovely little harbour. Its initial existence was due to limestone mining in the hills behind but now it’s on the Game of Thrones tour - fans were there to see a set of steps leading down to the harbour which apparently appeared in the show. I also got some ice for my arm! Helped enormously.
We also stopped just round the corner from Carnlough just before Waterfoot to take some photos of the scenery. Every corner had something impressive.
We took another deviation from the route to explore Torr Head and ended up on the narrowest 2 way road we have ever seen, with no passing places! The drops off to the sea had Kay very nervous hence there are no photos or videos of these precipitous roads!
We had a late picnic lunch at the sea front in lovely Ballycastle. It’s a lively little place and is the closest point to Scotland with Rathlinn Island offshore which is the furthest north point of Ireland. Marconi conducted the first commercial wireless transmission from Rathlin Island to Ballycastle in 1898.
Shortly afterwards we stopped at a viewpoint of Carrick-a-Rede with a sight table showing the Scottish mainland and islands. Fortunately we had a superb day of weather and all of the far lands could be seen. The viewpoint also had an excellent view of a rope bridge between the shore and a small island. Needless to say Kay was not interested!
