By Nikki Clarke (travel blogger)
48 Hours Along the Incredible Causeway Coast – My first experience of Northern Ireland was back in February of this year when I found myself knee-deep in snow enchanted by the landscape and warmth of its people.
Fast forward several months and I am back in the Emerald Isle for a luxury weekend with my girlfriends. Belfast and Northern Ireland’s beautiful Causeway Coast is the only area of the UK to make the cut in Lonely Planet’s definite list of the best place to visit in 2018.
Our weekend takes us to Port Stewart, 60 miles from Belfast international Airport. Port Stewart hosted The Irish Open in 2017. Port Rush will play host to the 148th British Open in July 2018 at Royal Port Rush Golf Club (www.royalportrushgolfclub.com). Both Port Rush and Port Stewart are seaside towns and there is a huge selection of accommodation available.
We stayed at Roselick Lodge nestled in the countryside in Port Stewart, a tranquil haven, featuring boutique accommodation styled by its current owners.
All bedrooms have their own private bathrooms, a distinct advantage for 4 girlfriends with enough beauty products to outshine Selfridges.
I opted for the four-poster bedroom complete with its own balcony terrace. (www.roselicklodge.com).
Day 1
A short drive into Port Stewart and we find ourselves at the harbour with its array of coffee shops, art galleries and small boutiques. I am under strict instructions that we have to try the regions scones which are huge served with jam and cream, they do not disappoint. Try this indulgence at Bob and Bert’s Coffee house on the promenade (www.bobandberts.com).
If you still have some energy afterwards do walk the ‘Nun’s walk’ along the Atlantic Ocean shoreline which finishes at Port Stewart Strand. After a quick pit-stop and freshen up at Roselick Lodge we find ourselves on the beach this time at Harry’s Shack, a long shed owned by The National Trust.
The inside and outside restaurant have a rustic feel with raw wood rough tables and wood burning stoves serving everything from fish and chips to steak all with the banter of the Irish cheer. A perfect place to watch the sunset and have dinner. We head home and with all that wonderful sea air we are all sound asleep very quickly.
Day 2
With an early start and equipped with a picnic we drive along the Causeway Coastal Route (www.causewaycoastalroute.com) to make our way to The Giant’s Causeway and Bushmills. A route studded with sandy beaches, fishing villages and cliff top paths, a car filled with females and everyone is silent as we all take in this amazing dramatic coast. Within 40 minutes we arrive at The Giants Causeway (www.nationaltrust.org.uk/giants-causeway).
This area gets extremely busy during the season so do arrive early to park in the designated Car Park or you can take a Park and Ride. We are all so excited to see this Unesco World Heritage Site and it is a good 15 minutes of walking before we get a glimpse of its beauty but certainly worth the wait. This volcanic activity was meant to have formed over 60 million years ago and does not disappoint with its unique rock formations.
Bushmills is a tiny quaint town famed for its oldest working distillery, the original grant to distil was signed in 1608 by King James 1st.This brand experience encompasses guided tours, a working distillery, whiskey tastings and a specialist whiskey shop. Don’t forget to try a whiskey at the 1608 Bar. (www.bushmills.com).
With all that adventure it is time for refreshments! A favourite haunt of mine, The Bushmills Inn, originally was a coaching inn in the 1600’s and is now a 4 Star boutique hotel and restaurant. We opted for a light lunch: the Antrim Coast seafood platter and soft drinks in the courtyard garden.
With such an international clientele it is a perfect place for people watching and striking up new conversations. With a quick peek at Dunluce Castle on the way back which creates a perfect photo opportunity we make our way back to our second home.
All this sightseeing was making us hungry so in the evening we drove to Port Rush harbour to Ranmore, a group of restaurants and bars independently owned. We opted for the Harbour Bistro which serves wood fired grilled meats, chicken and fish with the most awesome desserts. You must try the Honeycomb Gin too. There are no table reservations so be prepared to queue or get there early (www.ramorerestaurant.com).
People travel from Belfast to Ranmore because the food is fabulous but reasonably priced. Christine Bleakley, Frank Lampard, Darren Clarke, James Nesbitt are all regulars at this fun eatery!
As our weekend comes to a close we all reflect on how much we have seen and how easy it is to get around by car with quiet roads and easy parking. We have booked to come back with a trip to Belfast with a spa visit so watch this space for our next adventure.
For any further information on this North coast, please visit https://discovernorthernireland.com
Flights: available from all major airlines run regular flights to Belfast touching down in under an hour.
With public transport fairly limited we opted to rent a car at the airport.
Watch this fab video from Discover Northern Ireland which will give you a taste of the magnificent scenery:
