ZZ-OUT-102
Rates
include accommodation
: 7 nights bed and breakfast. Luggage : transported to each night's
accommodation. Route Notes: detailed route notes & ordnance survey map.
8 Days/ 7
Nights $ 795
-- based on
Euro 610
Transfer from Belfast: best by taxi ~GBP
25 to 30 to the first inn
2006 Dates: Any time from April to September with a minimum of 2
hikers.
DAY TO DAY PROGRAM
Day
1 You begin your holiday on the first evening by
meeting Ian and Linda McKay, owners of a B+B in the picturesque village
of Broughshane where you will be staying for the first 2 nights. Ian
oversees the running of the self-guided walking tours in Antrim and is
very knowledgeable about the region.
Day 2 Orra Beg
to Glenariff Forest Park
Distance: 7 miles; average walking time: 4 hours
After a hearty breakfast you are driven
by coach to Orra Beg, an intersection on the Moyle Way to begin your
walking tour. Today you are heading south to Glenariff Forest Park
passing Slieveanorra Nature Reserve, which has spectacular views over
the glens and plays host to a great variety of birds. From Slieveanorra
you carry on over open moorland for Trostan Mountain and on to Glenariff
Nature Reserve and Forest Park with its visitor centre, nature trails
and famous waterfalls. From here you will be collected and returned
to your evening accommodation in Broughshane.
Day 3 Orra Beg
to Ballycastle
Distance: 11 miles; average walking time: 5 hours
Today you return to Orra
Beg and head north for Ballycastle. Continuing on the Moyle Way, the
route is divided into three sections. The first part of the walk takes
you along a forest track then follows the banks of the Glenshesk River,
ending up back on a forest track as it leads you through the Breen
Oakwood Nature Reserve and Wood.
The next section follows
the country road along Glenshesk offering views of the Glenshesk River,
Knocklayd Mountain and Coolaveely Wood.
The final part of today’s
walk takes you into Ballycastle Forest where you descend along a good
forest path into Ballycastle. There are magnificent panoramic views of
Rathlin Island and the forest is also home to an abundance of birds and
other wildlife.
Overnight at Ballycastle.
Day 4 Rathlin
Island
Distance: variable, depending on which parts of the
island you visit
Rathlin, described as a
hidden treasure waiting to be discovered is an L-shaped island, one side
is four miles long, the other three and is nowhere more than a mile
across.
The island is a
naturalist’s delight and you can choose between three walks varying from
1.5 miles to 4 miles.
Visit the RSPB West Light
viewpoint to see the puffins, guillemots and razorbills along with
kittiwakes and fulmars, which together make up the largest seabird
colony in Europe.
Walk the trails to the old
Coastguard Look Out to see the East Lighthouse, standing high above the
legendary ‘Bruce’s Cave’ at Altacarry Head, which has been flashing a
warning to mariners since 1856.
Spend some time in the
Boathouse Visitor Centre for a dip into Rathlin’s history. Return to
Ballycastle by the evening ferry.
If the boat trip to Rathlin
is not possible due to adverse weather, we recommend a walk to Knocklayd,
the highest peak in Co. Antrim, which lies south of Ballycastle. You
can either climb to the summit or skirt the mountain on tracks and roads
passing through Glentaisie and Glenshesk. Alternatively, you could
explore the town of Ballycastle or visit the whisky distillery at
Bushmills. Overnight at Ballycastle.
Day 5 Ballycastle
to Ballintoy
Distance: 6 miles; average walking time: 3 hours
Today’s walk takes you
along the coastal road from Ballycastle to your evening stop-over at
Ballintoy. It is a rolling road with ample vantage points to view the
magnificence of the Antrim coastline. As you continue along the route
you will come to Larrybane with its visitor centre and the world famous
Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge. The bridge spans an 80 foot deep chasm that
renders Carrick-a-Rede island, a must do for every visitor and gives a
fitting dramatic climax to an exhilarating day’s walk. From here it is
only a short distance by the coastal path to the little village of
Ballintoy. The little harbour at the foot of the cliffs is well worth a
visit. Overnight at Ballintoy.
Day 6 Ballintoy to Portballintrae
Distance: 11 miles; average walking time: 5-6 hours
“Before you lies one of
the finest walks that an ordinary pedestrian can experience anywhere in
the wide world” An extract from Ulster Rambles by Peter Wright
The best coastal walk in
Ireland - bar none!
Varied geology, views
across to Scotland, cliff and beach walks, the Giant’s Causeway and
Ireland’s smallest church are all to be found on today’s route.
From Ballintoy harbour you
very soon come to the beautiful strand of White Park Bay, then on to
Portbraddan, with Ireland’s tiniest church measuring only 12ft by 6.5ft.
Continuing on you come to the ruins of Dunseverick Castle and then along
the cliff-top path round Benbane Head and on to the Giant’s Causeway.
From here you can stay on the path which leads to Portballintrae and
your evening accommodation. Alternatively there is a shorter route
along a pleasant path and through golflinks to end this most splendid of
walks. Overnight at Portballintrae/Bushmillls.
Day 7 Portballintrae
to Portstewart
Distance: 12miles; average walking time 5-6 hours
Your final day’s walk begins on the
coastal road to Portrush passing Magheracross viewpoint and Dunluce
Castle, perched precariously high on a promontory overlooking the sea.
Shortly you come to Whiterocks beach and then a formal pathway at the
far side of the beach leads you up around Ramore Head, until you reach
Portrush harbour. Your walk continues along Mill Strand (beach) and
then, following the Causeway markers, the route continues along the
coastline, ending at the promenade in Portstewart. Overnight at
Portstewart.
Day 8 After a final breakfast and farewell at
Portstewart you commence your homeward journey.
INCLUDED: B&B, luggage transport,
1:50,000 maps, English route description
NOT INCLUDED: dinners, lunches,
airport transfers, personal expenses, entries
Rathlin Ferry crossing
price not included. Stg £8.50 return.
Recommended reading: ‘A
Companion to the Causeway Coast Way’ by Philip S. Watson, published
by the Environment and Heritage Service (Northern Ireland).
Please note that Ireland
can be a wet country both underfoot and overhead. Irish weather is
unpredictable and the nature of walks can change quickly and
dramatically because of the weather. For all self-guided holidays you
must be able to map read and navigate with a compass. There is some
road walking on self-guided holidays.
Some
parts of the walks in Ireland are very remote in places. Very often
there are no opportunities to purchase a mid-day lunch – a packed lunch
is required in such locations.
Please
refer to the accompanying “General
Holiday Information” document to assist in your holiday preparation.
