We needed to be on the road for 9 today for our mini road trip but we ran a little late and after a lovely breakfast were on the road at quarter past.

After navigating our way through Belfast (with only 1 wrong turn this time – the motorways are soo confusing here) we got on the coast road to take us up to the Giants Causeway.  

We passed the impressive looking Carrickfergus Castle and it was all going so well until we got to Larne. We discovered it was the Antrim Coastal Half Marathon and the coastal road was completely closed off for the event. With no visible diversion routes and after 2 failed attempts we managed to re-join the coastal route after about 4 miles further on at Ballygalley.

Next stop Madman’s window, although we did manage to see this from the road (it’s basically a square hole in a rock looking out to the sea) having  parked up and even after clambering over a very high rock we were unable reach it on foot.

The further north we drove on this beautiful route the more the sun was coming out.

At 12.15 we arrived at the Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge for our prebooked slot to walk over the 100ft high rope bridge. With the temperature now mid  twenties it was a hot 1 km walk to the bridge. The crossing was cool and the scenery absolutely stunning. After the walk back we stopped for a quick drink before heading on to Dunluce Castle.

It was only about 20mins up the road and was quite the bargain at £6.00 each. It is a ruin but quite dramatic on the cliff edge.

Next stop ….. the big one…..The Giants Causeway. Made up of 40,000 hexagonal basalt columns. To say it was busy was a bit of an understatement so we went in and took one of the trail walks to where the path runs out. By the time we got back to the giant steps that you can actually walk on, the crowds had lessened and we had a good clamber about. 

Our final stop was going to be Portrush but we never realised how big the town was and the fact that it was absolutely heaving. We drove round the one way system at a snails pace and promptly left to try Portstewart instead. Unfortunately this was also busy so we decided to head back towards Bangor. 

Third time lucky with no wrong turns navigating Belfast we stopped in Holywood for a pan-asian dinner before going back to the B & B for an earlier night.