Winter Adventures Along the Antrim Coast
As I tread through the tangled kelp, oystercatchers take flight, startled by my presence as I prepare for a brisk plunge into the wintery sea. Surprisingly, the water feels warmer than expected, a stark contrast to the biting wind. Yet it’s cold enough to invigorate every nerve in my body, leaving me with an exhilarating sense of euphoria. My journey takes me along Northern Ireland’s Antrim coast, renowned for its stunning beaches and perfect for an eco-friendly getaway—even during winter’s harshest days.
A Unique Stay at Ballygally castle
The adventure begins at Ballygally Castle, which offers a delightful Sea Dips and Hot Sips package featuring cozy dry robes and hot-water bottles. This charming castle is celebrating its 400th anniversary this year and stands as one of Northern Ireland’s few surviving 17th-century hotels.
Getting There: A Scenic Journey
The surrounding landscape is lush and untamed; though, larne boasts excellent transport links with its railway station and frequent ferry services from Scotland. Traveling here without flying or driving from Essex involves three trains,two underground transfers,two buses,and a ferry (foot passengers start at £38 each way). The journey itself is surprisingly enjoyable—just a couple of hours on pleasant trains from London to Liverpool (with advance tickets priced around £20-25), followed by a speedy transfer to Hamilton Square before reaching the docks.As I drift off with moonlit views over the Mersey River, I awaken just before dawn over belfast Lough—a breathtaking sight visible through my train window—and soon find myself on the beach buzzing after my swim.
Culinary Delights Inside Ballygally Castle
Inside this historic castle are inviting hot baths alongside crackling log fires where guests can savor slow-cooked Irish beef or hearty bowls of chowder paired with warm wheaten scones. Breakfast features comforting porridge served in large cauldrons accompanied by local Waggle-Dance honey or Bushmills whiskey for added flavor. The oldest section of this fortress dates back to 1625 and showcases Scottish baronial architecture complete with turrets and thick stone walls adorned with musket holes.
A Hike Through History: sallagh Braes
An afternoon hike leads me up windswept paths at Sallagh Braes, an expansive basalt amphitheater rich in rare mosses that offer sweeping views northward over Antrim’s wooded glens while gazing eastward towards Scotland across turbulent seas. These dramatic cliffs have been featured in popular series like *Game of thrones* as well as films such as *The Northman*. Here you can discover ancient standing stones alongside crumbling sheepfolds dating back to bronze age settlements while buzzards circle overhead amidst grazing longhorn cattle on moorland tussocks.
A Visit to Glenarm Castle
The following morning brings another adventure just fifteen minutes upcoast via bus number 162 towards Glenarm castle. This historic site reopens its walled garden each spring hosting vibrant tulip festivals come early May; it serves as home base for both visitors seeking tours led by their long-serving butler George Lynn who has been there since taking on what was meant only be temporary work twenty-five years ago!
I wander through Glenarm village where red sandstone arches mark pathways leading into fern-laden riverside woods filled with cascading waterfalls tumbling down moss-covered banks while red squirrels dart playfully above among leafless branches overhead! as storm clouds gather ominously along coastal horizons bringing high tides crashing against bus windows en route back home again later today—I decide instead upon exploring more within Ballygally itself! Climbing spiral staircases past inscribed doorways leads me upward toward tales told about Lady Isabella Shaw rumored still haunting these very halls after being imprisoned here due her inability produce male heirs!
A Day Trip To portrush And Beyond!
The next day finds me boarding another train bound for Portrush via Belfast spotting herons gracefully soaring outside windows until arriving near Ballycarry station where it’s merely twenty minutes walk away leading directly onto exhilarating trails known locally referred too simply “Gobbins Cliff Path.” Scheduled reopening set early next year promises upgraded circular routes making visits even more accessible than ever before! Rainbows arch beautifully overhead fields below whilst Derry railway heads onward toward northern coastline destinations ahead!
