Portstewart Strand and Barmouth

The magnificent strand at Portstewart calls to mind sunny summer days, picnics, sandcastles and long walks. The beach is two miles of golden sand. In the sand dunes, enjoy walks among butterflies and wild flowers. The Barmouth is a sanctuary for waders, wildfowl and nesting birds. The hide on the west side of the River Bann allows birdwatchers good opportunities to see bird spectacles.

First Aid and National Trust wardens on hand
• Designated no car areas and children’s play area
• Designated water sports zone
• Way marked nature trail
• Sand dune system is a haven for wild flowers and butterflies

Portrush

Portrush is the most popular seaside resort in Northern Ireland. Located in County Antrim it is built on a mile–long peninsula, Ramore Head.
Attractions in Portrush include the magnificent beaches, Causeway Coast, Giant\'s Causeway, Amusement Parks, Waterworld, an indoor attraction with water flumes water cannons, sprays and jacuzzis, and the nightlife.

The Old Bushmills Distillery

In 2008, Bushmills celebrates 400 years of local distilling history…a unique, unbroken whiskey-making tradition still very much alive today at the Old Bushmills Distillery. Just two miles from the spectacular Giant’s Causeway, the distillery lies in an area of outstanding natural beauty which is rich in history and folklore.

At Bushmills, the visitor can observe the craft and skills of making Irish whiskey. The guided tour includes the ingredients and processes, spring water from Saint Columb’s Rill and the finest malted barley, to the art of triple distillation in copper stills and ageing in oak casks. Of course, no visit would be complete without enjoying a complimentary glass of Bushmills whiskey.

Today, Bushmills is a well known name for smooth, distinctive Irish whiskey. The whiskey maturing process takes time, between five and thirty years depending on the blend. Often there are around 171,000 barrels on site maturing. Recent accolades include a review by the New York Times in 2006 describing Bushmills 10 year Malt as “the best Irish whiskey”.

Children under 8 are welcome to visit the Distillery but are not permitted to join guided tours.
Groups of 15 or more, telephone to arrange your visit.

Dunluce Castle

Dunluce Castle is one of the most extensive ruins of a medieval castle in Northern Ireland. It is located on the edge of a basalt outcropping and is arcessible via a bridge connecting it to the mainland. It is between Portballintrae and Portrush. The castle is dramatically surrounded by terrifyingly steep drops either side.

Mussenden Temple and Downhill Demesne

Frederick Hervey, Bishop of Derry, had an appetite for drama and chose a wild coastal headland for a mansion and temple. The mansion is in ruins but the landscape park remains. Follow paths through the sheltered gardens or along the cliff tops for views of the North Coast. On a cliff top, he built the circular Mussenden Temple as a library, imitating the Temple of Vesta in Tivoli. Suitable for picnics with wheelchair access.

The Giant's Causeway

The Giant's Causeway, renowned for its polygonal columns of layered basalt, is the only World Heritage Site in Northern Ireland. Resulting from a volcanic eruption 60 million years ago, this is the focal point of a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and has attracted visitors for centuries. It harbours a wealth of local and natural history.

• Northern Ireland's only World Heritage Site
• Icon of Northern Ireland
• Amphitheatres of stone columns with fanciful names such as the wishing chair, harp and organ
• Geology, flora and fauna of international importance
• Beautiful coastal path extends 11 miles to the Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge
• Wonderful views and coastal scenery
• Guided tours by arrangement for groups of 15+ people

Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge

A short coastal footpath leads to Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge. On the way, there are wonderful vantage points to stop and take in the natural beauty. The geology, flora and fauna have won Carrick-a-Rede recognition as an area of special scientific interest. Fulmars, kittywakes, guillemots and razorbills breed on the islands close to the rope bridge.

Historic Walls of Derry

A walk around Derry’s walls reveals a splendid city crammed full of history, heritage, interest and a vibrant cultural scene.

Derry (Londonderry) is the only remaining completely walled city in Ireland and one of the finest examples of Walled Cities in Europe. The Walls were built during the period 1613-1618 by the honourable, the Irish Society as defences for early seventeenth century settlers from England and Scotland.

The Walls, which are approximately 1.5km in circumference, form a walkway around the inner city and provide a unique promenade to view the layout of the original town which still preserves its Renaissance Style street plan to this day.

The four original gates to the Walled City are Bishop’s Gate, Ferryquay Gate, Butcher Gate and Shipquay Gate. Three further gates were added - magazine Gate, Castle Gate and New Gate.

The Walls vary in width between 12 and 35 feet.are the most complete in Ireland and one of the finest examples in Europe of Walled Cities. The city claims Europe’s largest collection of cannon whose origins are known precisely. Many of them thundered in anger over the two seventeenth century sieges. In 2005 the surviving 24 cannon were restored, and under expert supervision and often by hand, craftsmen, cleared the barrels of centuries of rubbish, stripped off layers of paint and corrosion and bathed, sponged and waxed the cannon back to their former glory. The cannon are displayed throughout the City Walls with the impressive Roaring Meg located on the double bastion

The Tower Museum

The Tower Museum is located within the city’s historic walls and has won four major awards since its opening in October 1992.

The Tower Museum houses two permanent exhibitions.
1. "The Story of Derry" tells the colourful and dramatic history of the city from earliest prehistory to the present. This exhibition has recently undergone a major refurbishment programme and re-opened in October 2006

2. "An Armada Shipwreck - La Trinidad Valencera" tells the story of one of the largest ships in the Spanish Armada, La Trinidad Valencera, which sank off the Donegal Coast in 1588 and was rediscovered by divers from the City of Derry Sub-Aqua Club in 1971.
Both exhibitions use a range of display and interactive techniques to present their stories.

The top of the Tower Museum (level 5) provides the only open air viewing facility in the heart of the city centre with stunning panoramic views of the inner city and river Foyle.

Rathlin Island

Amidst the rugged landscape of this isolated island, you can let your mind wander and discover a tranquility and beauty that is so unexpected.

The ferry to Rathlin Island travels just six miles across the "Sea of Moyle". The main ferry is run by Caledoniain MacBrayne or fast ferries are available from Aquasports. This island is six miles long, one mile wide, "L" shaped and home to a small population of around seventy people.

In the harbour is the Boathouse, where visitors can discover some of the exciting history, learn about present day island life and see some artefacts from shipwrecks around the island. A short walk around to Mill Bay there is a colony of seals, who are fun to just sit and watch!

At the other side of the harbour are two churches where visitors can sit quietly or just admire the architecture. At the west of the island is the renowned RSPB bird view point, where puffins, guillemots, razorbills and kittiwakes can be viewed during the summer months. It is also home to some magnificent views, on clear days Donegal, the North Antrim coastline, the island of Islay and the Mull of Kintyre can be seen. Throughout the year special occations are celebrated with ceilidhs. Music, song and dance remain at the heart of the community life.

There are many tales of myth and mystery surrounding Rathlin, the most famous tells of Robert the Bruce. In 1306, the Scottish King was driven from Scotland by Edward I of England and took refuge on Rathlin. While he was on Rathlin, it is said that he watched a spider persevering again and again to bridge a gap with its web. Eventually it succeeded. Robert the Burce took heart from the spider\'s efforts, raised fresh forces and returned to Scotland to fight for his kingdom. He too, eventually succeeded and in 1314, regained the crown of Scotland.

Portstewart Golf Club

Situated on Ulster's magnificent Causeway Coast Portstewart Golf Club presents a difficult but fair game. The Strand Course, redesigned in 1992, is indisputably the jewel in Portstewarts crown for both quality of game and scenery. The course is set in classic links country amid towering sand dunes with views at every turn of the blue Donegal Hills, the rolling Atlantic and the tranquil estuary of the River Bann. The opening hole with its evalted tee, dog-leg right to the green and sandy strip on the right, was always a particularly good and memorable opening hole and it is now immediately followed by seven new holes which are a joy to play. For something a little less challenging golfers can join the Riverside Course. The course is suitable for all of the family, stretches from the clubhouse down to the River Bann. Finally there is the Old Course situated at the eastern end of Portstewart along the rocky shore, where golf was first played as far back as 1889. Portstewart is definitely a Championship course and has played host to the Irish Amateur Championship in 1992, held qualifying round of \'The Open\' in 1951 and has hosted other events such as the Irish Professional and Irish Amateur.

Royal Portrush Golf Club

Royal Portrush Golf Club, founded in 1888 has two championship courses – the renowned Dunluce Course and the smaller but equally enjoyable Valley Course. The Dunluce Course was redesigned in 1947 by Mr H.S. Colt and later, in 1951, became host to the first ever Open Championship held in Ireland. During the entire tournament only two golfers managed to break 70. The course offers challenging golf and breathtaking scenery, the green is laid out among huge sand dunnes that gemtly raise above the ground to provide spectacular views over the Antrim coast. But no matter how appealing the view, attention must be paid to your game as Portrush can challenge even the most experienced of golfers. Portrush’s most celebrated holes are ‘White Rock’ and the aptly named ‘Calamity’. The 5th hole, ‘White Rock’ is one of the most exhilarating two – shots in golf. If you over hit the second shot stand by to miserably watch as your ball disappears into the Atlantic! The 14th hole ‘Calamity’ requires a very precise shot to carry the ball over an enormous ravine, overplay this one and you could be taking your next swing from at least fifty feet below the hole. So considering the above can it be any wonder then that Golf World magazine regularly rates Portrush in the world’s top twenty golf courses?

Ballycastle Golf Club

Founded in 1890, the Club lies at the foot of one of the Glens of Antrim, Glenshesk and the excellently maintained course offers a challenge with a variety of terrain combining parkland and links holes.
The magnificent new clubhouse was opened in 2005 and offers extensive factlities in luxurious surroundings including:
- Lounge bars and separate restaurant with panoramic views of course and coastline.
- Visitor locker rooms.
- Private function, presentation and meeting rooms.
- Wheelchair access, lifts and toilets for disabled.
- Well stocked Professional's shop with full hiring and teaching facilities.
- Ample car parking space.The excellently maintained 18 holes provide a variety of golfing terrain. The opening 5 holes are parkland bordered by the Margy and Carey rivers. The short 3rd hole is adjacent to a 12th century Franciscan Friary.
From the 6th to the 8th, the course is a links area known locally as "The Warren". The beach and the Sea of Moyle bound this area of rolling dunes. The 9th, a testing par 4, leads to the upland sections.
Commencing with a unique pitch hole across a chasm, the next 8 holes command panoramic views of Fair Head, Rathlin Island, The Mull of Kintyre, Glenshesk valley, Knocklayd mountain and the town of Ballycastle.
The descent from an elevated tee to the par 3 17th hole leads to the final hole at the clubhouse. Although not a long course by modern standards, only great accuracy with the wedge will set up birdie opportunities!

Castlerock Golf Club

Castlerock Golf Club is one of the great links courses on the Causeway coast with eyecatching views of Donegal and on a clear day towards Scotland. The Championship Mussenden course is a par 73, with the best known hole being the par 3 "Leg O Mutton" at the 4th. The 9th hole Bann course contains a par 5 described as "one of the most scenic holes in Irish Golf". This is a course that should be included in every itinerary.