{"id":746,"date":"2013-10-23T12:50:23","date_gmt":"2013-10-23T19:50:23","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.travelswithwesley.com\/?p=746"},"modified":"2013-10-24T06:28:48","modified_gmt":"2013-10-24T13:28:48","slug":"carrick-a-rede-and-the-giants-causeway","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.travelswithwesley.com\/?p=746","title":{"rendered":"Carrick-A-Rede and the Giants Causeway"},"content":{"rendered":"

Leaving the village of Carnlough behind, we drove to the Carrick-A-Rede Rope Bridge.\u00c2\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u00c2\u00a0http:\/\/www.discovernorthernireland.com\/Carrick-a-Rede-Rope-Bridge-Antrim-Northern-Ireland-Ballintoy-Ballycastle-P2829<\/a><\/p>\n

The stop at Carrick-A-Rede was our introduction to the dramatic coastal line of northern and western Ireland. \u00c2\u00a0Combine the many shades of green of the countryside with the spectacular cliffs and ocean views, you have unsurpassed beauty. \u00c2\u00a0The rope bridge itself is a sturdy affair and not much to write home about unless you suffer as I do from acrophobia. \u00c2\u00a0So, needless to say, i hurried across the bridge without stopping to take pictures. \u00c2\u00a0Here is less timid Gina coming across the bridge.<\/p>\n

\"Gina<\/p>\n

\u00c2\u00a0<\/p>\n

A couple of views of the coast line of Carrick-A-Rde:<\/p>\n

\"Carrick<\/p>\n

\"Carrick<\/p>\n

\u00c2\u00a0<\/p>\n

Gina taking a break after the harrowing trip across the rope bridge.<\/p>\n

\"Taking<\/p>\n

\u00c2\u00a0<\/p>\n

A boat sitting on the path to the rope bridge. \u00c2\u00a0It was probably used to recover the bodies of people who fell from the rope bridge. \u00c2\u00a0You think?<\/p>\n

\"Carrick<\/p>\n

\u00c2\u00a0<\/p>\n

After leaving Carrick-A-Rede, we stopped for a few minutes at the pretty little Ballintoy Harbor nearby. \u00c2\u00a0http:\/\/www.ports.org.uk\/port.asp?id=332<\/a><\/p>\n

The beach was recently used for filming of an episode of the Game of Thrones.
\u00c2\u00a0http:\/\/www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk\/entertainment\/film-tv\/news\/gory-game-of-thrones-scene-filmed-at-wellknown-beauty-spot-ballintoy-beach-29653592.html<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Ballintoy<\/p>\n

\"Ballintoy<\/p>\n

\u00c2\u00a0<\/p>\n

Reluctantly leaving the harbor at Ballintoy, we were faced with a decision. \u00c2\u00a0There was a stop scheduled at the Bushmills Distillery. \u00c2\u00a0Those discerning folks among us who didn’t particularly want to do the distillery tour were offered a surprise by Sean. \u00c2\u00a0Having been to the finest distillery in the world, in one of the prettiest sports in the world, The Makers Mark Distillery in Loretto, Kentucky, USA, we chose to see what Sean had up his sleeve. \u00c2\u00a0We dropped the less discerning at the distillery, and Sean took us to the Dark Hedges<\/em>. \u00c2\u00a0The beech trees creating a canopy over the lane were planted by the Stuart family in the eighteenth century as a dramatic entry to their home. \u00c2\u00a0It is one of the most photographed sites in Northern Ireland, and was used for a scene in the Game of Thrones series. \u00c2\u00a0http:\/\/www.visitballymoney.com\/the-dark-hedges.aspx<\/a>\u00c2\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"Dark<\/p>\n

The figure in the scene above may be the Grey Lady gliding along the lane. Or maybe not. \u00c2\u00a0Interesting structure on a beech tree below pointed out by Kathy, fellow Vagabonder from Oregon. \u00c2\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u00c2\u00a0(\"Beech<\/p>\n

Kathy also introduced me to the word\u00c2\u00a0soughing (pronounced\u00c2\u00a0suffing)<\/em>, which was quite appropriate in the location. \u00c2\u00a0Look it up. \u00c2\u00a0Oh, ok \u00e2\u20ac\u00a6.. \u00c2\u00a0defined as “a soft murmuring or rustling sound, as of the wind or a gentle surf.”<\/p>\n

We picked up the group dropped at the Bushmills Distillery, and spent the rest of the trip having Rick worrying about the 200 year old whiskey he bought. \u00c2\u00a0Well, maybe not two hundred years old, but apparently a pretty special brew. \u00c2\u00a0Luckily, nobody drank it, so I guess Rick got home with it. \u00c2\u00a0Then, on to the Giant’s Causeway. \u00c2\u00a0We first drove by the spot where Sean would meet us, then he drove out to a spot for us to start a scenic walk along the cliffs. \u00c2\u00a0Maybe five kilometers, Sean says. \u00c2\u00a0Right. \u00c2\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What a spectacular walk, though. Walking along the edge of the cliffs from Dunseverick where he dropped us to the Giant’s Causeway took a solid 2 1\/2 hours, up and down, but worth every step. \u00c2\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Dunseverick was the site of a castle probably originally constructed around 1525 BC and finally destroyed by the Normans in the 17th century. \u00c2\u00a0http:\/\/www.castles.nl\/eur\/ie\/ds\/ds.html<\/a> \u00c2\u00a0http:\/\/www.coasteeringni.co.uk\/coasteering\/venues\/dunseverick\/<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Dunseverick<\/p>\n

\"Dunseverick<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

Following are some shots taken along the way. \u00c2\u00a0I could post a lot more, but with our modern short attention spans, these should suffice. \u00c2\u00a0A little background, scientists claim that the Giant’s Causeway is the result of geological forces, volcanic upheavals. \u00c2\u00a0We know better. \u00c2\u00a0http:\/\/www.causewaycoastandglens.com\/Folklore-and-Legend.T1153.aspx<\/a>. \u00c2\u00a0Finn McCool is the reason for this tourist attraction. \u00c2\u00a0When we reached the Causeway it was covered up with those despicable types of people sometimes known as tourists, so not much photography there.<\/p>\n

\"Up<\/p>\n

\"Fish<\/p>\n

\u00c2\u00a0<\/p>\n

The couple on the left are Doug and Kathy Collins from Oregon. \u00c2\u00a0The picture was taken by an Irish couple who stopped to talk with us, the photo below, Brenda and Michael.<\/p>\n

\"Collins<\/p>\n

\"Brenda<\/p>\n

\u00c2\u00a0<\/p>\n

A little artistic look at one of the scenes along the walk. \u00c2\u00a0For the more discerning among us. \u00c2\u00a0That is Rathlin Island in the distance, I believe.<\/p>\n

\"Cliffs<\/p>\n

\u00c2\u00a0<\/p>\n

Rugged landscape.<\/p>\n

\"Cliffs<\/p>\n

\u00c2\u00a0<\/p>\n

A look away from the water. \u00c2\u00a0Notice the sheep in the picture. \u00c2\u00a0This was a rarity, to see sheep in a field. \u00c2\u00a0Actually, they were all over the place. \u00c2\u00a0More sheep the Irish one might imagine. \u00c2\u00a0To be precise, \u00c2\u00a0there are almost 2 million sheep in Northern Ireland. \u00c2\u00a0http:\/\/www.dardni.gov.uk\/sheep-2012.pdf<\/a>\u00c2\u00a0 \u00c2\u00a0Although we were not there as of yet, we would also see evidence of sheep farming in the Republic of Ireland. There are almost 3.5 million sheep in the Republic. \u00c2\u00a0http:\/\/www.agriculture.gov.ie\/media\/migration\/animalhealthwelfare\/animalidentificationandmovement\/NationalSheepGoatCensus2011100512.pdf<\/a>\u00c2\u00a0<\/p>\n

No wonder lamb stew is so popular.<\/p>\n

\"Pasture<\/p>\n

\u00c2\u00a0<\/p>\n

Another view away from the water.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

\u00c2\u00a0<\/p>\n

More rugged coastal terrain.<\/p>\n

\"Causeway<\/p>\n

\u00c2\u00a0<\/p>\n

Reaching the end of the trail so to speak, Gina still looked pretty good after a good 2.5 hour stroll up and down the hills.<\/p>\n

\"Gina<\/p>\n

\u00c2\u00a0<\/p>\n

And this could well be called \u00e2\u20ac\u0153The Beauty and The Beast.”<\/p>\n

\"Beauty<\/p>\n

\u00c2\u00a0<\/p>\n

Our next stop was the Dunluce Castle, I believe the only remaining coastal castle after the Normans cleared out the coastline in the 17th Century. \u00c2\u00a0Here is a short history of the castle:
http:\/\/www.northantrim.com\/dunlucehistory1.htm<\/a>\u00c2\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"Dunluce<\/p>\n

\u00c2\u00a0<\/p>\n

After a brief stop at the castle, we went on to Port Stewart and a night at the Strand Hill. \u00c2\u00a0One of the nicest of our many nice accommodations. \u00c2\u00a0More coming.<\/p>\n

\u00c2\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Leaving the village of Carnlough behind, we drove to the Carrick-A-Rede Rope Bridge.\u00c2\u00a0 \u00c2\u00a0http:\/\/www.discovernorthernireland.com\/Carrick-a-Rede-Rope-Bridge-Antrim-Northern-Ireland-Ballintoy-Ballycastle-P2829 The stop at Carrick-A-Rede was our introduction to the dramatic coastal line of northern and western Ireland. \u00c2\u00a0Combine the many shades of green of the countryside … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[12,15],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-746","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-photography","category-travel"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.travelswithwesley.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/746","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.travelswithwesley.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.travelswithwesley.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.travelswithwesley.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.travelswithwesley.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=746"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"http:\/\/www.travelswithwesley.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/746\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":749,"href":"http:\/\/www.travelswithwesley.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/746\/revisions\/749"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.travelswithwesley.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=746"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.travelswithwesley.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=746"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.travelswithwesley.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=746"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}