Nearby is the glorious coastal walk along the headland at Larrybane which culminates in a trip across the famous Carrick-a-rede Rope Bridge linking the mainland to a small  island beyond.

Just a few miles up the road leads to Whitepark Bay a delightful sandy and rocky half moon beech and is one of the many fine sandy beeches that can be found on the North Coast. This stretch of golden beech is  strewn with shells, fossils and flints showing it was once a Neolithic settlement. It is bounded by high dunes and cliffs and with  its  rolling waves  even on the best summer days is never overcrowded.

Nature trail and car park. National Trust property.       Youth Hostel nearby.

                     Check out this image of  Ballintoy Church.

The all new 'Camping Barn' is a first of its kind for N. Ireland and is the latest addition to accommodation on the North coast, this is camping without the hassle of erecting a tent in the cold and rain, it has a large sleeping area and also the luxury of ladies and gents shower and toilet facilities plus camping stove cooking facilities.  Interested??  Tel: 028207/69391 and ask for Seamus!  

Try the "Sheep Island View " independent holiday hostel with its free pickup service from Giants Causway, Ballycastle, and Bushmills Tel: 012657/69391.

• All rooms ensuite                           42. Main Street Ballintoy.

• Laundry Facilities                    

• Meals on request

• Wheelchair friendly                                Open all Year.

• Camping available

• Pubs and restaurants nearby

• Group bookings available

• Private parking                        Scenic views of Rathlin and Scotland

• Bike hire

• Guided walks with local experts.

  Check out  http://www.fullertonarms.co.uk/  Ballintoy Pub Grub etc.
  

  A view of  Beautiful Ballintoy Harbour with Rathlin Island In The Background.   More Images

•  

                    Whitepark Bay Backpackers.

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In the center of the town is the Coleraine Leisure Centre, one of the busiest up to date leisure centres in the north with a £2 million upgrade of its facilities. The centre is now fully accessible for disabled users.

Open seven days a week.  Car parking no problem  . Tel: 028703 56432.

Places To Visit

Mountsandel Fort,  St. Patrick's Church,  Camus Cross And Balluan Stone,  Round The ramparts, Damhead Model Railway,  Riverside Theatre,  Jet Centre,  Coleraine Leisure Centre,  Ski Supreme,  Coleraine Marina,  Christie Park,  Anderson Park,  Mountsandel Forest,  Somerset Forest,  Castleroe Forest and Springwell Forest.

Coleraine Council.

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Visit Ballymoney Riverside Park with its 30 acres of parkland with riverside walks, trim trail, boating lake, children's play area, toilets and facilities for canoeing, picnicking and plenty of car park space.

The  most up to date indoor Bowling Stadium in the Province at the  Ballybrakes Business Park plus a snooker room, lounge, restaurant and bar.

For caravan owners head to the Drumaheglis Marina and Caravan Park situated on the beautiful stretch of the river Bann 5 miles from Ballymoney, hard -stand sites with electric hookups , slipways, barbeque areas, showers , laundry, toilets, picnic sites  and children's play areas. Tel: 028276 66466.

                  Check out   Ballymoney Borough Council Website!

                  Check out your local news ....  Ballymoney Today!

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The Portrush Puffer, Northern Irelands only road   passenger train offers visitors a fun and stress free mode of transport around the resort. 

Visit the new Marine Exhibition at the Portrush Countryside Centre  ( Best of all its Free!)  where visitors can take a walk through the Wreck of the Nautilus and view the many sea fish through the breaks in the old timber ship. Other features to enjoy are the indoor rock pool, become a detective using the video microscope and hunt for fossils. There is also a gift shop where you can buy a little momentum of your visit. ...............      Open times are 10am to 6pm seven days a week, from Easter to the end of September, well worth a visit.

Other Places To Visit

Dunluce Center,  Waterworld,  Barry's Amusement Park,  Fantasy Island,  Play Park and Recreation Grounds,  National Nature Reserve,  Dunluce Castle,  Portrush Puffer,  And the Harbour.

                   Portrush  Tourist Information

                   Royal Portrush Golf Club   

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Armoy  a very small picturesque village is on the fringes of the Glens of Antrim and is around  six miles inland from Ballycastle.

 The very well known and much loved Irish motorbike rider the late Joey Dunlop M.B.E. originated from around this area and had been known to be seen quite a few years back practicing on his then home built bikes up and down the roads near Armoy, since then he has won more races than ever thought possible and is a household name in Ireland. In addition to winning five Formula One World Championships he has made sporting history by setting a new world record of 26 wins in the Isle of Man Tourist Trophy Races.  The whole community were stunned and saddened by Joey’s tragic death in Tallinn, Estonia on 2^nd July 2000.

Visit the historic 'Round Tower' on the edge of the village and enjoy a picnic   on the banks of the River Bush. The scenic drive from Armoy to Ballycastle via Glenshesk is an experience not to be missed.  Image Of Armoy Church

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Cushendall,with its population of around 2400 happy souls is a beautiful picturesque village and conservation area since 1975.  Well known as the 'Capital of the Glens' it is located just 50 miles north of Belfast and only a mere  15 miles from the coast of Scotland.  It takes it's name from the River Dall which flows through the village, and it is an ideal starting place for visits to cliffs, coast and countryside.

 Mr. Francis Turnley  originally from Downpatrick in Co. Down bought the village of Cushendall in 1801 and in 1817 cut a road round the ruins of Red Bay Castle to avoid a very difficult road over the Crookanavick hill to the village.  Turnley's Curfew Tower, built in 1809 as a prison, was his pride and joy and  is the focal point of Cushendall, whilst above soars Lurigethan, a mysterious mountain with a table top and precipitous sides.

Secluded caravan and camp sites, Golf course, Boating club, Boat and fishing trips, and is a highly scenic area.   Tourist Information Center is also headquarters of the Glens of Antrim Historical Society.

Nice Image of   Cushendall Bay       Image of  Waterfoot Harbour 

Ruins of a Franciscan Friary (Layde Graveyard) and several important MacDonnell's gravestones including that of Dr. James MacDonnell, the founder of the Belfast Medical School. The exact origins of this Church are unknown but it probably began life as a holy place in the Iron Age or before.

Ossian's Grave

Just off the main Cushendall/ Ballymoney road on the outskirts of the village is a megalithic court cairn.  Dating back to the Stone Age it is believed to be the burial place of Ossian the Celtic Warrior Poet.

Walking.

Walking is a very popular activity in the village area due to the unique landscape, open moorlands, deep valleys and beautiful coastal scenery of Scotland and Red Bay via the cliff paths.

Traditional  music, dance and the revival of the Irish language features strongly in the glens people's cultural heritage.

Every August the streets are filled by the "Heart of the Glens" festival, the climax of which is mass participation by residents and visitors in the traditional dance the "Waves of Tory", where the streets are lined with people the length of Cushendall ...... fun for all the family so come along and join in the crack!

                            Visit The   Glens Hotel

Local Facilities include .....

Nine Hole Golf Course.  Outdoor Pursuits Centre.  Sailing and Boat Club.  Traditional Music Sessions.  Heart Of The Glens Festival.  Vibrant Community And Clubs.

Cushendall Tourist Office Tel: 028 2177 1180.

N. I. Tourist Board Tel: 028 9024 6609.    Email: cushendall@nacn.org

www.nacn.org/cushendall     www.antrim.net/cushendall

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