Wendy’s Guidebook
Sightseeing
Such a beautiful beach right nearby the bungalow. At the moment you need to book in advance via the National Trust website (it's free to NT members but you still need to book). The beach is long and golden and you can drive your car down onto the sand and spend the day their with a picnic.
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Portstewart Strand
Such a beautiful beach right nearby the bungalow. At the moment you need to book in advance via the National Trust website (it's free to NT members but you still need to book). The beach is long and golden and you can drive your car down onto the sand and spend the day their with a picnic.
Absolutely beautiful location - there are quite a few steps down (beware!) but the views are worth it and it is quite the adventure.
29 personas del lugar lo recomiendan
Kinbane Castle
81 Whitepark RdAbsolutely beautiful location - there are quite a few steps down (beware!) but the views are worth it and it is quite the adventure.
Another beautiful beach. This one has cows on it that wander down to the sand during the day sometimes - don't worry - they're very friendly. You can't swim on this beach but two great options are: 1) Grab an icecream from the van in the car park and walk down to the beach, once you hit the sand turn right and keep walking to the end of the beach, you'll see lots of people heading round the coast (careful it's fun but you need sure footing!) and if you keep walking round you'll end up in Ballintoy Harbour where you can have a lovely lunch/coffee/cake and soak up the Game of Thrones scenary; or 2) grab a coffee/cinnamon roll/pizza from the Bothy and head down to the beach of a picnic - totally delish! Note - there's a little walk down to the beach from the carpark but it's not too taxing!
43 personas del lugar lo recomiendan
Whitepark Bay
152 Whitepark RdAnother beautiful beach. This one has cows on it that wander down to the sand during the day sometimes - don't worry - they're very friendly. You can't swim on this beach but two great options are: 1) Grab an icecream from the van in the car park and walk down to the beach, once you hit the sand turn right and keep walking to the end of the beach, you'll see lots of people heading round the coast (careful it's fun but you need sure footing!) and if you keep walking round you'll end up in Ballintoy Harbour where you can have a lovely lunch/coffee/cake and soak up the Game of Thrones scenary; or 2) grab a coffee/cinnamon roll/pizza from the Bothy and head down to the beach of a picnic - totally delish! Note - there's a little walk down to the beach from the carpark but it's not too taxing!
This is a really beautiful place to visit and the Downhill Demesne beach below is also lovely. Call in at Meatbox (a moreish takeaway burger van) in Castlerock before or after your visit to make it a day trip to remember.
94 personas del lugar lo recomiendan
Templo de Mussenden
Seacoast RoadThis is a really beautiful place to visit and the Downhill Demesne beach below is also lovely. Call in at Meatbox (a moreish takeaway burger van) in Castlerock before or after your visit to make it a day trip to remember.
A visit to the North Coast isn't complete without a visit to the Giant's Causeway. The visitor's centre is quite expensive but you can walk down to the causeway without going to the visitor's centre for free. If you are a National Trust member you can park in the car park for free. We'd also highly recommend a visit to Mini Maegden for hot chocolate and grilled cheese. It is just a walk down from the Causeway basically on the side of the road. NOTE - you need to get there really early like 12ish if you want to guarantee getting your hands on a grilled cheese before they sell out for the day. If you are in it for the hot choc/marshmallows/icecream then you can be more flexible timewise. There is also a lovely walk along the Bushmills Railway down to the beach (or the whole way round to Bushmills!).
9 personas del lugar lo recomiendan
Giant's Causeway & Bushmills Railway
6 Runkerry RdA visit to the North Coast isn't complete without a visit to the Giant's Causeway. The visitor's centre is quite expensive but you can walk down to the causeway without going to the visitor's centre for free. If you are a National Trust member you can park in the car park for free. We'd also highly recommend a visit to Mini Maegden for hot chocolate and grilled cheese. It is just a walk down from the Causeway basically on the side of the road. NOTE - you need to get there really early like 12ish if you want to guarantee getting your hands on a grilled cheese before they sell out for the day. If you are in it for the hot choc/marshmallows/icecream then you can be more flexible timewise. There is also a lovely walk along the Bushmills Railway down to the beach (or the whole way round to Bushmills!).
You can catch the ferry from Ballycastle to Rathlin Island but especially in puffin season (June) you need to book weeks in advance to be sure of a spot. It is an amazing journey on the boat and the island itself is just a brilliant day trip.
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Rathlin Island
You can catch the ferry from Ballycastle to Rathlin Island but especially in puffin season (June) you need to book weeks in advance to be sure of a spot. It is an amazing journey on the boat and the island itself is just a brilliant day trip.
Neighbourhoods
This is the local hub for restuarants, cafes, shops, playgrounds, and takeaways. There is parking down by the seafront but on a sunny weekend it can get really busy. If you've got bikes we'd recommend cycling from the bungalow but the walk is very doable too (although it's just along a footpath on the road so not a super pretty walk). Morelli's is the original icecream from Portstewart and their sundae's are just the best but you can never go wrong with Northern Ireland's favourite icecream Maud's (check out Poor Bear - delicious honeycomb flavour). You don't need to wander far to find good coffee in Portstewart, check out Guilt Trip, 3hree Kings, Warkes Deli and Bob and Berts for your brunch, lunch, coffee and doughnut needs. Walk a little further round the headland towards Portstewart Strand and you'll get to Lost + Found coffee. Another excellent spot to spend a morning or afternoon with some delicious food. For fish and chips Gareth's is within walking distance of the bungalow and we hear Chip Mongers is an excellent take away option. For Restaurant's try Harry's Shack (right on the beach - absolutely amazing location), Amici (great views and food in the restaurant and takeaway pizza) and Me and Mrs Jones. We'd suggest trying to book a couple of days in advance for the restaurants, especially in the summer!
56 personas del lugar lo recomiendan
Portstewart
This is the local hub for restuarants, cafes, shops, playgrounds, and takeaways. There is parking down by the seafront but on a sunny weekend it can get really busy. If you've got bikes we'd recommend cycling from the bungalow but the walk is very doable too (although it's just along a footpath on the road so not a super pretty walk). Morelli's is the original icecream from Portstewart and their sundae's are just the best but you can never go wrong with Northern Ireland's favourite icecream Maud's (check out Poor Bear - delicious honeycomb flavour). You don't need to wander far to find good coffee in Portstewart, check out Guilt Trip, 3hree Kings, Warkes Deli and Bob and Berts for your brunch, lunch, coffee and doughnut needs. Walk a little further round the headland towards Portstewart Strand and you'll get to Lost + Found coffee. Another excellent spot to spend a morning or afternoon with some delicious food. For fish and chips Gareth's is within walking distance of the bungalow and we hear Chip Mongers is an excellent take away option. For Restaurant's try Harry's Shack (right on the beach - absolutely amazing location), Amici (great views and food in the restaurant and takeaway pizza) and Me and Mrs Jones. We'd suggest trying to book a couple of days in advance for the restaurants, especially in the summer!
Bushmills is the little village hub closest too the Giant's Causeway. A visit to the Bushmills Distillery is always great if you're a whisky fan. The Bushmill's Inn is a delicious cosy restaurant - especially on a rainy day and they sometimes do film nights too in their tiny little screen room.
27 personas del lugar lo recomiendan
Bushmills
Bushmills is the little village hub closest too the Giant's Causeway. A visit to the Bushmills Distillery is always great if you're a whisky fan. The Bushmill's Inn is a delicious cosy restaurant - especially on a rainy day and they sometimes do film nights too in their tiny little screen room.
Coleraine is the "bustling" town on the North Coast. For all your shopping needs this is the place to go and it has a good swimming pool for those rainy days. There is a great cafe called Lost + Found for brunch/lunch and coffee needs and a yummy Asian Fusion takeaway called Whoosh (it's not open past 5pm so make sure to get your orders in early in the day!).
29 personas del lugar lo recomiendan
Coleraine
Coleraine is the "bustling" town on the North Coast. For all your shopping needs this is the place to go and it has a good swimming pool for those rainy days. There is a great cafe called Lost + Found for brunch/lunch and coffee needs and a yummy Asian Fusion takeaway called Whoosh (it's not open past 5pm so make sure to get your orders in early in the day!).
Consejos sobre la ciudad
Cómo moverse
Renting a car is the best way to get around
Public transport is fairly low key in Northern Ireland and buses/trains don't run all that frequently. Renting a car is really cheap and definitely worth it from the freedom!
Qué meter en la valija
Rain is inevitable
It is pretty rainy in Northern Ireland so make sure to bring your waterproofs all year round. If you work on the principle that there is no such bad weather just inappropriate clothing then you can't go wrong. Most days the weather goes from sunny to rainy to hailstones to overcast - but just embrace it!
Reservá antes de viajar...
Restaurants
Especially in the summer, make sure to book restaurants in advance to make sure that you get to go where you want!
Costumbres y cultura
Lots of places aren't open on Sundays
Don't forget that Northern Ireland is still reasonably quiet on a Sunday. Not everything is open so just check venues and restaurants to see what days they are open.