Today we completed the Causeway Coastal Route, driving from Ballycastle to Belfast. 

We did back track a wee bit to walk the Rope Bridge because it was closed due to high winds yesterday afternoon.

Carrick-a-rede is a 20 meter rope bridge that links the mainland to the tiny island of Carrickarede (home to a single fisherman’s cottage), first erected by salmon fishermen in 1755 as a way to check on their nets.

It has become a huge tourist attraction in recent years.

Game of Thrones lovers might recognize Larrybane Quarry as the spot where Brienne of Tarth fought and beat Loras Tyrell in front of King Renly to be inducted into his honour guard. The old chalk quarry is now used as the overflow car park for the Carrick-a-rede site. 

Dark Hedges is a narrow road (Bregagh Road) lined with 90 (of an original 150) intertwined beech trees planted in 1775 along the entrance of James Stuart’s estate. Although there was a mighty windstorm here in January that might have knocked a few more of them down! 

Legend says the hedges are visited by the ghost of the Grey Lady who travels the road from tree to tree. She may be the spirit of James Stuart’s daughter or one of his house maids who died mysteriously. 

Another Game of Thrones filming site, Dark Hedges was used as part of the King’s Road. 

Glenariff is the largest of the nine glens of County Antrim, narrow and deep U-shaped mountain valleys.  It is called the Queen of the Glens, both for its size and for its majestic scenery.  The glen is said to be the mythological home of Finn McCool’s great rival, Goll MacMorna. 

The waterfall walk passes by Ess-na-Larach (the Mare’s fall) and Ess-na-Crub (the Fall of the Hooves) both named due to the equine thunder of the falling water.

After being in Ireland for almost a month, Dave finally had the opportunity to drink an Irish coffee at lunch!

We arrived in Belfast early enough to take a wander around the cathedral district.

Big Fish on the Quay at River Lagan

The Albert Memorial clock is a tower built in the 1860’s to memorialize Prince Albert. 

Lots of cool murals and street art…

The Son of Protagoras shows the child gazing angrily at the Belfast Cathedral across the street.  He holds a dead dove who has been pierced with two arrows bearing the cross of the Knights of Malta and the Latin cross.  The artist painted this work as a comment on the conflict that once raged between Irish Catholic Nationalists and Protestant Unionists. 

The Duel of Belfast or Dance by Candlelight – an iconic piece of street art in the heart of Belfast.  Said to be the perfect metaphor for Belfast’s troubled past and irritating present.  Two men fight over the carcass of a dead animal, so consumed with defeating each other that they fail to notice the world decaying around them.

We had some great tapas for dinner and will continue to explore Belfast tomorrow.