Photos and the City

Tag: travel

  • Carrick-a-rede Rope Bridge

    carrick a robe bridge, causeway coast, northern ireland, uk, roadtripcarrick a robe bridge, causeway coast, northern ireland, uk, roadtrip

    After a night full of shooting stars I was ready for another highlight at the Causeway Coast: the Carrick-a-rede robe bridge.

    Connected to the cliffs by a rope bridge across the Atlantic Ocean, Carrick-a-Rede Island (home to a single building – a fisherman’s cottage) is the final destination.

    Suspended almost 100 ft (30 m) above sea level, the rope bridge was first erected by salmon fishermen 350 years ago. (National Trust)

    carrick a robe bridge, causeway coast, northern ireland, uk, roadtrip

    It´s a lovely one-mile walk along the cliffs from the parking to the “final destination” – the bridge. If you´re like me and not that excited about crossing a rope bridge high up in the air, you don´t have to pay anything, one only needs a ticket for crossing the bridge to the island. And these tickets have time slots, during high season it´s probably better to be there bright and early. No online pre-booking possible – find all the information on the site of the National Trust.

    carrick a robe bridge, causeway coast, northern ireland, uk, roadtripcarrick a robe bridge, causeway coast, northern ireland, uk, roadtrip

    carrick a robe bridge, causeway coast, northern ireland, uk, roadtrip

    Scotland in the back.

    carrick a robe bridge, causeway coast, northern ireland, uk, roadtripcarrick a robe bridge, causeway coast, northern ireland, uk, roadtripcarrick a robe bridge, causeway coast, northern ireland, uk, roadtripcarrick a robe bridge, causeway coast, northern ireland, uk, roadtripcarrick a robe bridge, causeway coast, northern ireland, uk, roadtrip

  • Dark Hedges

    dark hedges, game of thrones, northern ireland, uk, roadtrip

    When I did research my trip to the Causeway Coast pictures of this street always popped up – it was impossible to miss them! Another location from “Game of Thrones” and probably as often photographed as the Giant´s Causeway! I assume James Stuart didn´t expect this to happen when he planted these more than 150 breech trees along the entrance road to his estate in 1775.

    dark hedges, game of thrones, northern ireland, uk, roadtrip

    Even so, I came in the evening there was quite a few people around. This actually is a normal road (Bregagh Road), so be aware that there might be traffic! The cars you see in the picture weren´t traffic, but just people who were too lazy to use the free parking next to the hotel – just two minutes walk away from the road.

    Please use the parking at the Hedges Hotel, it´s a lovely short walk through the Gracehill House estate to reach the beech-lined road. And as I just learned, traffic has been banned from this part of the road last October, I´ve just been one and a half month too early!

    dark hedges, game of thrones, northern ireland, uk, roadtrip

    James Stuart built Gracehill House in 1775,

    the opposing rows of beech trees were meant to create an impressive, scenic road leading up to their estate, Gracehill House. However as the trees matured they began to bend over the road and their upper branches intermingled creating a shadowy arboreal tunnel. (Atlas Obscura)

    dark hedges, game of thrones, northern ireland, uk, roadtripdark hedges, game of thrones, northern ireland, uk, roadtrip

    After a lovely walk through the tunnel (and some waiting until most of the people were gone) I was ready to drive back to the coast and my B&B – and a short stop to admire White Park Bay Beach in the sunset! And I was ready to enjoy the Perseid Meteor Showers. I´ve never seen so many falling stars, having no light pollution really helps!

    white park bay beach, northern ireland, uk, causeway coast

    white park bay beach, northern ireland, uk, causeway coastwhite park bay beach, northern ireland, uk, causeway coast

  • The Abbey

    ballycastle, golf, abbey, ruins, Bonamargy Friary, causeway coast

    Hole 3 – The Abbey!

    The golf course in Ballycastle has some spectacular sites (and holes – or however you call them). I was driving by and just had to stop and explore this interesting site further.

    ballycastle, golf, abbey, ruins, Bonamargy Friary, causeway coast

    The Bonamargy Friary was founded in in 1485 by Rory MacQuillan as used to be a Franciscan abbey. Several celebrated chieftains and earls of Antrim have been buried in the abbey.

    ballycastle, golf, abbey, ruins, Bonamargy Friary, causeway coast

    Perhaps the Friary’s most famous resident was the 17th century prophet and recluse Julie MacQuillen. Known as ‘The Black Nun’, MacQuillen wished to be buried at the entrance of the chapel so that she might be trodden under the feet of those who entered. A worn Celtic cross (rounded with a hole in the centre) marks her grave at the west end of the main church. (Wikipedia)

    ballycastle, golf, abbey, ruins, Bonamargy Friary, causeway coast

    ballycastle, golf, abbey, ruins, Bonamargy Friary, causeway coastballycastle, golf, abbey, ruins, Bonamargy Friary, causeway coast