The Causeway Coast & Glens of Antrim (7 nights) Guided Group Tour

This tour itinerary explores the magnificent northeastern corner of the island of Ireland, a region of unsurpassed natural beauty. The focal point of the itinerary is the fabulous Causeway Coast – at the centre of which is the legendary Giant’s Causeway - Ireland’s only World Heritage Site. The stretch of coastline around the Causeway is considered by many to offer some of the finest coastal scenery in all of Europe. To complement the scenery there are interest sites in abundance – Castles, prehistoric sites, historic homes, museums.

The Sperrins is one of Northern Ireland’s most beautiful, most tranquil and least visited regions – a rugged landscape of mountains, forests and beautiful river valleys rivers. The sheep-roamed moorlands are littered with ancient standing stones. This was Ireland’s gold region in the nineteenth century.

The Glens of Antrim are a series of nine valleys that cut through the High, flat-topped Antrim Plateau. The Glens are naturally exquisite with glacial valleys, wooded glens, waterfalls and picturesque villages. Linking the lower ends of the glens, where they enter the Irish Sea, the Anrtim Coast Road is one of the finest stretches of road in the world.

The River Bann valley which drains Lough Neagh into the ocean is a tranquil rural haven with neat whitewashed farms.

The terrain is a mix of easy (Bann Valley and the Antrim Coast Road) and moderate (Causeway Coast and Antrim Plateau). There are some very challenging stretches on the Binevenagh Plateau and by Torr head – but these are strictly optional!

The tour is most easily accessed from Belfast International Airport. Belfast City Airport and Dublin Airports are also convenient.

Outline itinerary:

• Day 1 (Saturday)
  On arrival in Belfast Iron Donkey Bicycle Touring will transfer you from Belfast International Airport to your hotel on the outskirts of Ballymena – the city of the Seven Towers. (If you arrive at Dublin, there are good transport links to Belfast Airport). After checking in you will be fitted out with your bike and equipment – the remainder of the afternoon can be spent on a warm up ride around the country lanes,or by exploring Ballymena or simply relaxing and recovering from your flight. There is an introduction and initial briefing session before dinner which is enjoyed at the hotel.
  
  
• Day 2 (Sunday)
  After breakfast we saddle up and ride west from Ballymena towards the Bann Valley, meeting the river at the point where it flows through the pretty village of Portglenone on its journey north from Lough Neagh to the sea. The village offers the opportunity for a morning coffee. For those riders looking to stretch their legs a bit, there is an extension loop that turns south towards Lough Neagh before rejoining the main route further to the north. The core route follows the east bank of the Bann to Kilrea where we cross the river to lunch in one of the town’s hostelries. Continuing north through lush farmland we reach our accommodation in Aghadowey at the Brown Trout Inn. The Inn has a small parkland golf course, so if you have the energy, you will be able to claim that you have played the game in Ireland.
  
  
• Day 3 (Monday)
  Our ride continues north through pretty countryside to the town of Coleraine sitting at the mouth of the Bann. On the way we pass Mountsandel, the oldest known inhabited site in Ireland. We cross the river on a purpose built cycle bridge and strike out west along the coast to visit the ruined Bishops Palace and the much photographed Mussenden Temple. Hezlett House, a National Trust property is another interesting site. For the ambitious there is a challinging extension along the Bishop’s Road. This route tests lungs and legs to the limit as it climbs over the Binevenagh Plateau. The payback comes as breathtaking views across Lough Foyle to the mountains of the Inishowen Peninsula in County Donegal – and a great descent back to the coast! We return to Coleraine for lunch and then follow the lovely coastline (on a National Cycle Route) through the resorts of Portsteweart and Portrush. We ride past the Royal Portrush Golf Club and the beautiful beachs at White Rocks before the stark outline of dramatically sited Dunluce Castle comes into view. After visiting Dunluce we continue through the pretty resort of Portballintrae to Bushmills. A mile outside the town the Causeway Hotel close to the fabled Giant’s Causeway provides our accommodation for the night.
  
  
• Day 4 (Tuesday)
  There are so many attractions packed into this area that the best option is to let you know what they are and where they are located and to let you get on with things, visiting and spending time at the sites that particularly interest you. To this end the day’s core route today is short – a simple ride along the beautiful coastline from Bushmills to Ballycastle. Bushmills Distillery (the world’s oldest licensed distillery), the Giant’s Causeway (Ireland’s only World Heritage Site) and the Causeway Coast Path, the rope bridge at Carrick-a-Rede, Portbradden, White Park Bay, and Ballintoy – these are the main attractions that all lie along this very special 15 mile stretch of coast. For those determined to clock up the miles there is the option of an additional 30 mile loop extension that takes you inland, following the course of the River Bush. The Marine Hotel in the resort town of Ballycastle is our home for the next two nights.
  
  
• Day 5 (Wednesday)
  Today’s ride is a loop from Ballycastle. We ride up Glenshesk, climbing gently all the way, before dropping down to the coast again via pretty Glendun to the village of Cushendun. Much of the village with its charming rows of whitewashed cottages was designed the architect Clough Williams-Ellis. It is now largely owned and protected by the National Trust. After lunch in the village there are two options for the ride back to Ballycastle. The winding coast road to Torr Head is particularly scenic – but also particularly challenging! The gentler alternative is an inland ride via the Vanishing lake through Ballypatrick Forest. The two routes merge at Ballyvoy, just outside Ballycastle. On the descent into the town is the 15th century Bonamargy Friary, burial place of the MacDonnells who ruled the region for many years.
  
  An alternative to the loop ride is to take a 6 mile ferry ride from Ballycastle to Rathlin Island, and to spend a few hours exploring the island by bike before returning to Ballycastle in the late afternoon. The island is great for bird watching. It is also famous as the place where Robert the Bruce, the Scottish rebel, received inspiration about perseverance by watching a cave spider spinning a web!
  
  
• Day 6 (Thursday)
  Leaving Ballycastle, we ride up Glentaisie (another of the nine glens) to the village of Armoy. Just outside the village is the Armoy Round Tower. The route continues gently upwards by Slievenaorra Forest before dropping down to the village of Newton Crommelin. Close to the village is the entrance to Glenariff Forest Park. Glenariff (otherwise known as the Queen of the Glens) as the was described as “Switzerland in miniature” by the English writer William Thackeray during a visit in 1872. Riding down through Glenariff to meet the coast at Cushendall is one of the tour’s real highlights.
  
  After lunch we ride south from Cushendun along the renowned Antrim Coast Road, blasted out of the limestone cliffs in the 1850’s. Although the entire road is wonderfully scenic, the 11 mile section between Cushendun and the fishing village of Carnlough, is very special! Our accommodation in Carnlough is the Londonderry Arms Hotel, once owned by Winston Churchill.
  
  
• Day 7 (Friday)
  Leaving Carnlough we continue south along the Antrim Coast Road with great views over to the Mull of Kintyre in Scotland. We ride through a string of coastal village until we reach ballygalley to the village of Ballygalley, which we will reach around lunchtime. Here we turn inland, climbing over the southern flanks of the Antrim Plateau to Slemish. This is where St Patrick spent several years as a slave, tending pigs on the slopes of the mountain after being captured by pirates from his home in Wales. We lunch in the pretty village of Broughshane and then head south towards Templepatrick, our final destination. Our last night’s accommodation is in the Hilton Hotel.
  
  
• Saturday
  After breakfast you can take a transfer to Belfast International Airport for your outbound flight. Alternatively, Belfast is easily reached, and from here you can travel on to Dublin or to other destinations in Ireland.

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