Antrim Coast & Glens - 5 Days

Day 1:

The holiday begins with a “meet & greet” in the picturesque country village of Broughshane, famous for its floral displays, winner of the European Entente Florale and is also your gateway to the glens.

Day 2:

Your first day’s cycle is a gentle run on quiet country roads heading towards Glenarm the oldest village in the glen.On your way you may wish to take a slight detour and venture up Slemish Mountain, where Saint Patrick, the Patron Saint of Ireland, is said to have tended livestock as a slave boy in the 5th Century. Your destination today is Carnlough; a coastal village with a neat little harbour situated at the foot of Glencoy a few miles round the coast from Glenarm. The day finishes in the Londonderry Arms Hotel, which offers a warm welcome, an excellent meal and on most Sunday evenings good craic in the bar with live traditional Irish music.

Distance: 16 miles / 25km

Day 3:

Today’s cycle heads for Glenariff glen known as the queen of the glens with its gushing waterfalls and scenic path skirting the sheer side of the plunging gorge. Cycling on from Glenariff you come to Cushendall the “Capital of the Glens”. The last leg of your journey then continues cross-country and after a short climb you cycle on a quiet road with magnificent views, free wheeling past the edge of Ballypatrick forest and on into Ballycastle.On your way be careful not to fall prey to Loughareema, the mysterious “vanishing lake”, watery grave to coach and horses throughout the ages, legend has it.

Distance: 32 miles / 50km

Day 4: 

This morning you set off for a jam-packed day, only a short route of 18 miles but a lot to see. The famous Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge, the windswept ruins of Kenbane, Dunseverick and Dunluce castles, golden sands of White Park Bay, the Giant’s Causeway and finishing up in Bushmills, home of the famous distillery. Tonight you stay in the little port and beach resort of Portballintrae.

Distance: 18 miles / 29km

Day 5:

The final day and you are cycling on quiet country roads through miles of scenic countryside passing the Bush River and Slieveanorra Forest as you head back to Broughshane. Departure in the evening from Broughshane.

Distance: 33 miles / 53km

The above cycle details are a guideline and all distances may vary according to your chosen route.

Nature has spent thousands of years perfecting it. Stories of giants and ghosts, witches and warlords have enriched it. Man over the centuries has enhanced it. Artists, writers, poets and musicians have been inspired by it.

The Causeway Coast and Glens is an area of unsurpassed beauty, a unique fusion tangible heritage and magnificent scenery. An area whose breathtaking and rugged coastline merges into the romantic landscape of its deep silent glens and lush forest parks. Where beautiful beaches beckon, rivers wander through unspoilt lowlands and picturesque villages sit comfortably next to busy shopping towns.

To travel along the coast is to experience one of the most dramatic routes in the world. Miles of salty coastline will transport you past rugged and windswept cliffs, spectacular scenery and fabulous unspoilt beaches. It’s a coastline sprinkled with historic castles, churches and forts. Many are now just ruins but each holds the memories of a mysterious and heroic past. A past populated by seafaring Vikings and swashbuckling tales of the ancient Irish clans.

It’s a journey not to be hurried. Every twist and turn in the road will reveal new sights, well placed stopping points, offering uninterrupted views to Scotland on one side and tall limestone cliffs dissected by beautiful glens on the other.

Formed in legend and song each glen has its own distinct character and charm but all remain unspoilt and unexploited. Wild in their beauty each deserves a visit, but above all else don’t miss Glenariff, the queen of the glens with its gushing waterfalls and scenic path skirting the sheer sides of the plunging gorge.

Learn the secrets of the special water from St Columb’s Rill, as you tour Old Bushmills, the world’s oldest licensed whiskey distillery. King James I granted the original license to distil “Uisce Beatha” in April 1608 and the crafts and skills employed there have changed little in 400 years.