Page 241 - (DK Eyewitness) Back Roads Travel Guide - Ireland

DRIVE 23: Classic Northern Ireland 239

w Old Bushmills Distillery for one car. If it is empty, park and cross
BT57 8XH; Co Antrim the road. Look back towards Dunluce
Ireland’s oldest whiskey distillery, the to see the Giant’s Head, a huge face
Old Bushmills Distillery (open daily), eroded into the cliffs. At Portrush, turn
was founded in 1608 when a royal right onto Causeway Street and drive
licence was granted by King James I to Ramore Head for more sea views.
to Sir Thomas Phillips to distil uisce
beatha (Irish for “water of life”), or r Portrush
whiskey as it is now known. Old Co Antrim
Bushmills is still a fully operational Portrush is a large seaside town and
distillery, where brands such as one of Northern Ireland’s most
Bushmills, Black Bush and Bushmills popular family holiday destinations.
Malt are made, using unpeated It gets very busy in the summer,
malted barley. Guided tours for especially on bank holiday weekends.
visitors explain the craft of Irish There are plenty of outdoor activities
whiskey-making, including the Irish and the beach is very good for
triple-distillation process, and surfing. Waterworld (open Jun–Sep:
looking at the warehouses full of daily), the water park on the seafront, Above Surfers enjoying the waves at Portrush
barrels. There’s a chance to taste the and other amusements provide Beach, a popular family holiday destination
product at the end of the tour. plenty of family entertainment.
ª Leave Bushmills on the A2, signed ª Continue on the A2 to Portstewart. EAT AND DRINK
for Portrush. Dunluce Castle is a short Follow signs for the Promenade, turn
distance along this road on the right. right onto Atlantic Circle and drive BUSHMILLS
along Kinora Terrace to Portstewart The Bushmills Inn moderate
Irish Whiskey Point and Harbour Hill, affording lovely The award-winning Taste of Ulster
Irish whiskey is made from three views over to the Inishowen Peninsula. restaurant at this hotel (see left) is
ingredients: barley, yeast and water. housed in its 17th-century stables,
The barley is milled to a grist, which t Portstewart overlooking a garden courtyard. The
is then steeped in Mash Tuns with Co Derry mix of traditional and new Irish cuisine
hot water, to produce fermentable Portstewart is another very busy might feature pan-fried peppered fillet
sugars. The addition of yeast converts of beef flamed in Bushmills whiskey.
Reservations advised.
these sugars into alcohol. The raw seaside holiday resort with a lengthy
spirit is then distilled in a pot still. beach and promenade. The long 9 Dunluce Road, BT57 8QG; 028 2073
3000; www.bushmillsinn.com
Irish whiskey is distilled three times, golden strand is the main focal point,
giving it its unique flavour. It is then popular with walkers and surfers. PORTRUSH
matured in oak casks. Bushmills is ª From Portstewart take the B185 in Ramore Wine Bar inexpensive
aged for five years in sherry and the direction of Coleraine but, at the The Ramore is a popular, reasonably
bourbon casks, which refines the priced wine bar – part of a complex
spirit and adds complexity, colour roundabout, take the A29 (second which includes a pasta restaurant
and more flavour, but some whiskies exit) for the Coleraine ring road. At below and Oriental restaurant above.
are aged for much longer, such as Greenmount Roundabout, take the The Harbour, BT56 8BN; 028 7082
Bushmills 21-Year-Old Malt. B201 (third exit) for Castlerock. Turn 4313; www.ramorerestaurant.com
left onto the A2. Turn right onto the
B119, Sea Road, signed for Castlerock.
e Dunluce Castle Hezlett House is on this road just Below Ruined Dunluce Castle, breathtakingly
BT57 8UY; Co Antrim before Castlerock village. perched on its rocky promontory
The romantic ruins of Dunluce Castle
(open daily) have a dramatic clifftop
setting, jutting out into the sea. A
short audiovisual presentation on
the history of the castle can be
viewed before exploring the ruins.
Most of the present castle building
dates from the 16th and 17th
centuries and there are breathtaking
(if scary) views down to the water
crashing onto the rocks far below.
ª Continue on the A2 towards
Portrush. From a car park on the right-
hand side there are sweeping coastal
views. After the following bend, there
is a space on the left just large enough

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