Page 273 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Ireland

NOR THERN IRELAND  271

Environs
Off the A2, 5 km (3 miles) east of
town, a narrow scenic road starts
to wind its way along the coast
to Cushendall. First stop is Fair
Head, where a poorly marked
path meanders across heathery
marshland to towering cliffs
200 m (650 ft) above the sea.
From here there are stunning
views of Rathlin and the islands
off the Scottish coast.
To the lee side of the head­
land lies Murlough Bay, the Carnlough Harbour, a popular stop south of Cushendall
prettiest inlet along the coast.
This can be reached by road. edifice known as Curfew Tower, was a major centre of Stone
Further to the southeast built in the early 19th century as Age tool­making and axeheads
stands Torr Head, a peninsula a lock­up for thieves and idlers. made of Tievebulliagh’s hard
that reaches to within 21 km porcellanite rock have been
(13 miles) of the Mull of Environs found at a wide range of sites
Kintyre, making it the closest About 1.5 km (1 mile) north of all over the British Isles.
point in Ireland to Scotland. the village stands Layde Old Other attractive villages further
Church. It can be reached by south along the coast road
a pretty walk along the cliffs. include Carnlough, which has a
0 Cushendall Founded by the Franciscans, it fine sandy beach and a delightful
was a parish church from 1306 harbour, and Ballygally, whose
Road map D1. Co Antrim. * 2,400.
@ n 25 Mill St (028 2177 1180). to 1790 and contains many supposedly haunted 1625 castle
Open Jun–Sep: 10am–5pm Tue–Sat; monuments to the local is now a hotel (see p302).
Oct–May: 10am–1pm Tue–Sat. chieftains, the MacDonnells.
∑ moyle-council.org Just over 3 km (2 miles) west q Glenariff
of Cushendall, on the slopes of
Three of the nine Glens of Tievebulliagh Mountain, lies Forest Park
Antrim converge towards Ossian’s Grave, named after Road map D1. Co Antrim.
Cushendall, earning it the the legendary warrior­poet and Tel 028 2955 6000. Open daily.
unofficial title of “Capital of the son of the giant Finn MacCool & for car park. 7 limited.
Glens”. This attractive village has (see pp30–31). It is in fact a ∑ nidirect.gov.uk/ forests
brightly painted houses and an Neolithic court tomb: the area
Nine rivers have carved deep
valleys through the Antrim
Mountains to the sea. Celebrated
in song and verse, the Glens of
Antrim used to be the wildest
and most remote part of Ulster.
This region was not “planted”
with English and Scots settlers
in the 17th century and was the
last place in Northern Ireland
where Gaelic was spoken.
Today the Antrim coast road
brings all the glens within easy
reach of the tourist. Glenariff
Forest Park contains some of
the most spectacular scenery.
The main scenic path runs
through thick woodland and
wild­flower meadows and
round the sheer sides of a
gorge, past three waterfalls.
There are also optional trails to
distant mountain viewpoints.
William Makepeace Thackeray,
the 19th­century English
novelist, called the landscape
Glenariff Forest Park “Switzerland in miniature”.

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