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Be a Destinations-UK-Ireland Sponsor  Our County Antrim articles Dunluce Castle Old Bushmills Distillery Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge White Park Bay Bushmills Inn Hotel Worth a journey to County Antrim Caldhame Guest Lodge A great place to stay in County Antrim |
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White Park Bay, a National Trust property and neolithic site by the causeway, has a good sandy beach, sand dunes, cliffs, and a nature trail. South of the Giant’s Causeway is the town of Bushmills, home to a distillery. A tour is offered that gives all the details of whisky making. The former malt kilns house a small museum. 
For a scary attraction try the 66 foot long Carrick-a-Rede rope suspension bridge (National Trust) east of Ballintoy along the Larrybane cliffs. It’s a half-hour walk from the car park to the rock island on the other side. The bridge is only open from early spring. 
Between the Giant’s Causeway and the rope bridge are the miniscule ruins of Dunseverick Castle, one of Ireland’s earliest. It’s on a promontory separated from the mainland with a precarious path leading from the castle to the Giant’s Causeway. Dunseverick’s town museum has collections and exhibits that include one on the Spanish armada, local marine artefacts, photos, fossil and mineral collections, and a thatched fisherman’s cottage. 
On the road to Ballintoy are the ruins of Kinbane Castle, dating from 1546, sitting on a promontory jutting into the sea. Dunluce Castle is another cliff edge site along this stretch of coastline, but east of the Giant’s Causeway. It, too, is separated from the mainland, except for a courtyard. A cave lies below the drawbridge. The castle dates from the 14th/16th centuries. A gatehouse, great hall, and kitchen make up part of the ruins. The nearby town of Portrush is a seaside resort with sandy beaches. Offshore are the Skerries, a favourite seabird haunt. 
Ballintoy’s harbour is attractive and gives access to the coastal path. Near Ballintoy is the Magheraboy megalithic tomb, a circular cairn with only a burial chamber. 
Take a ferry from Ballycastle to Rathlin Island, six miles that are rough and dangerous unless the weather cooperates. The island, fringed by white cliffs harbours thousands of seabirds in the summer. The viewpoint at the west lighthouse, Kebble Nature Reserve, is best for seeing them. The island is also popular for diving and fishing. Visitors can partake of the culture and traditions in the form of story telling, music, dance, and singing. 
An interesting attraction is the Dark Hedges, an avenue of beech trees south of Ballycastle near Armoy. Ballypatrick Forest lies on the Ballycastle to Cushendall road and has a number of view points, walks, a scenic drive, and picnic areas. On the same road are the remains of a Franciscan friary, Bonamargy, dating from 1485. The gatehouse, church and east range are in good condition, except for the roof. 
Murlough Bay is a beautiful National Trust property by Fair Head. It’s down a steep and high cliff. A path leads along the clifftop to Fair Head. South, off the main road, Torr Head has views across the water and is only 12 miles from Scotland. Cushendun is a National Trust village at the end of a sand beach below cliffs. The famous architect, Clough Williams-Ellis, who designed Portmeirion in Wales, had a hand in the village architecture. There are three terraces of houses around a square, slate cottages, and a lodge. 15th century Castle Cara is here. 
Inland from Cushendun lies Glendun, one of Antrim’s nine glens with a river running by the road. Continuing south leads to Layd Old Church ruins by a stream and Ossian’s Grave, a megalithic court cairn. In Cushendall is Turnley, a 19th century curfew tower. 
South of Glenariff, Glenariff Forest Park’s 2300 acres contain woodland, lakes, and rivers. A visitor centre has displays on wildlife and forestry. A one-hour walk leads to a waterfall. The village of the same name hosts a Gaelic sport and culture festival. It’s the site of Red Bay Castle, built in Norman times. Red Bay gets its name from the local sandstone. The town of Carnlough has an attractive sandy bay. 
A few miles down the coast, the road leads to Glenarm forest and village. Limestone is quarried locally. The 1606 castle in the village is privately owned but can be seen from the park where walks lead through the woods. At Ballygalley is Carnfunnock Country Park offering 473 acres that contain a walled garden, maze, ice house, Norman motte, nature trails, walks, and a seaside promenade. 
From the busy port of Larne you can take a ferry to Island Magee, a seven-mile long peninsula connected to the land at its southern extremity where the town of Whitehead is located. South of Larne is Olderfleet Castle, a four-storey 16th century tower house. Off the main road at Glenoe, a National Trust village, is Glenoe waterfall in a deep gorge. Whitehead grew as a result of rail links to Belfast. It has a collection of steam engines and rolling stock, which are open for public viewing. A lighthouse offers views after a climb up stone stairs. 
Continuing south on the A2 the next large town is Carrickfergus. It’s home to a marina and the largest and best preserved Norman castle in the country. The castle is sited on a basalt promontory at the entrance to Belfast Lough. Its construction ranges from the late 12th to the middle of the 13th centuries. An inner ward is enclosed by a curtain wall. There’s a middle ward, outer ward and gatehouse tours. The keep has a display on the castle’s history. Bits of the town’s 17th century walls survive. St Nicholas church is 800 years old and is famous for its stained glass windows. Flame is the name of a Victorian gasworks museum. The Carrickfergus Museum displays the details of the historic town. 
The town of Ballymena, in county Antrim’s interior, gives the visitor information on its history in the Ballymena Museum. Guided walks and historical talks are on offer. Just next to Ballymena is Gracehill, a Georgian village settled by Moravians. 
East of Ballymena is Slemish Mountain, which tradition says is the site of St Patrick’s captivity. There are views from the top of the volcanic plug. At Ballymena’s ECOS Millennium Environmental Centre you can learn about alternative technologies in high tech galleries and explore the country park on an electric bicycle. North-east of Ballymena is Broughshane village, nicknamed the garden village of Ulster, and winner of a number of “in bloom” awards. 
A drive from the county border at Portrush along the A2 to Belfast takes in the coastline and its stunning scenery. 
In Steeple Park is a round tower once part of a monastery dating from the 6th century. Off the A26 on the A6 is Antrim Castle, denoted by a Tudor gate. The gardens in the grounds include 17th century water gardens, a motte, a parterre, long canal, pond, and interpretive display. Antrim’s Round Tower dates from the 10th century and was part of a monastic site. 
At Crumlin, south of Antrim, is the Talnotry Cottage Bird Garden, home to a collection of pheasants, quails, partridges, and injured wild birds. At Templepatrick, east of Antrim on the A57, is Templetown mausoleum in a walled graveyard. It was designed c1770 by Robert Adam. Also at Templepatrick is Castle Upton, built in 1611, and remodelled by Robert Adam in 1783 along with the stables. 
Four miles north of Belfast is the Cave Hill Country Park and Heritage Centre. The caves were used by neolithic man. To the west is the Colin Glen Forest Park, a 200-acre forest park with woodland, a river, waterfalls, ponds, wildlife, exhibitions, a shop, and AV presentations. The Ballance House near Lough Neagh’s shore is another farmhouse museum in the county. It was the birthplace of New Zealand prime minister J. Balance in 1839. Guided tours include a restored parlour and AV presentation. A tearoom, shop and orchard round out the experience. 
Drumbeg is a suburb of Lisburn and the site of Drumbeg church with its 1878 lych gate and yew arch. The church was built from 1798 to 1831, then again in 1870. The roof is wooden. On the road to Belfast is the Lagan Valley Regional Park and Drumbridge lock keeper’s house. Belfast Rose Week in July takes place at Dixon Park home to more than 30,000 roses. 
Near the border with county Derry and south of Bushmills is the town of Ballymoney, where a Heritage Centre houses local history exhibits. Ballymoney’s church on Queen Street is a listed building. Its tower dates from 1637. Leslie Hill Open Farm and Gardens is a Georgian estate with a large collection of horse drawn vehicles. Rare breeds, red deer, and other farm animals are on display. Rides are available, and there’s a pick your own fruit garden, shop, and tearoom. 
Between Ballymoney and Bushmills off the B66 is Benvarden Garden, part of a historic estate dating back to 1630. There are mature trees, a walled garden with roses, a kitchen garden, pleasure grounds, and a tearoom. Between Ballymena and Ballymoney off the A44 is Clough Mills, site of the Dooeys cairn, a neolithic court cairn dating form BC4000-2000. On the B15 is Armoy Round Tower dating from c460 and once part of a monastery.