North Antrim Coastal Drive Preview

Titanic Belfast is a visitor attraction opened in 2012, a 9 storey monument to Belfast's maritime heritage on the site of the former Harland and Wolff shipyard in the city's Titanic Quarter where the RMS Titanic was built. It tells the stories of the Titanic, which hit an iceberg and sank during her maiden voyage in 1912

Belfast Castle is located in the Cave Hill area of north Belfast. It was built in the 1860s and is one of the city's most famous landmarks. The elevated views of the city of Belfast from the front lawn of this amazing baronial-style castle are simply breath-taking, making it a must-see location!

Carrickfergus Castle, a Norman-built castle, and one of the best-preserved medieval structures in Ireland, has seen over 800 years of military occupation. The castle was besieged in turn by the Scots, Irish, English, and French and it continued to play a central part in a military role until 1928, today it is maintained by the Northern Ireland Environment Agency. Surrounded by sea, the keep of the castle is a four-story tower, 90 ft high, with a second-story entrance. Its entry chamber, originally one large, poorly lit room with a double latrine and no fireplace, served as the public room. A shaft gave access to a well below and a mural stair led down to the vaulted storage cellar. The fourth story, a high, brightly lit room with windows in all four walls, a fireplace and single latrine, was the principal chamber. Visitors to the castle can avail of a self-guided tour of the walls or, on occasion, guided tours can be arranged by the Carrickfergus Historical Society. Also open to the public for fun days out, the impressive monument has canons from the 17th and 19th centuries on display, while the keep houses historical and other displays.

Located at the foothills of Glencoy – one of the nine Glens of Antrim, and on the shores of Carnlough Bay, this sheltered and compact harbor is the focal point of Carnlough village.
Carnlough Harbour is one of the must-see stop-offs along the North Antrim Coastal Drive for Game of Thrones fans. Fans will recognize the stone staircase leading down to the sea, filmed as part of the Free City of Braavos Canal, where Arya Stark crawled up from the waters after being stabbed by the Waif. (Season 6)

Another quaint little seaside village along the Coastal Drive, with the option of a quick photo. A couple of notable points of interest in Cushendall are the ruins of the Red Castle, as you enter the village, and the Curfew Tower, in the center of the village. The Red Castle was built in the 14th century, and the Curfew Tower was built in the 19th century to house riotous prisoners. It is now privately owned

Cushendun is yet another quaint seaside village. The local caves were used in the filming of the famous "Game Of Thrones" series where Sir Davos Seaworth and Lady Melisandre landed ashore in Season 2 and are also where Melisandre gave birth to a terrifying shadow baby. The caves also featured again in season 8 with the famous battle between Jaime Lannister and Euron Greyjoy. Keep an eye out for Mary McBride's pub on the way out of Cushendum (on the causeway side). It's a wonderful bar with authentic Irish pub food and great coffee! It also hosts one of the famous "Game Of Thrones Doors"

The Carrick-A-Rede rope bridge is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Northern Ireland. The bridge links the mainland to the tiny island of Carrickarede. It spans 20 meters (66 ft) and is 30 meters (98 ft) above the rocks below

Ballintoy Harbor is yet another picturesque quaint fishing village on the coastal drive. Its unique, rocky landscape was home to the filming of some of the "Iron Isles" scenes in the blockbuster "Game Of Thrones" series.

The Giant's Causeway, one of the most popular tourist sites in Northern Ireland, is an area of about 40,000 interlocking polygonal, basalt columns. The tops of the columns, which are the result of an ancient volcanic eruption, form stepping stones that lead from the cliff foot and disappear under the sea. The Causeway is located about three miles (4.8 km) northeast of the town of Bushmills.

Although there is evidence of human habitation at the location dating as far back as the 1st century, the first castle was built in the 13th century by Richard Og De Burgh. Much of the castle structures that we see today were built in the 16th and 17th centuries and ownership passed between the waring McQuillan and McDonnell clans.

The distillery at Bushmills is the oldest licensed whiskey distillery in the world. In 1608, a license was granted to Sir Thomas Phillips by King James I to distill whiskey. The Bushmills Old Distillery Company was established in1784 by Hugh Anderson.

The Dark Hedges is a beautiful, straight stretch of road lined with, and enveloped by, mature beech trees that were planted by the Stuart family in the eighteenth century. It was intended as a compelling landscape feature to impress visitors as they approached the entrance to their Georgian mansion - Gracehill House. More recently, The Dark Hedges has become a tourist attraction again following it being the location of "The King's Road" film set on the "Game Of Thrones"

Driving along this stretch of road is not permitted. The most appropriate parking is at the Dark Hedges Hotel car park. (which is the location of your map pin) It is literally a 2-minute walk to the trees and there are public bathroom facilities at the car park. The adjacent hotel also serves nice food and coffee.