General

Mount Stewart is part of the National Trust and is an estate with a large variety of beautful gardens. It has a grapevine that apparently goes back to the 1700’s. It’s enclosed in a broken down old greenhouse. Nice roses in the Rose Garden. Beautiful lake with geese and ducks. Large house. Enjoyed a hot cup of tea with a scone and hot mixed berry crumble.

From Dunluce Castle, we turned east and went back the way we came past Ballintoy to BallyCastle (northern tip of the Antrim coast). Along the way I came upon the Bonamargy Friary. It was built around 1500 by Rory McQuillan (powerful chieftain who controlled the area). Beautiful hills and valleys everywhere. The friary is now a complete ruin with a cemetary surrounding it. Ancient gravestones everywhere.

From the rope bridge we turned west and drove to Bushmills and then down to Dunluce Castle. Magnificent ruins right on the coast. It was built in the early 1500’s and was a seat of power for the Irish earls.

From Ballintoy, we turned west along the coast (North Sea) to Carrick-a-Rede where we crossed the rope bridge over to a small island where salmon fishermen lived and fished. Quite frightening going over (toe curling stuff). The rope bridge was first erected in 1755. In the distance you can see Rathlin island and beyond that, the Mull of Kintyre (Scotland). As usual, breath-taking scenery. After crossing the bridge we stopped at the top and had a cup of tea. Great stuff! Just west of the bridge is the Giant’s Causeway which we saw last time we here.