GIANT ATTRACTIONS up NORTH
From causeways to coastlines, there’s so much to explore
NOW, I know we are all jostling to get on aeroplanes this year — myself included but before you do, I want you to think about some of the gifts that the last two years have brought us.
For me, a major boon was the realisation that we live in a gem of a country, steeped in natural beauty, culture and history, and I was reminded of that once more when I went up north to Limavady and Antrim recently for a little family getaway.
Our base for our northern adventure was in the Roe Park Resort, one of Northern Ireland’s premier golf and spa locations. Set amid the gorgeous surroundings of the Roe Valley Country Park, and with rolling views of its own 18-hole parkland course, this four-star hotel blends the charm of a country house estate with modern luxuries and conveniences to boot.
This scenic and tranquil park is located on the outskirts of Limavady and its riverside views and woodland walks made for a lovely, peaceful retreat into nature.
Our meals were served in the Brasserie, a sympathetically restored 18th century coach house, and my girls Lana-Rose and Layla adored getting dressed up for dinner each night — with the incredibly generous Knickerbocker Glory dessert being a particular highlight.
Our first adventure began at the foot of Binevenagh Mountain, along the Causeway Coast, at Carrowmena Activity Centre.
It was time for the infamous Maize Maze — although as luck would have it, the rainy weather proved to be as much of an obstacle as the corny labyrinth itself, and trying to dodge puddles and stay upright in the slippery muck was challenging enough.
Still, we mostly managed, emerging a little soiled and disheveled, much to the girls’ delight.
Next up was a coastal trip to the picturesque blue-flag destination, Portrush. It has everything you could want from a seaside town — charming shops, restaurants, pubs and arcades.
IF YOU’VE got children, make sure you have a meander around the town before you get to the latter, as you’ll never get them out. We managed to steer them towards the Portrush Coastal Zone, a coastal and marine centre. Here there were discovery pools and tanks with sea life, plus a viewing platform which affords excellent views towards the sea.
Dinner was at 55 North, which overlooks the magnificent coastline and beaches that form the backdrop to the restaurant in Portrush. We had some delicious contemporary cuisine — I can highly recommend the Bang Bang Chicken and the Sticky Pork Belly burger went down a treat too.
After a hearty breakfast on day two, we were back on a coastal road, and this time our destination was Portstewart Strand, which is simply one of the nicest beaches I’ve ever walked. The girls took pleasure in running and dipping their toes in the icy water. The weather was not being kind but to heat up we managed to nab a table at the hugely popular Harry’s Shack seafood restaurant on the beach. I can recommend everything on this menu — if you’re a fan of fish, you won’t be disappointed.
It’s interesting to note that Portstewart Strand is also one of the few remaining beaches in Ireland where cars still have access and permission to drive on to the beach so it’s perfect for families who wish to picnic on the golden shores in summer. Later that day we took to the water. We were picked up from Portstewart Harbour and our Aquaholics Boat trip host Richard was a mine of both historical and marine information as we cruised the Causeway Coast. We got to admire The Skerries, Dunluce Castle and the Giant’s Causeway from our nautical vantage point. The girls shrieked as we managed to spot both dolphins and porpoises and many curious and colourful seabirds along the way.
On the final day of our northern adventure, you could say we saved the best for last. We journeyed to the geological wonder that is the Giant’s Causeway, Northern Ireland’s first Unesco Heritage Site and home to a wealth of history and legend. I had been to view the ancient 40,000 basalt stone columns years ago, and I marvelled at the sight then, but there was something particularly wonderful about bringing our children to see it.
You can spend an entire day here, exploring the state-ofthe-art interpretation and visitor centre before being brought on a magical tour by one of the expert guides to unlock the mystery and myth of this amazing place. Children and adults alike thoroughly enjoyed our guide’s regaling of the legendary tale of giant Finn McCool, who is said to have had a fight with a Scottish fellow, named Benandonner, across the sea. The fury caused Finn to grab huge rocks and hurl them into the water, forming a trail of stepping stones (the aforementioned columns).
Mind you, the insight into the volcanic activity that created the phenomenon 50 to 60 million years ago was pretty fascinating too.
No trip to the Causeway is complete without an obligatory perch on the Wishing Chair — a natural throne formed from a perfectly arranged set of columns. Keep an eye out for Finn McCool’s camel too, who was turned to stone and lies along the bottom of the cliffs... the girls are still talking about him.