Wednesday 24 April 2013

Belfast Weekend - Day 2, Saturday.

The original plan was to head off to Donegal but we were up too late so plans were changed and we headed off out onto the road to the north coast. One thing you notice as you are driving around Belfast are the flags, not put up by the council but by the residents - hence they are only half way up lamp posts because that's as far as they can reach.


Because of the change of plan we hadn't done any homework and checked out whether places were open. So we take a detour to go to a cute wool/craft shop in the middle of no where only to discover it was closed due to poor health :(


Eventually we make the coast (Ballycastle) after passing mountains with bits of snow still present and the cry of tiny newborn lambs.


I just love this picture - I like the way I have a real bird flying in the background.







Lovely beaches in this area.



























Final view of Ballycastle



We are now heading out towards Carrick.



We are walking towards Carrick-A-Rede bridge, owned by the National Trust. Oh the views are sooo lovely - not a view I can see in Leicestershire.








For over 350 years, fishermen have strung a rope  30m above the sea to allow them to access the best places to catch the migrating salmon.






Only 8 people are allowed on the bridge when the wind is blowingt! But in order to keep things moving the national trust have some workers encouraging you to move along the bridge hence the next picture not being as good as I would have liked it to have been.



Lots of views of nesting sea birds.


Here is the fishermen's cottage.


Last look back at the fantastic bridge.


We were now truly ready for our picnic lunch and my daughter did not disappoint us. Following in  her mothers tracks - providing enough for everyone!


Just like this picture.


Thank goodness for sat navs otherwise we might never have reached our next destination - love the name of this road.


We next went to see The Bishops Palace - don't know too much about this place as the guides had gone home but we were still allowed to mooch around.




















Now in the palace looking back down to the temple.





















Time for another cuppa and a piece of cake so we stopped and drove onto the local beach - yes drove on the sand!



Finally headed back south and could not resist taking a picture of Stormont.



The evening was finished off with home made pizza, wedges and salad eaten in front of a roaring fire and watching a Jackie Chan film. What an amazing day I had.





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