Page 10 of Touring Ireland by Car by Car Rental Council of Ireland

drive then to visit the mussenden temple downhill a2 and the towns of portstewart and portrush portstewart has a magnificent strand with a waymarked nature trail causeway coastal route 3 day tour belfast ­ londonderry 195 kms 121 mls day 2 sperrins region on the second day drive to the beautiful sperrin mountains and along the glenelly valley b47 in the counties of londonderry and tyrone a large number of archaeological and heritage sites can be found visit the sperrins heritage centre in the heart of the valley then drive onto the ulster american folk park in castletown co tyrone a5 3 miles north of omagh this is an outdoor museum telling the story of emigration to north america during the 18th and 19th century also worth a visit is the wellbrook beetling mill in cookstown a505 from castletown you can see how linen is made here and have a go yourself at beetling which is the final process in linen manufacture when the cloth is hammered to produce sheen to complete the driving tour visit coyles cottage a 250 year old fisherman s cottage near the western shores of lough neagh irelands largest lough and then to the famous ardboe stone cross located on the shores of lough neagh rathlin island bushmills returning to the causeway coastal route head towards the seaside town of ballycastle where ferries leave for rathlin island with the option of taking in the final two glens glenshesk and glentaisie heading west take in the stunning scenery of the causeway coast before arriving at carrick-a-rede rope bridge spanning a 24m chasm head inland to the village of bushmills home to the world s oldest licensed whiskey distillery overnight in bushmills head out of bushmills to the unesco world heritage site of the giants causeway one of ireland s top attractions this is a must for any visitor heading west take in the ruin of dunluce castle clinging to the cliffs edge before continuing on through portrush and portstewart with the option of taking in the beautiful bann valley returning on the causeway coastal route head towards limavady past castlerock with the option of taking the route via binevenagh mountain once past limavady there is an option of travelling through the magnificent roe valley before heading on to londonderry lisburn 16 start the tour at newtownabbey s lough shore taking in the beauty of belfast lough following the route you enter carrickfergus and your first stop at the castle built in the 12th century is ireland s oldest and best preserved norman castle continue along the route towards larne the gateway of the glens here you have the option to take the loop around islandmagee taking in the picturesque portmuck harbour and gobbins cliffs back on the mainland head northwards and let the magnificent glens unfold where fairies and folklore are part of everyday life upon arriving at glenarm there is an option to travel through this magnificent glen down to slemish mountain where st patrick spent his childhood returning to the causeway coastal route via picturesque glencloy head towards glenarriff the queen of the glens with it s gushing waterfalls and scenic path skirting the sheer sides of the plunging gorge continuing on the coastal route travel to your overnight stop in cushendall start the day with an optional scenic drive taking in glenann and glendun or take in the breathtaking torr head and murlough bay via the picturesque village of cushendun 17 mount stewart co down county down tour belfast ­ belfast 1-2 day tour 157 kms 98 mls lisburn strangford castlewellan county down has beautiful beaches nature reserves and forest parks and is a must see area in northern ireland to start this one or two day tour depending on how much time you would like to spend in each recommended site depart from belfast and travel east a21 through the market town of newtownards this town is situated at the top of strangford lough then drive a20 to mount stewart house and gardens located on the shores of strangford lough these gardens are considered to be the finest in europe then continue to portaferry a pretty seaside village at the foot of the lough take the car ferry across to the fishing village of strangford st patrick s first church is located here ardglass a2 one of northern ireland s major fishing ports has seven castles and the marina is well worth a visit then drive to the market town of downpatrick here visit the st patrick centre which is dedicated to the life and times of saint patrick ireland s patron saint then visit down cathedral and st patrick s grave on the hill of down continue to the town of newcastle a2 a seaside resort at the foot of the mourne mountains these mountains literally sweep down to the irish sea and are well worth a visit to walk cycle or simply to see their beauty there are many scenic routes through the mountains for one of the best views of the mourne mountains drive to tyrella beach along a2 which has a blue flag and seaside award there are beautiful forest parks in down for example tollymore which is a busy caravan park b180 from newcastle and castlewellan home of the world famous arboretum and peace maze a25 from downpatrick both are worth a visit as a final stop drive to hilltown b180 and follow the signs for silent valley where northern ireland s largest inland reservoir is located travel along the a1 to arrive back in belfast ardglass newry hilltown mussenden temple co londonderry

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