Top Things to do in County Antrim
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10 Things to do in County Antrim That You Shouldn't Miss
Discover the best top things to do in County Antrim, United Kingdom including Blackhead Path, Ulster Aviation Society, Giant's Causeway, Dunluce Castle, Bushmills Distillery, Cushendun Village, Carrick-A-Rede Rope Bridge, The Dark Hedges, Kinbane Castle, Whitehead Railway Museum.
Restaurants in County Antrim
1. Blackhead Path
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 119 reviews
Reviewed By Steveodo - Carrickfergus, United Kingdom
The Black Head Path has reopened again after a couple of years being shut for repairs. Its free. You drive down Old Castle Road to use the car park on the sea front in Whitehead (another road, McRae’s Brae, turns into a private road and is not suitable at all). I was surprised to see something new from the path. It happened very quickly; some big, silvery fish, very close to shore, leaping straight up out of the water. Happened twice, in different places. People tell me it may have been sea trout. The weather was rainy, and I did not care. This is a great coastal walk whatever the weather or month of the year. The new wooden railings on the upper path look great. I went back on a sunnier day, and saw lizards. With the path being closed I’d not seen any for years. Out to sea three Archer Class Royal Navy ships were powering into Belfast Lough. You never know what you’re going to see. Returning here is such a good experience. Blackhead Path Preservation Society were the group of private citizens who got together to successfully lobby to get the path restored. The money came from Mid & East Antrim Council, while the work was done by contractors F.P. McCann and ProNet the cliff netting specialists. Good job, many thanks.
2. Ulster Aviation Society
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 317 reviews
WHO ARE WE? A charitable society that is a diverse group of enthusiasts, working on a voluntary basis to further public education in the history of aviation. WHAT AIRCRAFT DO WE HAVE? Our heritage collection currently includes 41+ aircraft, ranging from vintage WWII fighters through Cold War era fast jets, Shorts designed & built aircraft, civilian aircraft, plus military helicopters, engines, artefacts and rare aviation reference materials, all with strong links to aviation within the island of Ireland. Our aircraft are housed within an ex-WWII hangar at Maze Long Kesh, outside Lisburn (on the site of the old prison). • Charitable association of Aviation Enthusiasts • Over 680+ members, including Europe & USA Ulster Aviation Society is a charitable association. N. Ireland. Charity No. NIC 100128. NI Charity Commission Registered. Associate member of Northern Ireland Museums’ Council
Reviewed By BoardingPass162734
Amazing collection, with a very knowledgeable and friendly staff and great opportunities for volunteers (young and old), to high-light this gem of a collection. I thoroughly enjoyed my few hours there and wish I was closer, as I'd be there volunteering too. Keep coming back as there is always something new and interesting to see - and the standard of restoration is top notch and a credit to high calibre of the team there, and giving youngsters many opportunities to help out and build those all important life skills. Please pass the word around and support this wonderful charity.and visit it soon.
3. Giant's Causeway
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 11,147 reviews
Northern Ireland's most popular tourist destination: this large stretch of staircase-shaped rocks is the result of cooled lava from volcanic eruptions that took place over 65 million years ago.
Reviewed By Orrix55
A one kilometer walk or bus ride (£1 each way for the bus - free for walking) gets you to this fascinating attraction created by volcanic eruptions millions of years ago. There is a very entertaining audio guide that provides information on the various features on the landscape, such as the camel and organ pipes etc. The walk down could be a bit challenging, the road and path down is quite steep so I would suggest the bus for those with any problems. We walked down and took the bus back. Make time to visit the visitors centre at the end, it has something for everyone, especially children, coffee, drinks and food available.
4. Dunluce Castle
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2,607 reviews
Reviewed By TheIrishtourguide - Belfast, United Kingdom
Great place to stroll and just to soak up the history of one of Ireland’s great castles ,hear stories from , C.s.lewis , yo the game of thrones , led zeppelin and Sorley boy McDonnell .. take your time 30 mins is enough. But take 40 mins
5. Bushmills Distillery
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2,741 reviews
Opened in 1608, this is the oldest licensed distillery in the world and exports its whiskey internationally.
Reviewed By matts23 - Brighton, United States
A tour of the Bushmills distillery was definitely called for when in the area! Overall, the tour was excellent...very informative, and went through the working area of the distillery. Unfortunately, this was during the distilleries' "down" time (approx. 2 weeks), when they perform maintenance and cleaning of most areas, so we didn't get to see any of the production going on. Fortunately, the staff at the visitor's center made it very clear that this was the case (as did their website) before you pay for the tour, so the expectations are clear. As a nice added touch, patrons were provided a small sampler bottle of Bushmills as consolation for not seeing the production. Despite not seeing production, our tour guide was fantastic, and the tour itself very informative. We thoroughly enjoyed this visit. The sample at the end of the tour was also very much appreciated!! In the "sample" bar, there are also options to purchase additional samples and drinks, so there's no rush to leave, and it's easy to pass some time, enjoying the beautiful tasting room. Underage patrons receive a free non-alcoholic beverage, which was appreciated. Of course, after the tasting room is the gift shop, including some limited edition whiskeys, so after the tasting room, it's easy to feel your wallet get lighter........ My only negative is that picutres during the tour were strictly prohibited; it would have been nice to capture some pictures of the grounds and buildings.
6. Cushendun Village
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 166 reviews
Reviewed By 816johna - Belfast, United Kingdom
Cushendun is probably the nicest small town/village on the coastal drive. It is set in a conservation area managed by the National Trust at the mouth of the Glendun river and attracts many visitors annually. Anyone travelling the Antrim Coast road northwards should make a point of reaching here for a break to enjoy the tranquility.
7. Carrick-A-Rede Rope Bridge
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 4,581 reviews
Important notice - From Friday 16 April the car park at Carrick-a-Rede will reopen with a Pay By Phone system. Due to social distancing requirements, the Rope Bridge remains closed at this time.
Reviewed By D14QAkatiep
We visited the rope bridge one afternoon last week, however due to bad weather we were told the bridge was closed. We were partially expecting this and were impressed that we were told at the gates the bridge was closed. We were told that we could still have a walk down (a nice 2km walk along the cliffs) and also pre-book a ticket for the next day. We did both of these. We were lucky that we had time to go the next morning, and booked in for the 9:30 bridge crossing. The view that day in the rain was nice and the walk is a nice walk, although we were glad we were wearing walking boots and raincoats unlike many visitors in sandals. The next morning we returned with better weather, and again did the walk and crossed the bridge. As we were early there were only a few of us crossing, meaning we didn't have to share with many people and were able to take nice photos and enjoy the views without rushing. The views surrounding the area were incredible, and crossing the bridge was an exciting (if a little scary) experience, being able to feel the bridge move in the wind. The staff were very friendly and knowledgeable and this is now one of my favourite National Trust places I have visited.
8. The Dark Hedges
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,823 reviews
Reviewed By ykk87 - Toronto, Canada
The dark hedges can be extremely crowded, so try to visit early morning or late evening. It is a wonderful spot to admire these beautiful trees. A short walk from the Hedges hotel which has parking. Many tour busses and cars park along the road but space is limited. Definitely worth a stop on your drive.
9. Kinbane Castle
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 251 reviews
Reviewed By DavidM7175
Great view from car park, it’s a long staircase down and a hard slog back to the car park. But worth it
10. Whitehead Railway Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 85 reviews
The Railway Preservation Society of Ireland are proud to announce the launch of the new Whitehead Railway Museum in March 2017. The museum, which will combine traditional displays and exhibits with new multimedia and interactive displays will allow our audience to experience steam trains in action, as well as educate them on the history of the steam train industry in Ireland.
Reviewed By Y4712ZCnicholasd - Larne, United Kingdom
Had a fantastic day out at the Whitehead Railway Museum in Whitehead on the County Antrim Coast. This little town has a fantastic amount of Railway history behind it, including a rich amount tourism as it was once a very popular seaside destination for tourists travelling outside Belfast City for coastal surroundings, beaches, and fantastic walks including the Blackhead Path and the Gobbins. The museum includes both modern replica buildings and some old historic buildings and infrastructure that has lasted all these years like the victorian built water tower and train storage sheds that house the steam engines. The tour has some great photo opportunities l within the old historic dining carriages, engineering workshops and even at the controls of an old historic steam engine. The tour is also very comprehensive in terms of engineering knowledge and the history of the railway across the Island of Ireland and it also has the oldest steam train in Ireland on display. The Museum also features Steam Train Rides from Whitehead to Belfast and even Dublin and it also has a Victorian Tea Room where you can grab a bite of lunch or Tea and Scones but I will have to do that on another day.
