The Hidden Village of Galboly

Once a thriving rural village, Galboly is now an abandoned settlement offering a glimpse into Ireland’s past. Located in the Glens of Antrim along the east Antrim coast road, Galboly was once home to about 60 people, but by the 1950s, this number had dwindled to just six. The last resident, a Cistercian monk, passed away in the 1970s, leaving the village to be reclaimed by nature.

Despite its abandonment, Galboly remains a place of beauty and intrigue. The ruins of stone cottages and farmhouses stand as silent sentinels of a bygone era, their thatched roofs long gone but their stone walls still standing strong. Wander through the village, imagining the lives of those who once called it home.

Torr Head Viewpoint

Torr Head Viewpoint offers breathtaking views of the North Channel, the Mull of Kintyre in Scotland, and Rathlin Island. Located on the Causeway Coastal Route in County Antrim, Northern Ireland, the viewpoint is a popular tourist destination, attracting visitors from all over the world.

After a short hike to the top, you’ll be rewarded with panoramic views of the North Channel, which separates Northern Ireland from Scotland. On a clear day, you can even see the Mull of Kintyre, the southernmost point of Scotland.

Rathlin Island, a small island located off the coast of County Antrim, is also visible from the viewpoint. The island is home to a variety of wildlife, including puffins, seals, and seabirds.

Giant’s Causeway

Along the north coast of Northern Ireland, where the rugged cliffs meet the churning waters of the Atlantic Ocean, lies a geological wonder that has captivated visitors for centuries. The Giant’s Causeway is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a mesmerising spectacle of around 40,000 interlocking basalt columns, their hexagonal shapes rising from the sea like a vast stone staircase.

The formation of the Giant’s Causeway dates back to an ancient volcanic eruption 60 million years ago. As molten lava flowed across the landscape, it gradually cooled and contracted, creating the distinctive hexagonal patterns that we see today. The columns vary in height, ranging from a few feet to over 30 feet, and their close-knit arrangement creates a sense of awe and wonder.

Local legends attribute the creation of the Giant’s Causeway to the legendary Irish giant Finn McCool. The story goes that Finn, challenged to a fight by a Scottish giant named Benandonner, built the causeway across the North Channel as a means to cross the sea and meet his opponent. However, upon seeing the immense size of Benandonner, Finn’s wife, Oonagh, disguised him as a baby and hid him in a cradle. When Benandonner arrived, he saw the “baby” and assumed that its father must be even larger, causing him to flee back to Scotland, destroying the causeway in his haste.

Bushmills Distillery

The Bushmills Distillery is a historic Irish whiskey distillery located in County Antrim. It is the oldest licensed distillery in the world when King James I of England granted a license to a local landowner, Sir Thomas Phillips, to distil whiskey in the area. Phillips built a small distillery on the banks of the River Bush, and the first whiskey was produced in 1609.

The 19th century was a time of great change for the Bushmills Distillery. The distillery was expanded several times, and new distilling methods were introduced. The distillery also began to export its whiskey to other parts of the world and it quickly became one of the most popular Irish whiskeys on the market.

The distillery produces a variety of single malt whiskeys, including Bushmills Original, Black Bush, and 10 Year Old Single Malt. We’ll stop here for a tour of the production process and enjoy a few drams at the end of the experience!

The Dark Hedges

Nestled along the Bregagh Road in Northern Ireland, The Dark Hedges stands as a natural wonder, a tunnel of ancient beech trees that intertwine their branches overhead, creating an ethereal canopy of light and shadow.

Planted in the 18th century by James Stuart to impress visitors as they approached his Georgian estate, Gracehill House, these magnificent trees have since grown into a captivating spectacle, their interlaced branches forming an archway that stretches for over half a mile. As sunlight filters through the dense foliage, casting dappled patterns on the ground below, The Dark Hedges exudes an air of mystery and enchantment.

The Dark Hedges has gained significant fame since its appearance in HBO’s popular television series “Game of Thrones,” where it served as the backdrop for the King’s Road, a path leading to the fictional castle of Winterfell.