Is that really Scotland ??????

Is that really Scotland ??????

When Ireland Luxury Tours have clients on the North Coast people are often puzzled and surprised to see distant mountains and islands on the horizon.  Some believe it to be some remote part of Ireland and most are pleasantly surprised to learn it is indeed part of the Scottish Inner Hebridean chain of islands.  Visible from Portrush and north Antrim coast on most days is part of the southern shores of Islay and its two large headlands (the Rhinns to the west and the Mull of Oa to the east).  Sometimes the two headlands are mistaken for two separate islands.

Often in the background, giving the appearance that they are part of Islay are 2-3 large conical mountain peaks.  They are the famous Paps of the island of Jura another large Hebridean island just north and east of Islay.  On most days the large and foredoding south-west facing buttress of the equally famous Mull of Kintyre can be seen looming over the background of ourown Rathlin Island.  Check out some of the interpreted viewpoints along the north Antrim coast, for example Magheracross at Dunluce and Portaneevy at Ballintoy.

To the west and stretching north is Donegal’s beautiful Innishowen peninsula.  Visible are Innishowen Head and Balbane Head as well as Gengad on better days.  In certain conditions you can pick up on the distant nort western horizon the low lying island of Innistrahull with its blinking lighthouse just off Malin Head (Ireland’s most northerly point).  Innishowen is accessible by car and passenger ferry from Magilligan Point.

Just off Ramore Head at Portrush is a little chain of minor islands known as the Skerries (taken from the Scottish Gaelic meaning sea rocks).  Off Ballintoy are two lesser islands called Sheep Island and the famous Carrick-a-rede Island (accessible by rope bridge May – September).

So a tour of Ireland….or a tour out of Belfast…… lets you see a wee bit of Scotland !!!!!!