28 Jan The nine Glens of Antrim
If you are on an extended tour of Ireland , or on a Belfast tour taking in the North Coast , perhaps even off a cruise ship…..Ireland Luxury Tours will take you through the Glens of Antrim on our itinerary……
There are nine Glens of Antrim….
Glenarm: The glen of the army, with Glenarm village, eleven miles north of Larne, on the famous Antrim Coast Road.
Glencloy: The glen of the hedges, two miles north of Glenarm, with the village of Carnlough at its foot.
Glenariff: The arable or fertile glen, the best-known of the nine, which sweeps magestically towards the village of Waterfoot.
Glenballyemon: Edwardstown glen, at the foot which is Cushendall, more or less at the centre of the nine glens.
Glenaan: The glen of the colt’s foot or rush lights, a rugged glen, having the site of the legendary Ossian’sgrave, with the Cushendall to Ballymoney mountain road.
Glencorp: The glen of the slaughtered, close by Glenaan and roughly parallel to the main road from Cushendall to Cushendun.
Glendun: The glen of the brown river, adjacent to Cushendun village, spanned by a viaduct on the main Cushendall – Ballycastle road.
Glenshesk: The sedgy glen, east of the town of Ballycastle, and sweeping towards the ruins of historical Bonamargy friary.
Glentaisie: The glen of Tasie of the bright sides, roughly west of Ballycastle and, like Glenshesk, close to the town.
Take the famous Antrim Coast Road and enjoy the breathtaking scenery on this award winning route. The Causeway Coastal Route passes by the foot of each of the nine glens: from the south there’s Glenarm, Glencloy, Glenariff, Glenballyeamon, Glenann, Glencorp, Glendun, Glenshesk and Glentaisie. At the foot of Glenarm sits the charming little village of the same name, set slightly inland. It’s the setting of the delightful Walled Garden at Glenarm Castle and the beautiful public parkland of Glenarm Forest. Take the opportunity to divert inland through the flower-filled village of Broughshane and clamber up Slemish Mountain, where Saint Patrick, the Patron Saint of Ireland, is said to have tended livestock as a slave boy in the 5th century. Returning to the coast at Carnlough, stop to admire the beautiful harbour and , close by, some distinctive houses and pubs, exuding true irish charm.
Next is Cushendall. Here the town’s four-storey red sandstone Curfew Tower, built to imprison idlers and rioters, is surrounded by pretty buildings and some convival watering-holes. Explore one of the glens before taking in the striking views at Torr Head and the natural glories of Murlough Bay, via the picturesque village of Cushendun, with its quaint cottages.
Returning to the Causeway Coastal Route, head towards the seaside resort of Ballycastle (where ferries leave for RathlinIsland) with the option of taking in the final two glens, Glenshesk and Glentaisie.