Villages Around Moyle
BALLINTOY.
Ballintoy is a small village about 6 miles from Ballycastle and is well known for its picturesque harbour which is one of the most scenic on the North Antrim coast, and is surrounded by white rocks and a beautiful small sandy beech. Fresh fish can be bought from the friendly local fishermen and visitors can arrange small boat trips around the coast to nearby Sheep Island and beyond.
In the village a couple of pubs and restaurants, gift shops, hostel accommodation, guest houses and camping.
Local home baked bread, teas , coffee and ice cream all can be savored from the small teahouse at the harbour also.
Nearby is the glorious coastal walk along the headland at Larrybane which culminates in a trip across the famous Carrick-a-rede Rope Bridge linking the mainland to a small island beyond.
Just a few miles up the road leads to Whitepark Bay which has one of the many fine sandy beeches that can be found on the North Coast. This stretch of golden sand is bounded by high dunes and rolling waves and even on the best summer days is never overcrowded.
Try the "Sheep Island View " independent holiday hostel with its free pickup service from Giants Causway, Ballycastle, and Bushmills Tel: 012657/69391.
All rooms ensuite 42. Main Street Ballintoy.
Family rooms available
Laundry Facilities Open all Year.
Meals on request
Wheelchair friendly Scenic views of Rathlin and Scotland
Camping available
Pubs and restaurants nearby
Group bookings available
Private parking
Bike hire
Guided walks with local experts.
COLERAINE
Coleraine the largest town, is an excellent shopping centre, with three cinemas, Bowling and ice skating at the Jet Centre. It has a boating marina, and riverbus cruises on the Bann in summer, plus a bird sanctuary. Its university runs educational tours of the province in summer. Deep in this lovely countryside, just back from the sea, you will want to visit the Roe Valley Country Park where the salmon- and-trout river Roe cascades through wooded rocky gorges, past old water mills and an early hydro-electric power station - of great interest to industrial archaeologists. Caravanners can stay at the transit park near the visitor centre to explore the Limavady area. From the Roe mouth St Columba sailed to lona in AD 563.
BALLYMONEY
Ballymoney just 12 miles inland is a busy market town with good shopping. Enjoy a swim or sauna at the Riada Centre or visit the Indoor Bowling Stadium. Drumaheglis Marina is a popular venue for water sports on the River Bann. Game fishing is excellent here. A camping and caravan park overlooks the river. Visitors can travel by horse-and-trap through the park at Leslie Hill Heritage Farm a mile west of Ballymoney.
PORTRUSH
PORTRUSH on a mile long peninsula, with lots of shops, restaurants, cafe's, amusement arcades, fairground, tennis courts and harbour. The West Strand, one of the resort's two long sandy beaches, has won international awards for good quality water.
Summer entertainment includes theatre, concerts and firework displays. The Dunluce Centre is an exciting entertainment complex with 'virtual reality' family attractions. The Waterworld all-weather holiday centre has flumes, slides, jacuzzis, a sauna, an aquarium and a restaurant, and the Portrush Countryside Centre a rock pool touch tank. The resort has two championship golf courses one being the famous Royal Portrush, bowling, sea angling and watersports are all popular activitres.
ARMOY
Armoy a very small picturesque village is on the fringes of the Glens of Antrim and is around six miles inland from Ballycastle. The very well known and now famous Irish moterbike rider Joey Dunlop originated from around this area and has been known to be seen quite a few years back practicing on his then home built bikes up and down the roads near Armoy, since then he has won more races than ever thought possible and is a household name.
Visit the historic 'Round Tower' on the edge of the village and enjoy a picnic on the banks of the River Bush. The scenic drive from Armoy to Ballycastle via Glenshesk is an experience not to be missed.
CUSHENDALL
Cushendall, is the capital of the Glens of Antrim. It takes it's name from the River Dall which flows through the village, and it is an ideal starting place for visits to cliffs, coast and countryside.
The Curfew Tower, built in 1809 as a prison, is the focal point of Cushendall, whilst above soars Lurigethan, a mysterious mountain with a table top and precipitous sides.
Every August the streets are filled by the "Heart of the Glens" festival, the climax of which is mass participation by residents and visitors in the traditional dance the "Waves of Tory", fun for all the family!
