The coastline was chosen among the world’s 16 best, alongside Big Sur in California and the Garden Route in South Africa, by CNN back in 2019, and the county was included on a short list of the best places to go in 2026
Let’s face it. Driving is pretty boring most of the time. No one is getting excited about circumnavigating the M25 or sitting in a jam on your local A road.
But very occasionally, the motoring gods smile, and you find the traffic gone, the sun out, and a stretch of gorgeous landscape stretching out in front of you.
In March I picked up a rental car in Belfast and asked a member of staff how best to get to Derry.
“You can either go straight down the motorway which takes a bit over an hour, or go the scenic route, but that takes about twice as long,” he said.
After a quick trial of the quite grim and overwhelming M2, I turned off toward the coast and decided I’d take my time. And I was very glad that I did.
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The 120-mile-long Causeway Coastal Route runs north from Belfast up through Newtonabbey and up to Larne, weaving through small villages and hamlets before reaching the charming seaside village of Ballycastle.
From there, you’re just a stone’s throw away from the familiar basalt towers of the Giant’s Causeway.
There are plenty of other spots along the road to Derry that are well worth a stop.
Among them is Cranny Falls waterfall and locations borrowed by Game of Thrones, such as Mountain, Downhill Beach, Portstewart Strand, The Dark Hedges, Ballintoy Harbour, Murlough Bay and the Cushendun Caves.
If the tourist-laden, sea-whipped path down to the Causeway isn’t your cup of tea, then Whitepark Bay may be. The beach is undeniably one of the most beautiful in the country.
Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge, Fanad Lighthouse and Ireland’s most northerly point at Malin Head aren’t too awful, as destinations go.
The true joy of the road comes not from stopping, but from slowly winding your way along a route that was built by William Bald in the 1800s to replace the Old Irish Highway.
I found myself being pulled up the road’s many hills by a little tug of anticipation as to what lies beyond the blind summits.
It could be one of the historic castles, churches and forts that sprinkle the coastline; a typically emerald-green hillside of sheep; an avenue of gnarled trees; or a breathtaking view of the Atlantic.
And it’s not just me who has been lured in by the journey.
The Antrim coastline was chosen among the world’s 16 best, alongside Big Sur in California and the Garden Route in South Africa, by CNN back in 2019, and the county was put on a short list of the best places to go in 2026, put together by CNTraveller.
