Touring Atrium Coast in Northern Ireland

Left Dublin early this morning and traveled to Belfast by train. Picked up the rental car and drove the Atrium Coast in Northern Ireland. The first few minutes of driving were nerve wracking, but I think Don is doing a marvellous job!!

The weather was rainy but, as one tour guide told us, "You don't come to Northern Ireland for the weather!"  So we continued on with our plan of driving the Scenec Coastal Route. 

We stopped at the Giants Causeway and Dunluce Castle. The Giants Causeway is an area on the coast made up of interesting hexagonal shaped blocks of basalt rock formed naturally from lava cooling quickly from seawater over 64 million years ago. This rock was then uncovered by glaciers a few thousand years ago revealing this awesome natural formation which is now a world heritage site. 

Dunluce Castle was built right on the cliffs of the Atlantic Ocean. (I can't imagine how many men lost their lives falling to their death in this creation or how cold this castle would have been!!). From 14th to 17th century it was the largest and most sophisticated castle in the North. In 1639 part of the castle fell off into the sea taking some servants with it!!