A Weekend Getaway to Portrush, Northern Ireland
Located just three hours northwest of Dublin is the town of Portrush, Northern Ireland. It is a coastal town known for its world-class golf [the Ryder Cup will be played here Summer 2019], pristine white sand beaches, and Ireland’s oldest working whiskey distillery. It is also home to the UNESCO Heritage Site, Giant’s Causeway, and the old fisherman’s crossing in the Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge. The pubs and restaurants in town are great craic too. It is the perfect place to getaway for a weekend!
ACCOMMODATIONS
One of the best parts about Portrush is that the area is incredibly dog friendly. Most of the trips that we take, we leave the pups behind, so it’s always great when we are able to go somewhere that is suitable to bring the dogs. There are a lot of Airbnbs that allow pets and we highly recommend Michael’s Airbnb on Abercorn Drive. He and his family met us at the house to welcome us and gave us beach and restaurant recommendations. They were the nicest people. Plus, their house was big, cozy, and the back garden was such a bonus — the dogs loved it!
There are also some pretty incredible homes along the coast that would be a really nice spot to stay. I would recommend booking accommodations as soon as you can because it is a popular destination for weekend holidays. Also, be aware of events going on in town for booking — i.e. the Ryder Cup, Portrush Motorcyle Beach Races — those weekends tend to take over the town.
THINGS TO DO
GIANT’S CAUSEWAY
Over 60 million years ago, where the Nothern Ireland coast exists today, there was crazy volcanic activity. When the lava from the volcanoes cooled, it formed over 40,000 hexagonal-shaped pillars of rock called basalt columns. They look like stepping stones coming out of the ocean. It is one of the coolest places I have ever seen.
Where does it get its name? In Gaelic mythology, legend has it that Irish giant Fionn mac Cumhaill was challenged to a fight by Scottish giant Benandonner. Fionn accepted Benandonner’s challenge and built the causeway of stones across the North Channel to Scotland so that he could get to Benandonner. Present day in Scotland, there are identical basalt columns at Fingal’s Cave, supporting the mythological legend.
It’s a fantastic place to explore with friends, family, your pups — anyone! We visited at the beginning of January, so it was a bit chilly, but the dogs didn’t mind and they loved exploring up and down the columns. We went right away in the morning and there was hardly anyone there, so we felt relaxed and at ease taking our time enjoying the views and marveling at the rock formations. Check out our photos below!
It’s very easy to see why there are mythological legends surrounding this UNESCO World Heritage site — when you see it in person surrounded by mountains on one side and crashing waves on the other, it feels other-wordly.
Just a couple logistical things for your visit:
Giant’s Causeway is free to visit, but the Visitor’s Centre is not. They will charge you £11.50 per adult to enter the Visitor’s Centre. I have never gone in myself because what I have been told by locals is that it’s a complete rip-off and you don’t need to go in to visit the actual Giant’s Causeway.
It’s dog-friendly! So feel free to bring the doggos and go for a nice walk.
There is a bit of a walk down to the columns, and conversely, an uphill walk back to the car park, so for those who need some assistance, there is a bus that shuttles people to and from at a rate of £1 each way.
If you can, try and get there early in the morning, or go later in the evening so long as there is sunlight, you will probably be there with fewer people. It can get crazy when the tour buses start rolling in.
CARRICK-A-REDE ROPE BRIDGE
If you’re feeling adventurous, just a few miles drive down the coast from Giant’s Causeway is the Carrick-a-Rede [pronounced carrick-a-reedy] rope bridge ready and willing for those brave enough to cross it. It is believed that centuries ago, salmon fishermen used to build a bridge connecting the mainland to the island of Carrick. Today, the bridge is no longer used by fishermen, but is owned by the National Trust and open for visitors to challenge their fear of heights. But don’t worry, I promise you that the bridge today is much stronger and sturdier than that of the 1800s! The bridge spans 20 metres / 66 feet across and stands 30 metres / 98 feet above the water and rocks below.
Crossing the bridge is not as scary as it seems, but do remember that once you cross it, you have to walk it back too! The views of the mainland and sea are totally worth it.
For good reason, the pups aren’t allowed to cross the bridge, but they are allowed to enjoy the walk down there and cheer on their parents from afar!
Some logistics for your visit:
To cross the bridge costs £9 per adult.
If you don’t want to cross the bridge, that’s no problem at all, you don’t have to pay for a ticket, but can enjoy the walk down there.
There is a car park and it’s free to park. The toilet facilities are also free.
Dogs are allowed to accompany you, they just can’t cross the bridge.
If you have a baby, you are not allowed to hold the baby or have it in a carrier while crossing.
The bridge has opening hours, so if you go when it is closed, you will be able to walk down to the bridge and see it, but it will be closed and locked up.
Lastly, don’t forget to take in the views on your way down to the bridge. It’s one of the most beautiful coastal walks with the crashing blue waves and looking out at all the islands dotting the horizon.
VISIT THE BEACHES
The northern coast of this island have miles and miles of pristine, white sand beaches. It is no wonder why this is a popular holiday spot for the Northern Irish. You are spoilt for choice when it comes to the amount of beaches to visit. We chose to take the pups to Portrush West Strand, which starts in the Portrush Harbour and spans all the way down to West Strand Road.
We went out on a Sunday morning and all of the locals were out walking their dogs along the beach, which made for a fun and social outing. It was raining a bit while we were out there, but it didn’t bother us in the slightest. We were having so much fun watching the waves and running around with the dogs.
No matter the season, the beaches are not to miss in Portrush.
Other beaches in town include:
Portstewart Strand
Portrush East Strand
The Whiterocks
Downhill
Benone Strand
THE DARK HEDGES
Located about a 25 minute drive from Portrush, in the town of Ballymoney, is a peculiarly beautiful country road lined with beech trees. The trees form a tunnel on the road making it different than most roads. The Dark Hedges gained its fame with tourists after appearing in an episode of Game of Thrones. It is such a cool and mystical walk down the road, especially when the morning fog is around.
Like Giants Causeway, if you are able to visit the Dark Hedges earlier in the morning, you might have a better chance of being there with fewer visitors and thus getting pretty epic pictures. Dogs are more than welcome too!
Some logistics for visiting the Dark Hedges:
Driving on the actual road with the beech trees is forbidden as the trees’ roots are starting to be adversely affected by all the traffic in recent years. Of the original 150 trees planted by the land owner’s family, less than 90 remain. So let’s stay off the road with our cars!
There is free parking at the hotel right next to the road.
Those were the four activities that we were able to fit into our weekend getaway to Portrush and it was so much fun. We visited in Janurary, so the daylight was more limited than if you were to visit in the summertime. Because we had the pups, we also wanted to make sure that everything we did could include them. There are more things to do in the area though, which are outlined below!
OTHER THINGS TO DO & SEE
Dunluce Castle — a 16th century castle situated on the coast. You can visit the castle, which is in ruins and reportedly haunted. It has been through a tumultuous history, including the kitchen and all its workers falling into the sea on a stormy night in the 1600s. Entry is £5.50 per adult.
Old Bushmills Distillery — the world’s oldest licensed whiskey distillery. Tours of the distillery are available and open to the public. I’ve heard it’s great to visit and the whiskey isn’t so bad either! Entry is £9 per person.
Royal Portrush Golf Club — home to two of the most challenging links golf courses in the world, the Dunluce Links and Valley Links. It is hosting the Ryder Cup this summer, which is pretty cool. It is a members club, but visitors are welcome to try their hand at either course!
Barry’s Amusement Park — for families, there is an amusement park located right on the boardwalk that would be a great spot to take the kiddos in the summertime.
There you have it! You cannot go wrong visiting the beautiful northern coast of this island. The natural landscape is something to behold. What I love about the area is how friendly everyone is, the amazing things to do outside, how dog friendly it is, and that you can visit on a budget!
If you like tapas and fresh seafood, don’t forget to check out the restaurant Ocho — so good!
Until next time…
Cheers! xo,
