Giants Causeway

Captain Slow IRL

Hi all, planning on taking a spin up to the Giants Causeway and if possible the Bushmills factory and Carrick na Rede.
Can anyone recommend decent accomodation in the area? Also, restaurants or good night-spots to visit.
Thanks!

emmiou

Hi, you might stay in Portrush? There are plenty of hotels etc. The Harbour Bar in Portrush is a nice spot for Dinner (Tobacco Onions... yum!). I got a good deal in the Bushtown Hotel in Coleraine before - not very scenic but handy as a base if you are planning to do a bit of touring. I think the rope bridge is only put out during certain seasons so you might want to check that.

central park

Did this exact thing last summer, got good deal in the Dunadry Hotel, really lovely spot, though not much else around there. All those things well worth a visit, but be prepared for long wait in line for rope bridge!

emmiou

If you're there during the university term most of the night spots will be overrun with students - there is the Anchor in Portstewart, or Kellys and Traks in Portrush... but if you're over the age of 25 I'd avoid them!
The Ramore Restaurant/Cocktail Bar, 55 Degrees North, or the upstairs Lounge at the Harbour Bar, all in Portrush, may be more enjoyable. Its great craic up there when the Northwest 200 is on - 15th May - but everywhere will be completely jammed.

Captain Slow IRL

I'll be up there friday morning, so hopefully miss the weekend rush

emmiou

You should be grand then - student nights are all mid week. The Water Margin Chinese Restaurant in Coleraine is a nice spot too. Dunluce Castle and Downhill beach are worth a look. The tasting at the end of the Bushmills tour was fairly generous when I went years ago... enjoy!! Taxis are pretty cheap between Portrush/Portstewart/Coleraine.

Captain Slow IRL

central park wrote: »

Did this exact thing last summer, got good deal in the Dunadry Hotel, really lovely spot, though not much else around there. All those things well worth a visit, but be prepared for long wait in line for rope bridge!

The Dunadry hotel seems to be down near Belfast, which is too far for me. Looking at the Ramada Portrush - relatively cheap and only about 10 miles from the causeway.

Cul a cnoic

I have stayed in the Causeway Hotel a few times, and as the name suggests, its right over the Giants causeway. The national Trust own it and the visitor center is beside the hotel. Its an old hotel but the food is good and their mixed grill is legendary. Whenever I am there, there is usually a good few of us together and once the bar is open, we are happy. Its very close to Bushmills but have no idea what the nightlife is like:(

You should check if the rope bridge is open this time of year, I did hear that it is taken down for the winter but don't know if this is true. If its open, its worth a visit.

Enjoy your trip

.Longshanks.

Captain Slow IRL wrote: »

I'll be up there friday morning, so hopefully miss the weekend rush

In my experience (going back 6-7 years :eek:), the midweek was busier niteclub wise because a lot of the students all go home / work at the weekend

tinkerbell

We went up to Antrim two years ago, it was a great weekend and the weather was amazing! Anyway we stayed in the Ramada hotel in Portrush and it was a lovely hotel. Also the restaurant in the hotel does a very good steak and onion strings, mmmm, delicious!

We visited the Giants Causeway and we also did that rope bridge thing (it was cool but my god I was TERRIFIED), oh and there's also this amazing beach, can't remember the name of it now though, sorry.

http://www.ramadaportrush.com/

Captain Slow IRL

tinkerbell wrote: »

.................. Also the restaurant in the hotel does a very good steak and onion strings, mmmm, delicious!.................

nom nom!

emmiou

http://www.ramorerestaurant.com/menus0310/Harbour-Bistro-Menu-march-2010.pdf
T-bone, Champ, Tobacco Onions, Pepper Sauce. My brothers used to travel up to Coleraine on the pretext of visiting me when I was a student there, but I knew it was always just so they could go to dinner here.... hmmm might have to take a trip up myself soon.

Captain Slow IRL

Stayed in the Ramada - I'd nearly go back for the food alone! Hands down, one of the best hotels I've stayed in - everything was beyond expectations!

Didn't make it to the rope bridge, we were drenched after the morning's rain but will make our way over to it next time - some beautiful scenery in the area, just a pity the sun wasn't out.