Day 1 Walking Distance 2 miles (3.2 km) You will be met with a warm welcome at Dublin Airport. We will then drive north to the coast of County Antrim, stopping en route for a break at the lovely town of Hillsborough. The Antrim Coast has been designated an 'Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty'.
We will be accommodated at a lovely guest house with great views near the village of Ballintoy for the next two nights. After a short stroll along this breathtaking coast, we should find some excellent traditional music in the local pubs tonight.
Day 2 Walking Distance 7 miles (11.3 km) On the agenda today is a spectacular walk along the Antrim Coast starting from the Giant's Causeway and finishing at the ruin of Dunseverick Castle. On a clear day you will be able to see right across to Scotland. The Causeway is made up of 37,000 hexagonal black basalt columns. It is the result of a massive underground explosion some sixty million years ago. In 1693 the Royal Geographical Society publicised it as one of the great wonders of the natural world.
As this is a linear walk I will drop you at the start and pick you up at the end. You will be guided by Northern Ireland Blue Badge Guide, Petra Herrmann.
Day 4 Walking Distance 5 miles (8 km) After leaving Rathlin Island on the early ferry, we will make our way a few miles west along the Antrim coast to Bushmills to visit the world's oldest legal distillery. Then a short walk will take us down around the coast at the village of Ballintoy and to Carrick-a-Rede: a tiny island with a salmon fishery, joined to the mainland by a rope bridge, and back up via the harbour of Ballintoy. Time permitting we may also be able to walk further along the coast at Murlough Bay.
We then drive further south around the coast to the village of Cushendall. For the next two nights we will be accommodated at "The Meadows" B & B hosted by Ann Carey. Our evening meals will be taken at Harry's Restaurant in town.
Day 6 Walking Distance 8 miles (12.9 km) Our final full day walk will be at the lovely Ravensdale forest and the Black Mountains and the Cooley Hills. We will encounter ancient stone circles along the way and learn about the legend of the Cattle Raid of Cooley. We will have great views of Northern Ireland.
Then we travel on to Carlingford in County Louth, Republic of Ireland. Located at the foot of Slieve Foye, Carlingford is a former fishing village and is filled with ancient ruins, it is one of Ireland's best kept secrets. Our hosts for tonight are the staff at Ghan House Restaurant and Cookery School. Our last evening meal will be taken at Ghan House.
Day 7 We should have some time for souvenir shopping around Carlingford this morning before our drive back to Dublin.