A road trip on Ireland's rugged northern coast, where the food is as good as the views
It might only have celebrated its 10th official birthday in 2024 but Ireland's 2,500km (1,550-mile) Wild Atlantic Highway has been used by generations of these nippy little migratory birds, who fly from the Sahara to spend their summers in the UK and Ireland.
The clever things know about Northern Ireland's Causeway Coastal Route too.
Aside from the 60-million-year-old natural geometrical marvel that is Giant's Causeway, this 193km stretch of raggedy, bewitching coastline, which starts in Belfast and ends in Derry, often gets lopped off road trips. But no more.
A row of multicoloured houses in Whitehead, a seaside town along Northern Ireland's Causeway Coastal Route. Photo: PA/dpa
As part of the Shared Island initiative, which 'aims to harness the full potential of the Good Friday Agreement to enhance cooperation, connection and mutual understanding on the island', Tourism Northern Ireland and Fáilte Ireland have teamed up to remind visitors that once you hit the end of the Wild Atlantic Way, the sea has not run its course, the cliffs do not peter out and the Guinness really does not dry up.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
South China Morning Post
06-08-2025
- South China Morning Post
A road trip on Ireland's rugged northern coast, where the food is as good as the views
House martins and swallows are our constant companions, whether snapping up fluttering mayflies in the car park of Glencar Waterfall during a downpour or swooping from the eaves of The Shandon Hotel that overlooks Marble Hill Strand beach in Donegal, where linen-coloured sand slips into grey-green ocean. It might only have celebrated its 10th official birthday in 2024 but Ireland's 2,500km (1,550-mile) Wild Atlantic Highway has been used by generations of these nippy little migratory birds, who fly from the Sahara to spend their summers in the UK and Ireland. The clever things know about Northern Ireland's Causeway Coastal Route too. Aside from the 60-million-year-old natural geometrical marvel that is Giant's Causeway, this 193km stretch of raggedy, bewitching coastline, which starts in Belfast and ends in Derry, often gets lopped off road trips. But no more. A row of multicoloured houses in Whitehead, a seaside town along Northern Ireland's Causeway Coastal Route. Photo: PA/dpa As part of the Shared Island initiative, which 'aims to harness the full potential of the Good Friday Agreement to enhance cooperation, connection and mutual understanding on the island', Tourism Northern Ireland and Fáilte Ireland have teamed up to remind visitors that once you hit the end of the Wild Atlantic Way, the sea has not run its course, the cliffs do not peter out and the Guinness really does not dry up.
South China Morning Post
03-06-2025
- South China Morning Post
Castle stays trend in UK and Ireland as luxury travellers live out medieval fantasies
Inspired by popular historical drama series and social media, a growing travel trend sees travellers heading to Europe to enjoy a different accommodation style than a hotel or private cottage: castles. Castles, especially in the United Kingdom and Ireland, increasingly turn to the travel industry for historic preservation. They are being restored and refashioned into luxury hotels and holiday rentals for travellers. This sustains both their communities and the structures' unique architecture and story. But why are they becoming more popular? What is behind the trend? And what should travellers know about staying at these historic properties? Kilmartin Castle, a refurbished property in Scotland, provides guests with a private chef, a vegetable garden and local guides who can take them foraging. Photo: Kilmartin Castle There are many reasons people want to stay at historic castles instead of traditional hotels, especially in destinations like the United Kingdom. Through watching historical dramas and travelling with heritage in mind, travellers are inspired by the past and want to immerse themselves in history, admire historic architecture and enjoy peace and quiet in a secluded area away from city life.
South China Morning Post
31-05-2025
- South China Morning Post
How Ghana is losing its coastline and parts of its slave trade history to climate change
The salty wind blows across the ruins of Ghana's Fort Prinzenstein, where thick walls once held thousands of enslaved Africans before their journey across the Atlantic. Now only a shell remains – a crumbling monument teetering at the edge of the sea. Advertisement For centuries, Ghana's coastline has borne the brunt of history. Today it is being consumed by nature and neglect as climate change, rising sea levels and unchecked human activity eat away at the 550-kilometre (340-mile) shore. Villages are vanishing, and with them, centuries-old heritage. The modern economy is also at risk. A few metres away from the fort, Ernestina Gavor cleans a glass behind a bar. 'I'm hoping it survives a few more years,' she says, noting that the restaurant relies on tourists to keep afloat. Fort Prinzenstein, once a Danish slave fort and now a Unesco World Heritage site, is among the most threatened sites on Ghana's coast. The coastline used to be about 7km away from Ghana's Fort Prinzenstein. Photo: AFP James Ocloo Akorli, its caretaker for 24 years, has watched the Gulf of Guinea claw away at the structure – and his memories.
