Carrickfergus Castle

Today, we drove from Belfast to Londonderry, better known as just Derry. We made a photo stop at the Carrickfergus Castle which was built in 1177. It has served as a castle and also has played an important military role until 1928. It is one of the best medieval structures remaining in Northern Ireland.

Carrickfergus Castle

Seaside Villages

We went through many seaside (Atlantic Ocean) villages on our route.

Seaside Villages

Protestant Churches

We also passed a number of churches on our route. Many protestant churches in Northern Ireland and Ireland do not have crosses on the top of their steeples as they are thought of as meeting rooms.

Protestant Churches

Colorful Houses and Buildings

Many of the houses and buildings in the villages are brightly painted and they are built flush with one another.

Colorful Houses and Buildings

Countryside

The countryside of Northern Ireland is very lush and of many shades of green. There are definitely more cows and sheep than there are people in Northern Ireland.

Countryside

Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge

We made a photo stop to view the Carrick–a–Rede Rope Bridge between two cliffs along a footpath.

Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge

Scotland

At the same photo stop that we viewed the rope bridge. we also viewed Scotland across the water.

Scotland

Giant Causeway

Our next stop was at the Giant Causeway, a World Heritage Site. It is an area of about 40,000 interlocking basalt columns formed during an ancient volcanic eruption. When the lava flow cooled, it contracted and crystallized into columns.

Legend says that the Giant Causeway was built by an Irish giant named Finn McCool. He was challenged to a fight by a Scottish giant named Benandonner who lived across the sea in Scotland. Finn built the causeway so the giants could meet. Finn won the fight. There are variations to this legend, but the causeway travels underground from the Northern Ireland shore to the Scottish shore.
 
Giant Causeway

Aghadowey Presbyterian Church

We made a surprise visit at the Aghadowey Presbyterian Church. One of our tourmates is a descendent of Rev. James McGregor who was pastor of this church in 1701–1718. McGregor led the 1718 migration from here to found Londonderry in New Hampshire (U.S.A.). We were treated to tea or coffee and pastries and were joined by the church’s parishioners.

We next drove on to Derry where we spent the night.

 

 

Aghadowey Presbyterian Church