Exploring Northern Ireland's dramatic coastline, I stepped into the stormy winter grey and felt invigorated by the icy dip in the sea. The water may have felt surprisingly warm, but it was the freezing wind that did its job: every nerve was singing, and I felt euphoric. This trip to the Antrim coast is an excellent way to experience a sustainable break – even on the stormy depths of winter.
My journey began at Ballygally Castle, where I enjoyed a Sea Dips and Hot Sips package that included dry robes, hot-water bottles, and flasks. The 400-year-old castle, which celebrates its birthday this year, is Northern Ireland's only 17th-century hotel. The affordable castle offers an excellent base for exploring the stunning coastline.
A scenic hike took me up Windswept Sallagh Braes, a huge basalt amphitheatre crowned with rare mosses, where views stretch north over Antrim's wooded glens and east across the sea to Scotland. The dramatic cliffs have appeared in Game of Thrones and The Northman. Standing stones, crumbling sheepfolds, and bronze-age barrows dotted the landscape.
Next, I visited Glenarm Castle, an ancestral seat of the earls of Antrim, home to the 15th earl and his family. Their butler, George Lynn, runs perfectly pitched book-ahead tours of the castle. Exploring Glenarm village revealed a red sandstone arch with an arrow marked Forest.
From Ballycarry station, I took the train to Portrush and walked on the exhilarating Gobbins cliff path. The newly upgraded circular route was due to reopen in 2026. A rainbow arced over the fields as the Derry railway headed for the north coast.
In Portrush, I stayed at the Portrush Adelphi hotel, which finished a fancy refurb last year. Rooms come with hexagonal juniper-laden gin miniatures from the Basalt distillery. Strolling around town, having homemade soup and sea views at Babushka, and hopping on a bus to Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge provided more stunning views of clifftop castles and long sandy beaches.
Next, I walked five miles of coast path to neighbouring Portstewart, catching a late lilac sunrise over Portrush harbour. Flocks of coral-legged turnstones swirled and scampered; huge gannets plunged into the foaming white waves at 60mph.
On my final day, I visited Louise McLean's whitewashed cottage in Portstewart. She has been making baskets for 25 years and grows 15 types of willow in her wildlife-rich garden. A sudden downpour thunders on the metal roof as we twisted brown willow strands in the cosy, candle-dotted room.
This trip to Northern Ireland was partly provided by Tourism Ireland with accommodation at Ballygally Castle, which offered doubles from £88 room-only and a Sea Dips package from £155. More information is available at ireland.com
My journey began at Ballygally Castle, where I enjoyed a Sea Dips and Hot Sips package that included dry robes, hot-water bottles, and flasks. The 400-year-old castle, which celebrates its birthday this year, is Northern Ireland's only 17th-century hotel. The affordable castle offers an excellent base for exploring the stunning coastline.
A scenic hike took me up Windswept Sallagh Braes, a huge basalt amphitheatre crowned with rare mosses, where views stretch north over Antrim's wooded glens and east across the sea to Scotland. The dramatic cliffs have appeared in Game of Thrones and The Northman. Standing stones, crumbling sheepfolds, and bronze-age barrows dotted the landscape.
Next, I visited Glenarm Castle, an ancestral seat of the earls of Antrim, home to the 15th earl and his family. Their butler, George Lynn, runs perfectly pitched book-ahead tours of the castle. Exploring Glenarm village revealed a red sandstone arch with an arrow marked Forest.
From Ballycarry station, I took the train to Portrush and walked on the exhilarating Gobbins cliff path. The newly upgraded circular route was due to reopen in 2026. A rainbow arced over the fields as the Derry railway headed for the north coast.
In Portrush, I stayed at the Portrush Adelphi hotel, which finished a fancy refurb last year. Rooms come with hexagonal juniper-laden gin miniatures from the Basalt distillery. Strolling around town, having homemade soup and sea views at Babushka, and hopping on a bus to Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge provided more stunning views of clifftop castles and long sandy beaches.
Next, I walked five miles of coast path to neighbouring Portstewart, catching a late lilac sunrise over Portrush harbour. Flocks of coral-legged turnstones swirled and scampered; huge gannets plunged into the foaming white waves at 60mph.
On my final day, I visited Louise McLean's whitewashed cottage in Portstewart. She has been making baskets for 25 years and grows 15 types of willow in her wildlife-rich garden. A sudden downpour thunders on the metal roof as we twisted brown willow strands in the cosy, candle-dotted room.
This trip to Northern Ireland was partly provided by Tourism Ireland with accommodation at Ballygally Castle, which offered doubles from £88 room-only and a Sea Dips package from £155. More information is available at ireland.com
omg i'm soooo jealous of that trip 2 northern ireland 
the stormy winter grey just sounds so mesmerizing 
i need to get my hands on some of those hexagonal gin miniatures from basalt distillery ASAP 
and can u believe they have a rope bridge in carrick-a-rede?! 
that's literally my idea of heaven 
I LOVE HOW PEOPLE CAN MAKE THE MOST OF EVERY SITUATION AND FIND JOY IN THE COOLEST OF TEMPERATURES. IT'S ALL ABOUT APPROACHING LIFE WITH A POSITIVE MINDSET, RIGHT? 
I'm not sure how much of the Antrim coast experience can be truly considered sustainable 
. Don't get me wrong, the scenery is stunning and all that, but there's this feeling of mass tourism that kinda feels overwhelming 
. All these castles and coastal towns are super popular, and it's hard to avoid the crowds when you're trying to enjoy some quiet time by the sea 
.
. Like, I saw a bunch of coral-legged turnstones during my trip, but are they just tourists themselves, like, feeding off our curiosity about them? 
. That's not exactly sustainable tourism if you ask me...
. I mean, who wouldn't want to experience a sustainable break amidst the stormy grey skies and icy waters 
? The idea of staying in a 400-year-old castle with dry robes and hot-water bottles sounds like a dream come true 
.
, with its moss-covered basalt formations and breathtaking views. And Glenarm Castle's ancestral seat and bronze-age barrows are like stepping into history 
. And who wouldn't want to stay in a hotel with hexagonal juniper-laden gin miniatures from the Basalt distillery? It's like getting a taste of luxury and adventure all at once 
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. The author's enthusiasm is infectious, and I can totally see why this place would make for the perfect winter getaway 
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. I mean, have you seen the cliffs, the sea views, the whole vibe? It's like Mother Nature decided to create this epic playground and just...left it. And people still don't go there enough, if you ask me.
. I love that the author stayed in a castle with a Sea Dips package (who needs fancy spa treatments when you have icy dips and hot sips? 
). And exploring all those scenic hikes, standing stones, and bronze-age barrows...it's like Northern Ireland is saying, "Hey, we've got history and nature and coastline – take your pick!" 
. The coast is so dramatic and beautiful, it's no wonder Game of Thrones filmed some scenes there 
. And exploring all the castles and villages sounds like an amazing adventure 
. I think what really gets me is how cozy and warm you can be even on a cold winter's day with things like hot-water bottles and flasks 
️. Plus, visiting places like Glenarm Castle and Louise McLean's cottage just adds to the charm of it all 
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. I mean, come on 400 years old, that's just lazy. And don't even get me started on the "Sea Dips and Hot Sips" package - a dry robe and a hot-water bottle? That's not a spa day, that's just being warm and fuzzy 
.
I mean, no need to disclose the details of who's footing the bill, right? 
It sounds like a pretty convenient way to experience the coast without having to worry about accommodations or anything. But what's the point of even calling it a "sustainable break" if you're just getting everything paid for? 
Also, I'm not buying the whole "400-year-old castle" thing - seems like some fancy PR to me. 
How old is the castle really and what's its history? 
. The whole vibe is so chill 
. I did this crazy hike on Windswept Sallagh Braes 
and the views were insane 
. The butler tours are SO worth it 
.
. Strolling around town and having soup at Babushka was the perfect way to spend an evening 
and see clifftop castles and sandy beaches 
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, but this trip showed me why it's a must-see destination 
. The Antrim coast is truly breathtaking, with windswept cliffs, scenic hiking trails, and picturesque villages to explore. Ballygally Castle, with its 400-year-old charm, was the perfect base for my journey, offering an unbeatable Sea Dips and Hot Sips package that left me feeling like royalty 
The local cuisine, including homemade soup and delicious gin miniatures, was also a highlight.
They're real life! And the whole place has such a chill vibe, like it's still stuck in the 17th century at Ballygally Castle. Who needs Instagram when you can just visit the real thing?
. Plus, Glenarm Castle is like stepping back in time with its butler-led tours. The Portrush Adelphi hotel is also super cool, especially with those gin miniatures from the Basalt distillery.
. And that trip to Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge? Unbelievable! I'm so glad I got to experience Northern Ireland's natural beauty and charm... can't wait to go back 
I had the best time in Northern Ireland's dramatic coastline! 
and the scenery was breathtaking 
. Exploring Ballygally Castle, Windswept Sallagh Braes, Glenarm Castle, and Portrush Adelphi hotel were my faves 
and the coral-legged turnstones were so cool 
.
. Can't wait to go back again soon! 
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. But I think what really stands out about this trip is how accessible and affordable it was - even with the Sea Dips package, which included dry robes and hot-water bottles! 
