CARRICK-A-REDE ROPE BRIDGE

Our cottage in Ballintoy was only a short walk to the Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge.

Just turn from our laneway at the little gate in the photo and walk down the pretty path

then along the grassy path towards the sea.

This is where you are aiming for 

but first you have quite a long walk along the cliff tops

then  down some very steep stone steps - there's a seat to sit and recover on the way back !!

and then you're there !

Carefully controlled,

no time to stop in the middle and take photos !

Once on the little island there are pretty views to take in

 Later in the day we drove back past the Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge to a little park that gave great views of the bridge.

Such a pretty part of the world.

Cheers. 

NORTHERN IRELAND

 This was the lovely view from our little house in Northern Ireland  in the little village of Ballintoy on the Causeway Coast.

That's it just right of the fence - a three bedroomed cottage. Very comfortable for our two week stay.

That's the village of Ballintoy , the bigger white buildings further right - two good pubs, no shops and a small cluster of houses.

When we arrived the field behind our house had just been ploughed and planted (with potatoes I think) but it was all  green with new growth by the time we left.

It was so lovely for these two city dwellers to look out towards the sea every day and soak in this lovely vista.

Below that church was the little Ballintoy harbour reached by a pleasant walk along the clifftops or alternatively through the village and down the lane. 

This was the view looking back the other way as you walked along the clifftop path.

The road past the church zigzagged down to the harbour past a couple of cottages with glorious views back towards Mull (I think ?) and a few other islands layered behind one another .

There were always a few tourists about but not too many at this time of year

The coast line about here is dotted with these little harbours though they are not used much these days I think. The sea is littered with rocks and safe passage would not be easy.

Our walk home back towards the village took us past a lovely tea shop called the Red Door just down a little farm lane where this delightful purple flower grew out of the rock wall.

The Red Door is the only tea shop for miles and hidden in a quite obscure position. ( a sign on the main road points it out - a RED door is a very good idea in the circumstances !)

Needless to say we became regular visitors and the friendly owner- operators soon became new friends and gave us all sorts of good tips on places to go as well as some interesting insights into how the "Troubles" had impacted their lives.

Cheers.

REMEMBRANCE DAY, AUSTRALIA 2018

Lest we forget

2018 - A WEEK IN WHITBY

After a wonderful week in Grassington we moved on to Whitby.

Of course the draw to visit was its tie with Captain Cook.

 We rented an old fisherman's cottage right in the middle of the Old Town just in from the beach you can see in these two photos.

The previous two photos were taken from the other side of the inlet near these whale bones - a popular spot with terrific views …..

  

in both directions.

And here's a replica of Captain Cook's  ship "Endeavour"

Not full size so tinier than what to us was a small ship anyway to venture across such dangerous seas.

From Whitby we visited Castle Howard - very impressive

with lovely gardens though it was a very windy , freezing day which didn't encourage much exploration.

On another day we walked along the coastal path to Robin Hood's Bay.

First we climbed to the majestic Abbey ruins then starting off where you see that signpost in the photo below.

Six to seven miles along the cliff tops

on a clearly made and well maintained path with wonderful views.

Do you like Tony's new hat? 

He wore it every day from then on.

 He thought it made him look like a local !!

This was our reward at the end of the walk - the prettiest pub beer garden with a wonderful view.

The township of Robin hood's Bay was directly below - one road winding in and out .

Thankfully there is a bus to take you back to Whitby - a hugely overpriced tourist trap but this girl wasn't walking another 7 miles back !!!

Cheers.