Belfast, Northern Ireland; Kinbane Head: Antrim Coast Road Trip

 Our AirBnB was less than a mile away from Kinbane Castle (Whitehead Castle).  Finally, as we were driving away today I swung by to take a look.  I was so glad that we did.  This site was not mentioned in any of the travel guides that I consulted in planning the trip, nor did the AirBnB host mention it, even though it is literally in their backyard.  Identified on a sign only as Kinbade Head, I had presumed it was a rock formation jutting out into the North Sea.  It is that, plus a castle ruins, the was part of the chain of castles controlled by the MacDonnells.  It does not appear that this castle was ever a extravagant living quarters, but more a garrisoned defensive castle to protect the coast.  

View of the coast from Kinbane Castle

A sea cave

After the castle, we stopped at the town named Ballycastle.  This is a small village that has escaped the tourist trade.  It has a harbor front and a few seafront guesthouses but for the most part it is just grungy enough to feel real.  We found a small breakfast café, "Our Dolly's", coffee and grub hub.  We enjoyed having breakfast with work-a-day Irish.  

Streets of Ballycastle

Steering wheel on the wrong side, gear shift on wrong side, driving on the wrong side.  Perfectly parallel parked.  Am I a little too proud, I think not.

We spent the rest of the day road tripping though Northern Ireland.

McAlister's: A café and funeral service. 

Belfast from Hotel Window