Ballycastle, County Antrim

I arrived in Ballycastle from Belfast on Friday, and spent the afternoon wandering about the town and doing a nearby cliff walk. Yesterday, I went to the Giant's Causeway, further to the west, but I'll save that for another post. I had a rest day today. I was so tired after yesterday (and my previous walk up Slievegullion) that my body demanded rest, and I slept for about 12 hours last night. I only got up at 10, and did not attempt anything serious until about 2 in the afternoon. I saw some standing stones in a churchyard, and I also did a lovely forest walk, with red squirrels, which were not on show, but it is nice to know they are doing well. 

The Antrim Cost is very pretty. For this reason it is very touristy, especially right now, when the weather is at its best. Ballycastle is a seaside resort, a bit like Portsea or Victor Harbour - it's full of locals on holiday, swimming, making sandcastles, having ice-creams on the promenade, and so on. Bikers come here for the windy coastal roads, and backpackers like me come for the seascape.

I've seen more 'orange' insignia here than in Belfast or anywhere else - that means, it's potentially quite unionist (loyal to the UK), and the street signs here are not bilingual as they are in Belfast. Despite this, I did just meet a Gaelic speaker, who told me that she and her kids are learning Irish, and there is local school encouraging the teaching of that language. I asked her if she had received any pushback against pro-Irish sentiment and she told me that everyone in the area seemed fine with it. A lot of folk are wearing orange, some green, and there are many union jacks about, as well as the NI tricolour, and the Irish flag. Perhaps the relative prosperity of the place is protecting it from the worst of unionist violence, which I have heard does happen in in poorer areas. 

The weather has been almost unbelievably nice. I could not have dreamed that my trip would be so blessed. Mostly dry, balmy days at about 20 degrees, perfect for walking, or any other activity. I hope it lasts until I leave next month. My trip is running out - I now have just over three weeks left to go, out of a total 11. In one sense I can't believe it has gone so fast, although in another way, my early activities in the south of England seem quite distant. 

I'm not putting up any pics for this post, because the shots from the next post on the Causeway Coast will tell a better story. It is stunning around here, an I am glad I came. I have Rathlinn Island to see tomorrow, and then I am off back to Belfast for a few days before I get to Scotland and the final adventure begins. 

Louise's birthday is tomorrow. I hope I am not out of cell range when our chat window is open.