SKL's Walking Blog

Ballintoy to Ballycastle

21st January 2025

Bloody cold start today. As soon as I moved under the shadow of the cliffs at Carrick-a-rede the wind picked up and didn’t stop all day. The chill took temp down to zero and a lot of this trek was open road with no shelter.
How different things are from the last time I was here. The approach to the bridge is now from the west and is a 1k walk to and from the entrance. The old entrance seemed usuable but I got 1/2k up the path to find it blocked.

Look at that lovely sunshine down by Ballintoy Harbour.
Down to the bridge. I’m not sure why I’m doing this, I’m certainly not paying to go across. F but it is cold. Rathlin in sunshine also.
Strange it is that in just this bit between Ballycastle and Dunserverick, the underlying limestone is the landscape. East and west is the basalt that forms the Causeway etc,
The misty headlands towards Fairhead that we mostly bypass because the landowners don’t want us plebs tramping over their grass.
Heading back up. A shot of the bridge.
Nothing for miles but a narrow tarmac road and a lonely horse.
Perhaps I missed the one that said, ‘Speed Up! Grey Squirrels.’
Have you seen our mate? Come on son! It’s too f ing cold to be pratting about. Where is he?
More tarmac miles but at least it is a little warmer.
Who drills a hole in their menhir? Goes all the way through.
Humping buckets of water all day then some asswipe smashed it. I think I’ll just rest here a minute.
Ballycastle down in the valley. Remember though, it’s farther than it looks.
The sheep are all running towards me and not a leaf of lettuce on my person.
The harbour. Everywhere is closed so no late lunch. I’ll just have to try for a early dinner.

There was a guy moaning on the WalkNI website about this section – must have been one of those soapflakes you hear about. ‘Do not do this section. Danger!’ What a knob. I found it quite relaxing although as always I’m not fond of the repetitive surfaces.
Onwards. The big one tomorrow and a small test to see if I am still remotely capable of a 10 dayer in the sunny climes of the Canary Islands.