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Most interesting

attractions and landmarks in

County Antrim

Gatis Pvils, 18 April 2011

No.12. http://www.wondermondo.com/Antrim.htmImage: Glenariff Glen scenery.

Will Baker, Flickr / CC BY-SA 2.0

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Highlights of County Antrim are: The countless natural and historicallandmarks in Glens nine large valleys opening to

the sea. Here one can see waterfalls, megaliths, old

castles, meadows and forests rich with flowers, sites of

fairy and ghost legends and nearly every other kind of

landmarks. Sea coast formations Giant's Causewaymay be the best known landmark of Northern Ireland,

but there are numerous other interesting geological

formations at sea coast sea stacks, caves, natural

arches.

Belfast the metropolis of Northern Irelandhas its share of interesting monuments of architecture

and history.

Antrim has numerous amazing, large and gloomy caves

formed in the rugged sea cliffs and often very hard to

access.

Bruce's Cave Rathlin island. Enormous seaside cave,

approximately 140 m long, 22 m high.

Cathedral Cave seaside cave, some 90 m long, atleast 25 m high at the entrance.

Dunkerry Grand Cave one of the most impressive

sea caves in Ireland, approximately 30 m high and 27 m

wide, depth unknown.

Portbraddan Cave seaside cave in basalt, contains remnants of prehistoric habitation by Mesolithic

people.

Portcoon Cave impressive and eerie sea cave next to Giant's Causeway, some 140 m long, at least 35 m

high.

Cranny Falls.Antrim.finaghy, Wikimedia Commons, publicdomain.

One of the most beautiful waterfalls in NorthernIreland is accessible by a fine nature walk fromCarnlough town...

Wondermondo is unique project: it aims to describe the most interesting man made and natural attractions /

landmarks in the whole world.

Author of website www.wondermondo.com and each article in it is Gatis Pvils. Visit the site to find a lot more

information!

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Cranny Falls tall, spectacular waterfall in ravine.

Giants Causeway area of outstanding natural

beauty, with some 40,000 interlocking basalt columns.

Tops of these columns form natural stepping stonesleading into the sea.

Glenariff Falls group of picturesque waterfalls.

Great Arch near Portrush beautiful natural arch,

formed by the sea wave action in white limestone.

Loughareema vanishing lake, site of ghost stories.

Water of this lake often disappears, leaving a wet muddy

flat.

Antynanum Court Tomb unusual ancient burial: some 60 m long, very narrow cairn.

Ballylumford Dolmen dolmen, built circa 2000 BC, possible remnant of a passage grave.

Carnanmore passage grave comparatively well preserved passage grave, which includes a decorated

stone with pocked rings, carving of serpent, cupmarks.

Craigs Dolmen remnant of a passage grave enormous capstone placed on seven upright stones.

Dooey'Cairn in Ballymacaldrack impressive ancient burial complex. Consists of U-shaped forecourt

made of standing stones, burial chamber and passage with three circular pits, all together about 21 m long.Giants Ring in Belfast henge a circular enclosure, where the bank is up to 3.5 m high, diameter 180

m. A megalithic passage grave inside.

Oisns Grave megalithic monument, burial cairn from 4000 BC. In popular legends considered to be a

grave of Oisn Celtic warrior and bard who lived circa 300 AD.

Altagore Cashel best preserved ancient fortification

drystone ringwall.

Doagh Holestone less than 1.5 m tall standing stone

with an artificially made hole in it. Most likely thismonument is made for some pagan rituals.

The Linford Barrows mysterious earthworks of

unknown age. Two circular mounds (13 and 16 m

diameter) surrounded by deep ditch and higher outer

bank similar to large stamps pressed in earth.

Antrim Round Tower and Antrim Bullaun Stone

remnants of ancient monastic settlement. Round tower

is built circa 10th century AD and served as bell towerand fortification. It is 28 m tall. Burned and abandoned

Giant's Causeway.

Patrice78500, Wikimedia Commons, public domain

The Linford Barrows.Anne Burgess, Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 2.0

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in 1147.

Armoy Round Tower medieval round tower in the site of early Christian monastery, established circa 460

AD. Top of the tower has been lost, now remains a 10.4 m tall base part./

Layde Church (The Layd) ruins of a church. Church was last built here in 17th century, but the site has

very long history. Two Celtic crosses including Cross Na Nagan pagan holestone Christianized into Celtic

cross. Ghost stories.

Carrickfergus Castle one of the best preserved

medieval structures in Ireland, built in 1177 by Normans,

since 1210 English castle. Castle has not been

abandoned and as aresult represents valuable

monument of architecture and history. For most part

surrounded by water.

Castle Upton castle in the centre of a village, with

impressive tower house built in 1611.

Dalway's Bawn late medieval fortification, the best

preserved so called Bawns and Flanker Towers. Built in

1609, consists of quadrangular fortified enclosure with

three round towers.

Dunluce Castle magnificent castle ruins on a

promontory, overlooking the sea, accessible via a bridge.

Currently visible structures built in early 16th century.

Abandoned as the sea is washing out the cliff. Ghost

stories.

Dunseverick Castle ruins of very old castle on a promontory, towering above the sea. Saint Patrick visitedthe castle in the 5th century AD, important historial events have taken place here also in later times.

Demolished in 1650ies.

Glenarm Castle exquisite castle, built in the site of older castle in 1636 in Jacobean style, rebuilt in late

18th century in Palladian style.

Ballygally Castle fortified, massive country house built in 1625, reportedly one of the most haunted places

in the province.

Belfast Castle massive stately home, built in Scottish Baronial style in 1862 1870 in a hill above Belfast.

The building resembles a medieval castle.

Dundarave House large country house, built in 1846.

Hillsborough Castle stately home, built in the 18th century in Georgian style. Now government

residence.

Belfast is the metropolis of Northern Ireland and has many interesting and impressive buildings.

Albert Memorial Clock impressive, 34.4 m tall clock tower, built in 1869 in Neo-Gothic style. Tower is

leaning.

Belfast City Hall enormous Neo-Baroque civic building. Constructed in 1898 1906. Copper plated

cupole in the centre of the building is 53 m high. Adorned with numerous sculptural works.

Carrickfergus Castle.Bea y Fredi, Flickr / CC BY 2.0

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Belfast Grand Opera House beautiful theatre

house, built in 1895. Oriental style used in architecture.

Crown Liquor Saloon beautiful Victorian gin

palace, refurbished in 1885. Very ornate interior.

Main building of Belfast Queens College

impressive Neo-Gothic structure, constructed in 1849.

Merchant Hotel luxurious hotel building,

constructed in the middle of 19th century.

Saint Malachys Church Neo-Gothic church

building, constructed in 1841 1844. Especially

impressive are fan vaults on the ceiling.

The Palm House of Belfast Botanic Gardens one

of the oldest curvilinear cast iron glasshouses in the

world, built in 1840. Plant house contains many unique

plants including 400 years old Xanthorrhoea from

Australia.

Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge unusual rope suspension bridge leading to Carrick island. 20 m long

pedestrian bridge, 30 m above the ground. Bridge exists here for some 350 years, but it is often rebuilt.

Carrickfergus town walls Walls around Carrickfergus town were built in early 17th century. Now only

small parts remain.

Tieveragh Hill and Lurigethan Hill two legendary fairy sites, still revered by locals and considered to

have frequent supernatural sightings.

Belfast City Hall.Macnolete, Flickr / CC BY 2.0