Glenshesk Drive
Glenshesk Drive
If you approach Ballycastle from Cushendall, you will cross a red sandstone bridge and come to a T junction having just past Bonamargy Friary on the left and Ballycastle Golf Club on the right. Turn left at this junction for the Glenshesk Scenic Route and right for the Causeway Coastal Route, both are signposted. The Glenshesk Scenic Route morphs into the Glentaisie Scenic Route before arriving back in Ballycastle. The route takes you through Glenshesk, around the back of Knocklayd mountain and past ancient Breen Wood to St Patrick's Church and Round Tower. Just before you get to the church you will see a sign saying 'Scenic Route' pointing you along the Lagge Road, this is the road which morphs with the Glentaisie Scenic Drive.
If you want to see the Round Tower, Armoy and the Dark Hedges ignore this and go straight on into the village. I don't know why Armoy is not officially on the Causeway Coastal Route, it makes no logical sense, this is a gateway village to two glens, the nearest village to the Dark Hedges and home to the Armoy Armada who honed their road racing skills here and is where the world champion road racer Joey Dunlop spent a great deal of his early formative racing years. If you do opt to go to Armoy, on the way back follow the main road to Ballycastle for about 3 km, you will then see a sign on the left-hand side which points to Glentaisie.