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County Antrim towns / areas: Ballintoy Ballycastle Belfast Causeway Coast Cushendall Cushendun Glens of Antrim Lisburn Murlough Bay & Fair Head Portrush Rathlin Island ................................................. _________________________________

County Antrim attractions: Botanic Gardens, Belfast Carrick-a-Rede Bridge Carrickfergus Castle Dunluce Castle Dunseverick Castle Giant's Causeway Irish Linen Centre & Lisburn Museum Old Bushmills Distillery Ossian's Grave Ulster Museum ................................................. _________________________________

Murlough Bay, County Antrim

Murlough Bay and Fair Head lie on the County Antrim coast between Cushendun in the south and Ballycastle further east.

Murlough Bay, which is owned by the National Trust, is one of the most idyllic spots on the Northern Ireland Coast. Rugged cliff-tops drop down to gently sloping meadows and woodland, and unspoilt beaches fringe the shore. The bay is renowned for its variety of flora and fauna, with rare plants flourishing in the temperate soil, and birds such as buzzards and Peregrine falcons nesting among the cliff-tops. There are also remains of a monastic settlement, and remnants from the time when coal and lime was mined in the bay.

Above the bay to the east is Fair Head, a spectacular headland of 600ft dolerite cliffs, which are popular with rock-climbers. There are wonderful views across to Scotland from the headland, and you can follow the Grey Man's Path to a plateau behind the fissured cliffs, where there are three freshwater lakes. On the largest lake, which is known as Lough na Cranagh (the 'Lake of the Island'), is an ancient manmade island, or crannog, encircled by a parapet wall.

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Other featured places to go in our County Antrim travel section:

Ballintoy tourist information
Ballycastle tourist information
Belfast tourist information
Causeway Coast tourist information
Cushendall tourist information
Cushendun tourist information
Glens of Antrim tourist information
Lisburn tourist information
Murlough Bay tourist information
Portrush tourist information
Rathlin Island tourist information

Other Northern Ireland travel related links:

Northern Ireland hotel
Northern Ireland tour
Northern Ireland cottage
Northern Ireland hostel