GAME OF THRONES’ fans know it as the Iron Isles. The tourists who flock to the North Antrim Coast, located between Portrush and Ballycastle in Northern Ireland, come for its rugged and breathtaking beauty. On this stretch of coast, myths and history live side by side, and running out of things to do is near impossible: Giant’s Causeway, Carrick-a-Rede, Old Bushmills Distillery, the Iron Isles’ filming locations...
However, when I make my way to the north of the country in October, none of the aforementioned attractions are on my mind. What pushes me to leave Belfast behind and take two buses to the coastal town of Portrush are the waves.
Located on a peninsula, Portrush boasts three Blue Flag beaches (West Strand, East Strand and Whiterocks Beach) and all the usual points of interest of a coastal town. You’ll find the largest amusement park in Northern Ireland (Barry’s Amusements), a harbour, Ramore Head and its cliff edges and trails, and the world-famous Dunluce Links Royal Portrush Championship Golf Course.
But what makes the North Antrim Coast so special is the promise of the consistent swells hitting its shores. Its uncrowded waves attract some international attention but remain relatively under the radar. A surfer’s paradise. This is the home of sixtime Irish national surfing champion Andrew Hill, after all.
I meet Andrew at his shop, Troggs, which was opened in 1984 and is the number one stop for all things watersport in Portrush. We talk surf, of course, but also travel, comparing notes on our favourite spots around the world.
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der August 2020-Ausgabe von Reader's Digest UK.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent ? Anmelden
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der August 2020-Ausgabe von Reader's Digest UK.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent? Anmelden
EVERY SECOND COUNTS: TIPS TO WIN THE RACE AGAINST TIME
Do you want to save 1.5 seconds every day of your life? According to the dishwasher expert at the consumer organisation Choice, there’s no need to insert the dishwashing tablet into the compartment inside the door.
May Fiction
An escaped slave's perspective renews Huckleberry Finn and the seconds tick down to nuclear Armageddon in Miriam Sallon’s top literary picks this month
Wine Not
In a time of warning studies about alcohol consumption, Paola Westbeek looks at non-alcoholic wines, how they taste and if they pair with food
Train Booking Hacks
With the cost of train travel seemingly always rising, Andy Webb gives some tips to save on ticket prices
JOURNEY TO SALTEN, NORWAY, UNDER THE MIDNIGHT SUN
Here, far from the crowds, in opal clarity, from May to September, the sun knows no rest. As soon as it’s about to set, it rises again
My Britain: Cheltenham
A YEAR IN CHELTENHAM sees a jazz festival, a science festival, a classical music festival and a literature festival. Few towns with 120,000 residents can boast such a huge cultural output!
GET A GREEN(ER) THUMB
Whether you love digging in the dirt, planting seeds and reaping the bounty that bursts forth, or find the whole idea of gardening intimidating, this spring offers the promise of a fresh start.
Under The GRANDFLUENCE Suzi Grant
After working in TV and radio as an author and nutritionist, Suzi Grant started a blog alternativeageing.net) and an Instagram account alternativeageing). She talks to Ian Chaddock about positive ageing”
Sam Quek: If I Ruled The World
Sam Quek MBE is an Olympic gold medalwinning hockey player, team captain on A Question of Sport and host of podcast series Amazing Starts Here
Stand Tall, Ladies
Shorter men may be having their moment, but where are the tall women?
