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Top 10 interesting Facts about Torr Head Scenic Road

The Torr Head Scenic Road is a narrow road stretching for 14.5 miles (23 km) located between Cushendun and Ballycastle. Follow the brown signposts that detour from the A2, marked 鈥淭orr Head Scenic Drive鈥�.

Torr Head Scenic Road is characterized by its hairpin bends and blind spots. This route offers dramatic coastal scenery, breathtaking panorama landscape, with views to Scotland with each twist and turn.

Be aware that this is an insanely narrow road and keep your speed down and your eyes on the road despite the distractions of those incredible views.

Below, you鈥檒l find the top 10 interesting facts about Torr Head Scenic Road;

1. Cushendun

Cushendun – Flickr

We shall start our journey by appreciating the starting point of this magnificent, breathtaking journey through the Torr Head Scenic Road. Cushendun is a small coastal village in County Antrim, Northern Ireland.

The village was designed for Ronald McNeill, later Lord Cushendun, in the style of a Cornish village by the architect Clough Williams-Ellis. It

Cushendun’s picturesque coastal setting in the heart of the Antrim Coast and Glens Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, together with its unique architectural inheritance, resulted in designation as a Conservation area in 1980.

2. Fair Head Cliffs

Fair Head Cliffs – Flickr

Fair Head or Benmore is three miles east of Ballycastle. It is Northern Ireland鈥檚 tallest cliff, rising 196 m (643 feet) above the sea.

Fair Head is classed as an area of special scientific interest (ASSI), and are on the register of Antrim ASSI.

Wild goats can be seen roaming among the rocks beneath the clifftops, where a walkway called The Grey Man’s Path winds around the rugged coastline.

An annual Fair Head Climbing Meet is held over the first weekend of June for all climbers. It is considered one of the best climbing venues in the British Isles, and is compared to Stanage for the scale of routes, particularly at E-grade.

3. Murlough Bay

Murlough Bay – Wikipedia

Further along the scenic route heading towards Cushendun you鈥檒l see a turn-off signposted to Murlough Bay. Murlough Bay is known for its outstanding beauty and remote location.

The local geology is typical of the Antrim topography, with basalt overlaying sandstone and limestone. The area has many kilns used in the production of lime.

Each August there is a small memorial held in honour of Sir Roger Casemen at Murlough by Republican Sinn F茅in.

Roger Casement, a former British Government Diplomat, knighted by King George V in 1911 and Irish Nationalist revolutionary leader who was executed by the Government of the United Kingdom for treason in August 1916 during World War I.

4. Miners鈥� cottages at Murlough Bay

Coal – Flickr

Coal mining once took place here and there are several old ruins which were once the miners鈥� cottages. Lime was also extracted; you’ll find old lime kilns on the shore and also on the top road just before you start to descend into Murlough

At Murlough Bay, mining took place sporadically from the late 1700s to the 1940s. However, dispatch was difficult, due to land slippage and the exposed shoreline.

5. Torr Head

Torr Head – Wikimedia Commons

On the third turn-off from the main route takes you to rocky Torr Head, headland. From here you can gaze across the North Channel to Scotland, a mere 12 miles away.

The site is of international importance as it is crucial in aiding the understanding of the relationships between rock sequences elsewhere in Northern Ireland and Scotland. This formation is best viewed from the southern side.

In the 1800s, Torr Head was used to record the passage of transatlantic ships for Lloyds of London, long before GPS. In summer, the area is used for a fixed net salmon fishery; an old ice house was once used to preserve the catch.

6. 19^th century Coastguard station

Torr Head, 19th century Coastguard station – Flickr

Torr Head headland is topped with a long-abandoned 19th century Coastguard Station. There were originally six coastguard stations between Ballycastle and Garron Point, and the one on Torr Head was one of the largest.

The station was burned during the 鈥淭roubles鈥� in 1922 and thereafter only the lookout post was manned. Decayed ruins of the old port can still be seen today.

7. Rathlin Island

Rathlin Island – Flickr

The Torr Head headland is the nearest point to Rathlin Island, the northernmost point in Northern Ireland. It is accessible via a ferry from Ballycastle 6 miles away.

The reverse-L-shaped Rathlin Island is four miles (six kilometres) from east to west, and 2+1鈦�2 miles (4 kilometres) from north to south. It has about 150 population who are mainly Irish speaking.

Rathlin is one of 43 Special Areas of Conservation in Northern Ireland. It is home to tens of thousands of seabirds, including common guillemots, kittiwakes, puffins and razorbills 鈥� about thirty bird families in total.

Marine investigations in the area have identified a number of shipwreck sites including HMS Drake, which was torpedoed and sank just off the island in 1917.

8. Carrick-A-Rede Rope Bridge

Carrick-A-Rede Rope Bridge – Wikipedia

The Carrick-A-Rede is a Rope Bridge that connects Carrick Island with the mainland not far from Ballintoy Harbour. It spans 20 metres (66 ft) and is 30 metres (98 ft) above the rocks below.

Erected by salmon fishermen in 1755, the Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge is open all year round (subject to weather) and people may cross it for a fee.

There are views of Rathlin Island and Scotland from the bridge. The site and surrounding area is designated an Area of Special Scientific Interest for its unique geology, flora, and fauna. Underneath there are large caves, which once served as home for boat builders and as shelter during stormy weather.

9. Loughreema

Loughreema – Flickr

Loughareema, also known as the Vanishing Lake, is located on the coast road, just a few miles from the seaside town of Ballycastle in Ireland. Torr Head Scenic Road runs right through the lake, though the modern road sits high enough to avoid flooding.

The lake sits on a leaky chalk-bed with a 鈥減lug hole鈥� that often becomes jammed with peat, causing the Loughareema depression to fill, especially during heavy rain. When the plug clears, the lake drains rapidly underground.

Interestingly, a passerby who is not aware of the lake and its disappearing act would never even know it existed in the first place.

10. Ballycastle

Ballycastle – Flickr

We are finally at the end of our road trip at Ballycastle, a small seaside town on the north-easternmost coastal tip of Ireland.

The quaint and idyllic rural town is known for its outstanding natural beauty surrounded by mountain ranges, lakes, glens, forest parks and coastline.

Ballycastle is also famous for its 17th century old festival, the Ould Lammas Fair, which celebrates harvest every year in August.