There is a flame that never goes out

It's almost unheard of that I would go on holiday without researching the place I was going. But this time I'm with a friend who is Northern Irish and who has put together our itinerary. Although, yesterday Countryfile helped as they reminded her of the existence of Downhills Demesne which we visited first.

It's a ruined great house and would make an amazing set for a remake of 'Rebecca' as Manderley.





It has a beautiful cliff top summer house and library with possibly the most exquisite view ever.











The view of Downhills beach from the window was so enticing that we spent the day on the beach. My son even went in the sea and we all got a bit of sunburn.

About 3pm we became aware that not only was the Olympic torch relay due to come through the village it was due on the beach. So, of course, we headed to greet it. Seeing the torch was actually a really emotional moment - especially as it was passed from one bearer to another in front of us









And then my son tried out holding up an imaginary torch on the rock where the actual torch had been 5 minutes before.




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It didn't rain on my parade

So, today over in England lots of people celebrated the Jubilee. I did that in 1977 and faintly remember going to the school pageant dressed as a calculator, or possibly a robot. This was a high point that couldn't be repeated so I politely ignored the Jubilee from this side of the Irish sea.

Instead we had an amazing dry day. We started off at the glowering majesty of Dunluce castle which teeters on the edge of the Antrim cliffs.




The visitor's centre was fabulous and my son got to practice being an archaeologist




Afterwards we went to Ballintoy and had a picnic on the beach.




Afterwards we went to Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge. Now, most of my life I have been terrified of heights. Not just nervous but properly sobbing and crawling terrified. But today I walked across a perilously swaying rope bridge about a 100 metre deep chasm. Twice. I can't say I enjoyed it but I'm certainly proud I did it.




The afternoon was spent in Bushmills staking out our spot for the first sight of the Olympic torch relay. There was a brilliantly festive atmosphere in the town and it was great to see the torch and feel the heat emanating from it. A really special celebration and the sun came out and blazed down on us like a blessing from Apollo. In my excitement I missed catching the runner with my iPhone so the pictures, for now, are of the convoy.














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Because of the causeway

I vaguely remember the first time I saw the Giant's Causeway on something like Blue Peter and being amazed by the geometric shapes. The thing was it seemed so very far away. As a child growing up in 1970s England the very idea of going to Northern Ireland during the Troubles seemed impossible. The Good Friday agreement happened long after I left University. But now Northern Ireland has become a tourist destination and a very lovely one too. My son and I are staying with a friend in a static caravan at Portballintrae just along from the Giant's Causeway and we went there yesterday.

It was just as mindblowing as hoped. Well played Mother Nature










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