Mourne Coastal Road
As I was leaving The Game of Thrones Studio, one of the young staff asked me where I was going from there. I said, “up to Belfast where I’ll probably get a Black Cab tour or some such.”
“Are you interested in theTroubles then?” he asked.
“Far from it,” I replied “but I’m ashamed and embarrassed that I know so little about it.”
“You could do something else. ” He suggested going back to the border at Newry, going to Warrenpoint and from there to drive tthe Mourne Coastal Road as far as Strangford, and back to Belfast that way. He said it would take all afternoon.
I was so happy I listened to him.
Around the little coastal town of Killeen the strangest looking dry stone walls began to appear everywhere, round fields and residential homes.
Further along where the road ran alongside the coast I could see that these huge boulders were on the beaches too.
It was a route of outstanding natural beauty with the sea one side and the Mountains of Mourne on the other.
This is Ireland’s version of Newcastle and it couldn’t have been more different. It seemed to have it all: Woods, mountains, long sandy beaches and a prosperous and thriving holiday vibe. Like Eastbourne in some ways actually.
Murlough Beach was next on his list, a nature reserve and like so many places I’ve visited so far I was almost the only one there apart from these two locals.
The sand dunes had wooden walkways through them to the sea.
And the sort of pebbles that are like actual artworks. I’m thinking of sending my clothes home in a brown paper parcel so I can get some of my collections into my luggage.
My final coastal stop was Ardglass and a look at the harbour before taking a busy A22 back to Belfast
Something I find slightly off putting about Northern Ireland is the Biblical references pinned to lampposts and trees.
“Be ready to meet your Maker” pinned near a busy junction made me wonder if I was about to have an accident !
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