Portrush and the Antrim Coast - Ireland 2014 - page 572

Internet Access: Ground Espresso Bar has coin-op machines with fast connections (£1/
20 minutes, daily June-Aug 8:30-22:00, Sept-May 8:30-18:00, 52 Main Street, tel.
028/7082-5979).
Laundry: Viking Launderette charges £10/load for full service (Mon-Tue and Thu-Fri
9:00-13:00 & 14:00-17:30, Sat 9:00-13:00, closed Sun and Wed, 68 Causeway Street,
tel. [phone]).
Bike Rental: Therecommended Harbour Heights B&B rentssturdynewmountainbikes
for £12/day, a great way to experience the gorgeous Antrim Coast (see listing under
“Sleeping in Portrush,” later).
Sights in Portrush
Barry's Old Time Amusement Arcade
This is a fine chance to see Northern Ireland at play (open weekends and summer only).
Located just below the train station on the harbor, it's filled with “candy floss” (cot-
ton candy) stands and little kids learning the art of one-armed bandits, 10p at a time.
Get £1 worth of 10p coins from the machine and go wild, or brave the roller coaster
and bumper cars (July-mid-Sept daily 12:30-22:30; May-June Mon-Fri 10:00-18:00, Sat
12:30-22:30, Sun 12:30-21:30; closed mid-Sept-April; tel. [phone],
www.barrysamusements.com ).
Pitch-and-Putt at the Royal Portrush Golf Club
Irish courses, like those in Scotland, are highly sought after for their lush greens in glor-
ious settings. Serious golfers can get a tee time at the Royal Portrush, which has hosted
the British Open and Irish Open (green fees Mon-Fri-£145, Sat-Sun-£165). Those on a
budget can play the adjacent, slightly shorter Valley Course (green fees Mon-Fri-£42.50,
Sat-Sun-£55). Meanwhile, rookies can get a wee dose of this wonderful golf setting at the
neighboring Skerries 9 Hole Links pitch-and-putt range. You get two clubs and balls for
£8, and they don't care if you go around twice (daily 8:30-19:00, 10-minute walk from
station, tel. [phone], www.royalportrushgolfclub.com ) .
Portrush Recreation Grounds
For some easygoing exercise right in town, this well-organized park offers lawn-bowling
greens (£4.70/hour with gear), putting greens, tennis courts, a great kids' play park, and
a snack bar. You can rent tennis shoes, balls, and rackets, all for £9.30/hour (midMay-
mid-Sept Mon-Sat 10:00-dusk, Sun 13:00-19:00, closed mid-Sept-mid-May, tel. 028/
7082-4441).