Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
in Northern Ireland and is beautifully situated, there's precious little left to see among its
broken walls.
The 16th-century expansion of the castle was financed by the salvaging of a shipwreck.
In 1588, the Spanish Armada's
Girona
—overloaded with sailors and the valuables of three
abandoned sister ships—sank on her way home after the aborted mission against England.
More than 1,300 drowned, and only five survivors washed ashore. The shipwreck was ex-
cavated in 1967, and a bounty of golden odds and silver ends wound up in Belfast's Ulster
Museum.
Castle admission includes an impromptu guided tour of the ruins given by a small
stable of dedicated guides. Before entering, catch the great seven-minute film about the
history of the castle (across from the ticket desk).
Cost and Hours:
£5, free audioguide, daily April-Sept 10:00-17:30, Oct-March
10:00-16:00, last entry 30 minutes before closing, tel. 028/2073-1938.
Rathlin Island
The only inhabited island off the coast of Northern Ireland, Rathlin is a quiet haven for
hikers, birdwatchers, and seal spotters. Less than seven miles from end to end, this “L”-
shaped island is reachable by ferry from the town of Ballycastle.
