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with Robert Walshe www.robertwalshe.com
Holiday Hotspot – Royal Court, Portrush, Co Antrim Portrush is one of the principal seaside resort towns in Northern Ireland enjoying a mile long peninsula with numerous restaurants, bars and local shops. There are many accommodation choices including camping, caravans, cottages, self catering apartments, family guesthouses and a highly impressive Royal Court hotel just outside the town on the Dunluce road with an equally warm welcome. This property claims one of the most spectacular settings of all hotels along the Antrim Coast. The hotel sits majestically overlooking the harbour town and its
Royal Court Hotel Portrush Co Antrim
famous Royal Golf Club with panoramic views of County Donegal and the Scottish Isles. The eighteen elegant accommodations here feature four-poster beds in some rooms, and all have flat-screen TVs. This property while three stars on paper remind me of a good four star in all aspects but be sure to request a seafront room. The restaurant and bar is the place to be seen all season long and is one of the finest of its kind on the causeway coast. The Dunluce Room at the Royal Court can cater for up to 140 wedding guests and up to 200 guests for the evening reception. The Atlantic
Suite can cater for up to 250 wedding guests and up to 350 in the evening. Both rooms boast magnificent views of Donegal, the Scottish Isles and of course the Atlantic Ocean. Portrush is known for three beautiful beaches, White Rocks, East Strand and West Strand and Castlerock is also worth a visit nearby. The internationally acclaimed Carrick-ARede rope bridge situated between Ballycastle and Ballintoy hover’s 80 feet above the sea. Constructed of rope and wooden planks this bridge is connected to a very small offshore island from the mainland and can only be accessed
Barry’s Amusements Portrush
during the summer as it is removed before winter arrives. Only the brave will cross this bridge as it sways in the wind! The nearby Old Bushmills Distillery is the World’s oldest licensed Whiskey Distillery. King James I granted the original License to distil ‘Aqua Vitae’ in 1608 and since then Bushmills have been making the finest Irish Malt Whiskey here for almost four hundred years. Royal Portrush is set on the Irish North coast, possibly the most beautiful stretch of coastline on the island of Ireland with the legendary Giant’s Causeway just miles away. Founded in 1888, the Dunluce course is overlooked by the ruins of the 13th century Dunluce castle, making its setting and views nothing less than spectacular. The links layout of the two courses
threads its way through giant dunes, along cliffs and into valleys. Both courses feature magnificent turf, tricky greens and narrow fairways, finished off with a good dollop of high winds to make it a good challenge for the even most seasoned golfers. The Dunluce course is the more demanding side and the championship course of the two. Calamity corner, the aptly named short 14th is probably the signature hole on this course. 210 yards long, it requires a long carry over a deep gully to a green perched above a 100 ft drop. A popular spot for families during summer is Barry’s. This is the largest amusement park found in Ireland. There are a variety of rides available both for those looking for a thrill or others who just want to relax. www.royalcourthotel.co.uk
Robert Walshe is a travel broadcaster with Q Radio in Northern Ireland. He is also Travel Editor for River Media newspaper titles across the island of Ireland.