SUMMER OF STAYCATIONS
We chat to some prominent local figures about why the UK is the ultimate staycation location. Lorna Ballard National Director Northern Ireland at Action for Children I moved back home to Northern Ireland in January 2020 with my husband and three kids after having lived away for a number of years, so planning a staycation was a great way to revisit all the beautiful spots where I spent time growing up. We day-tripped up and down the gorgeous Antrim and Causeway coast and took the ferry from Ballycastle to Rathlin Island to see the puffins. We did an exhilarating hike along the cliff at Fair head led by my Action for Children colleague and mountaineer Paul Kellagher who had spent the previous night sleeping on a cot suspended over the cliff 196 metres above the sea as part of our annual Boycott Your Bed fundraising event. My son was delighted to find tiny frogs in the marsh, weave reeds and learn about the rock formations and ancient lake settlement of Coolanlough. We rounded off our staycation with a drive through the stunning Mourne Mountains, a visit with Alpacas in Kilkeel and a day in Newcastle. We feel fortunate to have all this on our doorstep and thankful for the delicious chips and ice cream that fuelled us along the way. You can follow Action for Children NI on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram or visit actionforchildren.org.uk to see how you can get involved.
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