Dunluce Castle

Dunluce castle is situated between Portballintrae and Portrush. It is an amazing piece of architecture especially when you examine how the walls were constructed on steep cliff faces. 

Alongside the castle there existed the Lost town of Dunluce. Recent excavations have uncovered artifacts from the medieval period. Although the castle is very much a ruin it is easy to comprehend how it might have looked in its original state. 

Dunluce Castle is reputed to have been the inspiration for the C.S. Lewis Chronicles of Narnia.

For more photos of the castle click here or watch on You Tube

Giant's Causeway

The Giant's Causeway is according to legend built by a giant. In reality it consists of around 40,000 interlocking basalt columns which were caused by an ancient volcanic eruption.This is a World Heritage Site declared by UNESCO in 1986. It is also a nature reserve along some of the most beautiful coastline in Europe.

The Giant's Causeway has bee named as the fourth greatest natural wonder in Britain. It is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Northern Ireland and is operated by the National Trust. Entrance is via a new state of the art building which was specially designed to blend with the landscape and which has a low carbon footprint.

 

The intense volcanic activity around 50 million years ago pushed molten basalt through chalk which resulted in the cooling and contraction leaving the pillar like stone behind. As the molten mass cooled it cracked in a similar way mud cracks under the sun and what you see today is the result of this rapid cooling of the stone.

For more photos of The Giant's Causeway click here or view on You Tube

Londonderry

Derry or officially Londonderry, the walled city, is the second largest city in Northern Ireland. The River Foyle separates both sides of the city with the old walled city being on the West Bank.

Londonderry is always referred to as Derry by nationalists. Known as the Maiden City by virtue of the fact that its walls were never breached. There is a vibrant business community and two busy shopping mall. The city has a host of independent traders and a thriving craft industry. 

The nearby Derry Airport at Eglinton has brought a much needed boost to local tourism for the region. 

For photos of Londonderry click here or view on You Tube

Coleshill

Coleshill is a market town in the North Warwickshire district of Warwickshire, England. It has a population of 6,343 (2001 census). Coleshill is next to the border with the West Midlands just outside Birmingham. Coleshill narrowly avoided being absorbed into Birmingham.

Coleshill dates back to Saxon times, but became important as a staging post on the coaching road from London to Holyhead. At one point there were over over twenty inns in the town.

One of the most notable buildings in the town is the Chuch of St Peter and St Paul which has a 52 metre (170ft) high steeple, and which dates from the 13th century. The font of the church dates from the 12th century.
The town is close to the M6 and M42 motorways.

For more photographs of Coleshill click here or view on You Tube

Crooked House

A well known watering hole on the edge of the Himley Estates is the Crooked House which is excellent for drivers who want the experience of being drunk without being over the legal limit. You can literally watch beer bottles roll up the table here.

The reason for its strange uneven exterior and interior is down to the fact that the house has subsided on land that was used for mining. Too much coal had been extracted from the ground beneath the building and it had to be shored up to prevent its collapse.

Further information and old photographs can be found herehttp://www.sedgleymanor.com/historical/crooked_house.html

Update: Unfortunately, on August 5, 2023, a fire devastated the building, severely damaging the structure. The fire caused the roof and upper floors to collapse, leaving the iconic crooked shape still visible but the building in ruins.

The cause of the fire is under investigation, and it has sparked widespread concern over the preservation of this iconic landmark. In the wake of the fire, plans have been put in place to restore the building, with efforts focused on stabilizing the remaining structure and rebuilding it in a way that respects its historic significance. Various restoration plans and proposals are under discussion, including potential plans to re-open the site as a pub or as a tourist attraction, with extensive care to preserve its architectural legacy.

Local authorities and heritage groups are working together to ensure the Crooked House is restored properly, with consultations ongoing about the future of the site and its place in the community.