Nestled along Northern Ireland's famous north coast, Cushendall is one of the hidden gems in the Glens of Antrim with a thriving and loyal community at the heart of it.
Littered with independent businesses and generations of families who take pride in promoting the village on the world stage, it is not hard to understand why it attracts visitors from all over.
Belfast Live headed to the coastal village to ask those who live and work in the area what sets Cushendall apart from anywhere else across Northern Ireland.
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The Lurig Inn sits in the heart of the village and is one of the most popular spots for a cold pint, live music and to meet a friendly face.
Christy McNaughton is the second generation to run the bar since taking over six years ago.
Christy said: "The Lurig is a family run bar - my father owns it and we've had it now for about 21 years. Just before Covid in March 2020, we opened our guestrooms upstairs in what used to be a bar.
"It's starting to pick up a bit again after Covid and it feels like things are finally going back to normal."
He explained that it is the people who make Cushendall and the reason he enjoys both living and working in the village.
"They are so easy going and you need to have thick skin to be working down here - plenty of slagging behind the bar," he laughed.
"Even the people that come visit too. We have three caravan sites here and even the people from as far as Belfast that come down all enjoy the craic and always tie in well with us.
"People don't realise how nice the Glens actually are until they come. We have people from the south come up who have never been to Cushendall before and they just can't believe it."
Christy added: "You see that with the people who keep returning and coming back - you come into any of the local pubs too and everyone will talk to you no matter where you are from or who you are."
Marie Hamilton at Hawthorn & Rose Bespoke Cakery is preparing to celebrate one year of selling homemade bakes and top quality coffee in Cushendall.
She said: "My sister and I both run the shop and when we opened originally, we had only planned to open one day a week and that is very different now - we open five days a week during the winter and we'll go back to six days in the summer.
"It's been so so good so far and the village has been unbelievable support because we did wonder coming into winter how everything would go but it's been amazing."
Although not originally from Cushendall, Marie has been overwhelmed by how welcomed her business has been since opening last year.
"It has a strong village community and everything is community-orientated. We have our regulars that come in all the time and I just never expected that, it really has taken off for us because everyone is just so nice," she explained.
"I think it is totally underrated with the views and the beach and there are really nice wee pubs and shops if you are up for a wee pint and a bit of craic at the weekends."
McAlister's Hardware is one of the many independent businesses supporting the local community and is known for its range of hardware, homeware, garden and giftware.
Charlie Delgary shared how he believes the village is the perfect place to raise a family.
Charlie said: "Cushendall is in the sweet spot between the sea and the hills and it is a really nice place to live - there are good schools near here, you can head to the beaches and it's a good lifestyle.
"It is the beauty of the place, it's as simple as that. It's along the coastal road to the Giants Causeway so people can stop have a bite of grub and move on or head down the beach a walk.
"There is a lovely cliff path walk where you look over the Mull of Kintyre and it's just wee things like that."
Kearney's Butchers is a fourth-generation family business that has been serving the people of the Glens for eight decades.
Michael Kearney said: "We've been here for over 80 years now and it was started by my father's great-uncle and was taken on by his father and now by us.
"It's a great village - you meet all sorts of characters and we have a good amount of tourists coming through in the summertime too. You meet all walks of life and you make great friendships.
"It is quite a tight-knit community and you nearly know everybody at this stage and everyone buys into what goes on in the village."
He believes that the area can often be overlooked by tourists been shown the north coast despite all Cushendall and the surrounding area has to offer.
He continued: "It is a bugbear of our own is that it often gets badly left out when it comes to tourism in Northern Ireland - all you hear of is Belfast and Titanic and then the next thing you hear of is Bushmills and Giants Causeway when there is so much in between.
"The Coast Road itself is a sight to behold and then you've got the nine Glens.
"It's a lively wee village and we have our own festival in the summer which people come down to so there's no reason not to come to Cushendall."
"Great people to meet, nice places to stay and don't forget great meat," he laughed.
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