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Belfast Live
Belfast Live
National
Sophie McLaughlin

Northern Ireland tops list of summer road trip locations in the UK

A popular Northern Irish road has been named the Best Summer UK Road Trip destination for 2022. The Causeway Coastal Route, which takes in the entire east coast of Mid and East Antrim, topped the list of 25 locations compiled by global car comparison site EnjoyTravel.com and international travel brand Big 7 Travel.

The Summer Road Trip Bucket List states: “This route, which begins in Belfast, offers plenty of potential pit stops along the way too. First, there’s Carrickfergus Castle, one of the best-preserved medieval castles in Ireland.

“Then, there’s The Gobbins – an adrenalin-fuelled cliff path set high above County Antrim’s Islandmagee. There’s legend-rich Ballygally and picture-perfect Cushendun to squeeze in before the finale too.” Back in 2018, the route was named Lonely Planet’s Top Destination for visitors.

Read more: NI coastal route ranked in top 10 for UK summer road trips

Mayor of Mid and East Antrim, Alderman Noel Williams, said: “The Causeway Coastal Route is rightly regarded as providing one of the most stunning drives anywhere in the world. I’m delighted this has been recognised again and that our borough is being showcased and promoted as a must-visit destination this summer.

“Pre-Covid, our tourism industry here and right across Northern Ireland was on a steep upward growth trajectory and the sector was booming. We are home to a string of television and film shows, such as Game of Thrones and more recently The Northman, with camera crews lining up to capitalise on the rugged, natural beauty of our area, and screen it to audiences of millions of people worldwide.

“As a Council, we are determined to support the tourism industry to get back to where we were – and then push further forward. The tourism potential we have throughout Mid and East Antrim, and the complete package of scenery, attractions and hospitality we have to offer visitors is second to none.”

The council’s dedicated tourism strategy, Shaped By Sea and Stone, focuses on a range of global markets, targeting those areas where there is the potential to increase visitor numbers and revenue. These include the Republic of Ireland, Great Britain, North America and Europe and is delivered through increased international marketing raising the awareness of the world-class products available in the area.

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