|
The Glens of Antrim or, simply, the Glens, or Antrim Mountains is a region of County Antrim, Northern Ireland, comprising nine glens, or valleys, that radiate from the Antrim Plateau to the coast. The inhabitants of the several glens are descended primarily from native Irish and Hebridean Scots.
The beautiful Glens of Antrim are a ‘must-to-see’. The Glens are an area of outstanding natural beauty and are a major tourist attraction in north Antrim. Principal towns in the Glens are Ballycastle, Cushendun, Cushendall, Waterfoot and Carnlough.
The names of the glens evoke their history and features and, although their meanings are not known for certain, the popular translations are, from south to north:
Glenarm - Glen of the army
Glencloy - Glen of the dykes
Glenariff - Glen of the plough
Glenballyeamon - Edwardstown Glen
Glenaan - Glen of the little fords
Glencorp - Glen of the dead
Glendun - Brown glen
Glenshesk - Glen of the sedges (reeds)
Glentaisie - after Taisie (In legend Taisie was a princess of Rathlin Island)
Directions: Setting off from Belfast, along the coast road to the North of Antrim, will bring you to the busy harbour town of Carrickfergus, before reaching the Ferry Port of Larne and from this point onwards you can enjoy some 60 miles of the most beautiful coastline imaginable. |
