Heading north out of Cushendun the Causeway Coastal Route
takes on the name Torr Road, and after a few miles there is a turnoff from this
to Torr Head. This headland, with its
spectacular views of the Mull of Kintyre, was used in the 1800s to record the
passage of Transatlantic ships for Lloyds of London, and the remains of the old
lookout station are still visible. This
was also one of the first places where Marconi’s wireless telegraphy system was
installed. Nestled against the headland
on Portaleen Bay is a small harbour, a reminder of a former salmon
fishery.
Further north is Murlough Bay, known for its flora, fauna
and geology, with birdlife including eider ducks and peregrine falcons. Beyond the bay is Fair Head, which has been described as Northern
Ireland’s tallest cliff face, rising to 600 feet above sea level. As well as fantastic views along the coast
and across to Scotland, there are goods views of Rathlin Island, which lies
just across the way. The headland is
popular with rock climbers. Running
around the headland is a path called The Grey Man’s Path. The Grey Man in question is said to derive
from a local legend about a “devil-horse” living in nearby Lough Dhu who
wandered along the path disguised as a human and frightened the living
daylights out of a local woman called Mary McAnulty.
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| Ballycastle beach, September 2010 (01). Photo by Ardfern, via Wikimedia Commons. |
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