County Antrim Vacation Rental house: bushmills

We would thoroughly recommend this house.

My husband and I were looking for somewhere to stay for just two nights so we could visit the Antrim coast, arriving by public transport from Belfast. With three pretty large sons aged 15, 17 and 19 we were looking for a reasonable amounrt of space, and the ability to cook for ourselves. It looked from the on-line search as though this property might fit the bill, but I was apprehensive about trying to book for the short period.

The owner could not have been more helpful. The rate offered was very reasonable, the booking process simplicity itself.

We had expected to find the house had what we needed, but it was so much more than that. It was absolutely delightful. There was plenty of room, and the layout of the house worked extremely well for us. It is beautifully furnished, and decorated, and is a home, not just a holiday rental. The three bedrooms - two double and one with bunks are quite small, but the living area is very large and well laid out. Everything was clean and fresh and welcoming.

The public transport bit also worked extremely well - using the Translink web site, and integrated tickets. The area is brilliant for cycling too - although the bikes we hired from Bushmills were rather too heavy and heavy wheeled for comfort (we are experienced cyclists, but with touring bikes, not mountain ones...).

The shop in Bushmills - just fifteen minutes or so walk away - was well stocked, and had extended opening hours even on a Sunday. The little shop at the north-eastern end of Port Ballintrae had less on its shelves - and the chocolate was not the youngest, but the ice creams were superb.

We spent one day cycling to Carrick-a-rede and the Causeway. The second day we walked to the distillery in Bushmills, and then took bus and train to Castlerock and visited Hezlett House and Downshill, before the late train back to Belfast. That made a very fulfilling couple of days. With more time, warmer weather and with younger children, I would have explored the sand dunes and Port Stewart, and taken the steam railway.