1 00:00:07,133 --> 00:00:10,453 Speaker 1: You're listening to the Saturday Morning with Jack team podcast 2 00:00:10,573 --> 00:00:11,733 Speaker 1: from news Talks at be. 3 00:00:12,733 --> 00:00:15,533 Speaker 2: Mike Yrdley is our travel correspondent. He's been in the 4 00:00:15,613 --> 00:00:18,573 Speaker 2: Christmas spirit for well for about twelve months a year. 5 00:00:18,573 --> 00:00:20,733 Speaker 2: But yeah, how long we had ther decorations up for now? 6 00:00:20,973 --> 00:00:21,453 Speaker 2: Six weeks? 7 00:00:21,493 --> 00:00:26,653 Speaker 3: Eight weeks since October twenty five. What's that? Yeah, far 8 00:00:26,693 --> 00:00:27,733 Speaker 3: too many weeks, Jacky. 9 00:00:27,933 --> 00:00:31,613 Speaker 2: Yeah, very good. Yeah, I mean it's action stations now, 10 00:00:31,653 --> 00:00:33,973 Speaker 2: so presumably you have nothing left to organize for the 11 00:00:34,013 --> 00:00:34,813 Speaker 2: big day itself. 12 00:00:35,893 --> 00:00:38,853 Speaker 3: I was just scouting to Libby that I've been gift 13 00:00:38,893 --> 00:00:42,013 Speaker 3: wrapping presents under the tree. The tree looks complete with 14 00:00:42,093 --> 00:00:45,053 Speaker 3: the presence now, so yeah, we're pretty much there. 15 00:00:45,253 --> 00:00:47,333 Speaker 2: I'm pleased to hear it. Very good. Hey, we're tripping 16 00:00:47,453 --> 00:00:50,733 Speaker 2: the Causeway Coast in Northern Ireland this morning, so how 17 00:00:50,773 --> 00:00:53,173 Speaker 2: long is the recommended touring route? 18 00:00:54,693 --> 00:00:54,893 Speaker 1: Yeah? 19 00:00:54,933 --> 00:00:58,533 Speaker 3: Well, I reckon in the pantheon of golden travel experiences, Jack. 20 00:00:58,613 --> 00:01:01,213 Speaker 3: You can't beat a really good road trip. And the 21 00:01:01,293 --> 00:01:04,733 Speaker 3: thing about the Causeway Coast is that distance wise, it's 22 00:01:04,773 --> 00:01:07,453 Speaker 3: only one hundred and eighty k on the clock from 23 00:01:08,213 --> 00:01:11,453 Speaker 3: Dairy to Belfast. But even though that sounds like a 24 00:01:11,533 --> 00:01:15,653 Speaker 3: very shortened sweet road trip. It's actually very misleading because 25 00:01:16,173 --> 00:01:20,813 Speaker 3: that route is choc a block with roadside confections. You've 26 00:01:20,813 --> 00:01:28,933 Speaker 3: got ancient castles, wizardly rock formations, Hollywood filming locations, amazing 27 00:01:29,013 --> 00:01:33,213 Speaker 3: seaside villages, and epic landscape. So you'll definitely want to 28 00:01:33,333 --> 00:01:38,053 Speaker 3: chunk that one hundred and eighty k up into several nights. 29 00:01:38,053 --> 00:01:40,613 Speaker 3: At least A lot of people actually spend a good 30 00:01:40,653 --> 00:01:43,373 Speaker 3: two weeks on that Causeway Coast route. It is just 31 00:01:43,493 --> 00:01:44,493 Speaker 3: so goddamn good. 32 00:01:44,613 --> 00:01:47,773 Speaker 2: Oh that's amazing. So what is the most dramatic castle 33 00:01:47,893 --> 00:01:48,533 Speaker 2: to check out? 34 00:01:49,733 --> 00:01:51,133 Speaker 3: Yeah, well, if you look at a map of the 35 00:01:51,133 --> 00:01:54,333 Speaker 3: Causeway Coast, castles are thick on the ground. But I 36 00:01:54,493 --> 00:01:59,413 Speaker 3: do like a castle jack served, crumbly, even decrepit, with 37 00:01:59,493 --> 00:02:04,773 Speaker 3: all of those faded glory, battle scarred fields and dunloose 38 00:02:04,853 --> 00:02:08,533 Speaker 3: castle stole my heart. This one clings to the cliffs, 39 00:02:08,853 --> 00:02:13,133 Speaker 3: high above a turning ocean, wind walloped, and it's on 40 00:02:13,253 --> 00:02:17,813 Speaker 3: a basalt outcrop. And this medieval stronghold was actually owned 41 00:02:17,853 --> 00:02:22,253 Speaker 3: by the McDonnell clan. It fell into disrepair three hundred 42 00:02:22,373 --> 00:02:24,893 Speaker 3: years ago. There are so many cool stories about this castle. 43 00:02:24,893 --> 00:02:27,493 Speaker 3: The one I love the most is the fact that 44 00:02:28,013 --> 00:02:31,613 Speaker 3: shortly before it fell into decline, part of the castle's 45 00:02:31,653 --> 00:02:38,653 Speaker 3: kitchen fell into the ocean, and only the kitchen boy survived, 46 00:02:38,733 --> 00:02:41,733 Speaker 3: and he did so because he was obviously quite intuitive. 47 00:02:41,733 --> 00:02:46,133 Speaker 3: He tucked himself away in the strongest corner of the room. 48 00:02:46,213 --> 00:02:49,653 Speaker 3: But yeah, the kitchen fell into the Atlantic. The facade 49 00:02:49,733 --> 00:02:52,813 Speaker 3: of this castle on the cliff remains today, Jack, and 50 00:02:52,893 --> 00:02:55,893 Speaker 3: it really is a stunning site and as you could imagine, 51 00:02:55,893 --> 00:02:56,813 Speaker 3: it's an insta hero. 52 00:02:57,093 --> 00:02:59,653 Speaker 2: Yeah. Yeah, of course, speaking of this is a game 53 00:02:59,813 --> 00:03:01,533 Speaker 2: throne's turf, isn't it. 54 00:03:02,213 --> 00:03:04,853 Speaker 3: Oh yeah, if you are a set jester, you could 55 00:03:04,933 --> 00:03:09,853 Speaker 3: actually design your entire touring route on the Causeway coast 56 00:03:10,053 --> 00:03:13,333 Speaker 3: into a got roadie because there were just so many 57 00:03:13,373 --> 00:03:17,573 Speaker 3: shooting locations they used, So Dunloose featured regularly on Thrones, 58 00:03:18,373 --> 00:03:21,413 Speaker 3: as did Balentoy Harbor. The Money shot I reckon is 59 00:03:21,453 --> 00:03:24,573 Speaker 3: the Dark Hedges, so they are just in land from 60 00:03:24,573 --> 00:03:28,093 Speaker 3: the coast in Balley Money and that's that very iconic 61 00:03:28,093 --> 00:03:33,413 Speaker 3: avenue of eighty gnarly intertwined beach trees. So these trees 62 00:03:33,413 --> 00:03:35,933 Speaker 3: were planted in the eighteenth century. They were cast as 63 00:03:36,013 --> 00:03:40,653 Speaker 3: King's Road in Thrones, and it's become a chronic victim 64 00:03:40,693 --> 00:03:44,013 Speaker 3: of over tourism. So the best thing to do to 65 00:03:44,133 --> 00:03:47,253 Speaker 3: dodge the hordes is go there at daybreak. Do not 66 00:03:47,333 --> 00:03:49,213 Speaker 3: go there after nine o'clock in the morning. It's just 67 00:03:49,333 --> 00:03:53,613 Speaker 3: crowded and the traffic is just horrendous in terms of parking. 68 00:03:54,173 --> 00:03:57,613 Speaker 3: I did not see anyone else there at seven in 69 00:03:57,653 --> 00:04:00,853 Speaker 3: the morning, not even the Gray Lady Jack, who was 70 00:04:00,893 --> 00:04:04,773 Speaker 3: the legendary ghost who drifts silently between the trees. So 71 00:04:05,453 --> 00:04:06,853 Speaker 3: I was pleased not to see here. 72 00:04:07,133 --> 00:04:08,933 Speaker 2: Okay, yeah, for the sake of a couple of hours, 73 00:04:08,933 --> 00:04:10,893 Speaker 2: just getting outside earlier, and it sounds like it's one 74 00:04:10,933 --> 00:04:13,133 Speaker 2: with Yeah, what would be the best time to go 75 00:04:13,173 --> 00:04:14,213 Speaker 2: to the Giants Causeway? 76 00:04:15,253 --> 00:04:19,573 Speaker 3: Yeah, well, obviously it's another big drawer and the namesake 77 00:04:19,613 --> 00:04:23,173 Speaker 3: of the coast, really, the Giants Causeway. It's a volcanic marvel. 78 00:04:24,053 --> 00:04:26,373 Speaker 3: You want you will want a time it for load tide, 79 00:04:26,413 --> 00:04:31,133 Speaker 3: So check the tide times because it just reveals so 80 00:04:31,293 --> 00:04:33,853 Speaker 3: much more of its glory. At low tide, You've got 81 00:04:33,893 --> 00:04:40,973 Speaker 3: these forty thousand basalt hexagonal blocks and columns reaching out 82 00:04:41,013 --> 00:04:44,773 Speaker 3: into the ocean, and those columns are like these primal 83 00:04:45,013 --> 00:04:49,053 Speaker 3: pistons thrusting out of the earth deeper and deeper into 84 00:04:49,053 --> 00:04:52,333 Speaker 3: the sea, and you can actually take your chances add 85 00:04:52,373 --> 00:04:55,133 Speaker 3: low tide and clamber your way across all of these 86 00:04:55,173 --> 00:04:58,813 Speaker 3: interlocking formations as the waves thunder and but it really 87 00:04:58,893 --> 00:05:02,613 Speaker 3: is an ethereal spectacle. Unfortunately, no matter what time of 88 00:05:02,733 --> 00:05:05,213 Speaker 3: day it is that low tide strikes, there will be 89 00:05:05,253 --> 00:05:07,253 Speaker 3: big crowds, so you've just got to suck it in 90 00:05:07,333 --> 00:05:08,173 Speaker 3: and expect that. 91 00:05:08,653 --> 00:05:12,613 Speaker 2: Yeah, okay, just down the road is that village of 92 00:05:12,653 --> 00:05:14,213 Speaker 2: bush Mills, right, what's special about it? 93 00:05:14,693 --> 00:05:17,813 Speaker 3: Yeah, it's such a good overnight base to break up 94 00:05:17,813 --> 00:05:20,733 Speaker 3: the trip. But the thing about bosh Mills is the distillery, 95 00:05:20,893 --> 00:05:26,533 Speaker 3: Old bosh Mills Distillery. This is the world's oldest licensed distillery, 96 00:05:26,613 --> 00:05:31,013 Speaker 3: so they've been turning out whiskey here since sixteen o eight. 97 00:05:32,253 --> 00:05:36,413 Speaker 3: Jemison's would be the biggest selling Irish whiskey. But like Jemmy's, 98 00:05:36,613 --> 00:05:40,773 Speaker 3: Bush Mills is single mold and triple distilled for smoothness. 99 00:05:41,093 --> 00:05:44,853 Speaker 3: If you like your whiskey with that sort of multi 100 00:05:45,093 --> 00:05:49,013 Speaker 3: richness and a hint of honey and spice, man bosh 101 00:05:49,053 --> 00:05:52,373 Speaker 3: Mills it's the spot that the distillery tours jack. Obviously 102 00:05:52,453 --> 00:05:55,853 Speaker 3: because of their history, they're really good, So definitely do 103 00:05:55,893 --> 00:05:58,213 Speaker 3: a distillery tour along with a few DRAMs. 104 00:05:58,733 --> 00:06:01,053 Speaker 2: Okay, what was your biggest coastal thrill. 105 00:06:03,013 --> 00:06:07,333 Speaker 3: Well, for a literal cliffhanger, you've got to take a 106 00:06:07,373 --> 00:06:11,213 Speaker 3: walk across the Carrica Reed rope Bridge. So this connects 107 00:06:11,213 --> 00:06:15,333 Speaker 3: the mainland with the rocky outcrop of Carrick Island. And 108 00:06:15,413 --> 00:06:18,733 Speaker 3: this rope bridge, Jack, was first established nearly three hundred 109 00:06:18,773 --> 00:06:21,693 Speaker 3: years ago by salmon fishermen. So they'd go out to 110 00:06:21,693 --> 00:06:25,053 Speaker 3: the island, box up their catch and carry it back 111 00:06:25,053 --> 00:06:28,693 Speaker 3: to the mainland on this rope bridge and it sways 112 00:06:29,133 --> 00:06:33,933 Speaker 3: across this wind blasted chasm high above the ocean. You're like, 113 00:06:34,013 --> 00:06:38,333 Speaker 3: you just look down directly beneath you. The ocean was roiling. 114 00:06:39,493 --> 00:06:43,613 Speaker 3: No one has ever lost their lives falling off this bridge, 115 00:06:43,613 --> 00:06:47,493 Speaker 3: which is quite an impressive feet but it is such 116 00:06:47,533 --> 00:06:50,133 Speaker 3: a thrill to walk in their footsteps today. I was 117 00:06:50,213 --> 00:06:53,693 Speaker 3: pleased to learn Jack that the ropes have been strengthened 118 00:06:54,133 --> 00:06:57,293 Speaker 3: and they can withstand the weight of a double decker bus, 119 00:06:57,333 --> 00:07:01,533 Speaker 3: which was very reassuring. After I digested my full Irish breakfast. 120 00:07:01,613 --> 00:07:06,613 Speaker 2: Yeah, yeah, I will hope that we're able to maintain 121 00:07:06,693 --> 00:07:08,573 Speaker 2: that record as well. Because it's funny when you think 122 00:07:08,613 --> 00:07:10,973 Speaker 2: of swing bridge as usually like in New Zealand, you 123 00:07:10,973 --> 00:07:13,333 Speaker 2: think of them as being over rivers as opposed to 124 00:07:13,333 --> 00:07:15,533 Speaker 2: being over the ocean. I suppose there aren't many opportunities 125 00:07:15,573 --> 00:07:18,253 Speaker 2: for it to be over the ocean. So nice and heading. 126 00:07:17,973 --> 00:07:24,653 Speaker 3: In lander, Yes, generally our ones have steel yes, yes, yes. 127 00:07:24,493 --> 00:07:29,053 Speaker 2: Yes, as supposed to just rope. And so if you 128 00:07:29,173 --> 00:07:32,853 Speaker 2: head inland from the coast, the Glens of Antrim series 129 00:07:32,893 --> 00:07:34,493 Speaker 2: of valleys, right, are they impressive? 130 00:07:35,453 --> 00:07:35,613 Speaker 1: Yeah? 131 00:07:35,693 --> 00:07:39,853 Speaker 3: They really are definitely worth time to explore. So turning 132 00:07:39,933 --> 00:07:44,293 Speaker 3: south towards Belfast, just head off the coast into these glens. 133 00:07:44,333 --> 00:07:49,093 Speaker 3: These are nine magnificent valleys, really deep valleys that jutton 134 00:07:49,173 --> 00:07:51,773 Speaker 3: from the coast. So you've got rolling hills and lush 135 00:07:51,813 --> 00:07:57,213 Speaker 3: forests and lots of waterfalls folklore galore. But the hiking 136 00:07:57,253 --> 00:07:59,853 Speaker 3: trails check. They are just so good. Blow out the 137 00:07:59,893 --> 00:08:02,253 Speaker 3: cobwebs and bue collic splendor. 138 00:08:02,413 --> 00:08:04,933 Speaker 2: Oh fantastic. Thank you so much, Mike. We'll make sure 139 00:08:04,973 --> 00:08:07,973 Speaker 2: all of Mike's tips for tripping the Causeway coast are 140 00:08:08,053 --> 00:08:11,253 Speaker 2: up on the news talks he'db website. Have a fantastic Christmas, 141 00:08:11,293 --> 00:08:13,973 Speaker 2: have a wonderful summer, and we really look forward to 142 00:08:14,053 --> 00:08:15,093 Speaker 2: catching again in the new year. 143 00:08:15,173 --> 00:08:18,413 Speaker 3: I thank you so much, Chack, and enjoy all of 144 00:08:18,453 --> 00:08:21,013 Speaker 3: that childhood sparkle on Christmas Day. 145 00:08:21,373 --> 00:08:23,773 Speaker 2: Yeah, I can't wait. Thank you so much. Mike Yardley, 146 00:08:23,893 --> 00:08:26,533 Speaker 2: our travel correspondent, there for the last time this year. 147 00:08:26,573 --> 00:08:27,733 Speaker 2: On Saturday Mornings. 148 00:08:28,093 --> 00:08:31,173 Speaker 1: For more from Saturday Morning with Jack Tame, listen live 149 00:08:31,293 --> 00:08:34,093 Speaker 1: to news talks i'd be from nine am Saturday, or 150 00:08:34,173 --> 00:08:36,093 Speaker 1: follow the podcast on iHeartRadio.