Homeward bound and the sun has come out! Nice calm sea.

Passing the Isle of Man.

We’ll be back on English soil about 7.30pm. Lovely holiday but we were unlucky with the weather.

Today was windy and rainy again. We had decided to visit Dunluce Castle but the wind was so strong on the Atlantic Coast that it would have been dangerous.

If you zoom in you can see the castle clinging to the rocks.

The waves were crashing on the beaches.

So we did what every family does when on holiday at the seaside in the rain – we went to the amusement arcade!

Start ’em young!

We drove back along the coast road.

We hope the sea is calmer tomorrow when we get the ferry back to England.

Very wet today so we went on a road trip, following the Causeway Coastal Route west to Londonderry.

We braved the rain to see some of the murals in Bogside.

Then we drove through the Sperrin Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, stopping for lunch at the Glenpark Estate.

We continued to Enniskillen, then circled back via Lough Neagh – the largest freshwater lake in the United Kingdom.

We are hoping for drier weather tomorrow but the forecast doesn’t look good.

This morning we visited the Giant’s Causeway.

We were lucky to avoid the rain, but it was very …..

very ……..

windy!

Some of the basalt columns are very tall. They are not all hexagonal.

In this photo a camel laying down can be seen. Legend has it that the camel belonged to the giant Finn McCool.

After our visit we took our grandson to a local soft play area so that his mum and dad could go to the causeway.

Photographer of the day goes to Amy. They got wet but experienced this beautiful double rainbow.

Today we went back to Belfast to visit the Titanic museum.

It is an amazing building, representing the shape of the ship.

The museum is fascinating, featuring photos, videos, interviews etc even an indoor cable car ride giving the feeling of being involved in building the ship.

Where is Leonardo di Caprio when you need him?

We went on the Nomadic, a tender for the Titanic.

After lunch we went to the Ulster Museum.

It was very interesting, and free, with lots of things for children to interact with.

We took the coastal road back, through wild countryside, with views of the sea.

Today started bright and sunny but very windy. We returned to Portballintrae beach. Had a great time collecting shells.

The sea was a bit choppy.

Sam and Jax looked for shells.

Freedom!

The weather turned and we returned to the Manor House for an afternoon of fun!

The clouds were building up.

Amy and Jax walking through from the courtyard.

Mmmmmm…… snacks

This is taller than me!

Taking Ewan the sheep for a tractor ride in a break from the showers.

Tomorrow we are heading for the Titanic Quarter in Belfast.

Unfortunately it rained for most of the day today so we spent some time enjoying our lovely house and then took a drive along the Causeway Coastal Road to Portrush.

We started at Ballintoy.

We saw the Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge. The braver souls amongst us may attempt it later in the week.

Portballintrae has a good beach to visit on a better day.

Returning to our temporary home we drove down our tree lined drive, to Knockanboy House.

Today we set off on the ferry from Birkenhead to Belfast.

It was an 8 hour crossing which we all coped with very well – I was not sick!

Leaving the dock at Birkenhead

Boarding the ferry!

Jax in the play area on the ship.

Arrived at our Manor House in the dark. Pictures of the house to follow.