Cushendall, County Antrim

A fine conical mound rose up before us as we approached Cushendall, and a few minutes brought us in sight of this most picturesque little village. We entered the small inn, and found the hostess—a remarkably handsome young woman—reading the Bible. Religion and neatness are inseparable, as every traveller knows; and after a look into the cheerful kitchen and tidy little parlour, we regretted that night had not overtaken us at Cushendall. While our next Jehu was getting ready his car, however, we sat down by the kitchen fire, and lunched upon most exemplary bread and butter,—our modest and neatly-dressed landlady attending upon us with a kindness and ease that would have graced the Castle of Glenarm. If we were ever in want of romantic scenery and a pleasant retreat from the world, Cushendall would be among the first spots that would occur to our memory. Our horse and car from this inn were the best we saw on our tour to the north, and, with a fine lad for a driver, we whirled away towards the wild mountain-road that lies between Cushendall and Ballycastle.

We left the coast for some time, and on reaching it again, came in sight of the magnificent headland of FAIR HEAD, one of the noblest points of this remarkable coast. "The promontory of Fair Head rises perpendicularly to the height of six hundred and thirty-one feet above the level of the sea. On approaching its summit, the tourist will perceive two small lakes, Lough Dhu and Lough-na-Cranagh, and near to its highest point a curious cave, said to have been a Pict's house." The view from this headland is of a most enchanting description:—to the west, the whole line of finely variegated limestone and basaltic coast, as far as Bangore Head; the beautiful promontory of Kenbaan or Whitehead, majestically presenting its snow-white front to the foaming ocean; the swinging-bridge and bay of Carrick-a-Rede; beyond this, Sheep Island; directly in front, the island of Raghery; and to the east, the Scottish coast, &c., as already described.