Day 5: Finishing up Northern Ireland & Heading to Scotland

Apr 21

Felt pretty decent this morning and awoke to the beautiful views from Carnside Guest House. Had some more porridge, bread, and tea (still avoiding sausages and most meats) then headed to my last Northern Ireland adventure, Carrick-Rede Rope Bridge (video below). I had to pass on Ess-Na-Larach Waterfall (one of the things I wanted to see the most 😞) and heading to Londonderry because I lost a day being sick and car rental was due back today… and I had a ferry to catch to Scotland in the afternoon!

The Rope Bridge was awesome and surroundings were breathtaking. I almost wanted to fall in the water. I wasn’t informed of the 185 steps to get to said adventure and back but I took it slow and took a lot of rests and breaths. Lots of people were huffin & puffin but I hate to admit they were a lot older than me. I left those parts out of the video! It was worth it though and man have I come a long way from my previous fear of heights!

Future traveler’s tip, DON’T use Hertz Rental Car in Belfast. I won’t go into the stupid details, but they’re charging me for something that wasn’t my fault AND never told me I could have returned the car IN Belfast near the ferry terminal instead of 45 minutes away at the International Aiport and almost made me miss my ferry. BUT thanks to the speediest, safest, and kindest taxi driver, I made it to Stena Line at the ferry dock and he even carried my luggage inside for me.

I enjoyed a grand sail across the Irish Sea to Cairnryan, Scotland with a lovely Bacardi & Berry drink AND a 30 min massage for only £35! Had to wait awhile on a taxi after arriving but a dinner of sea bass, pasta, and proseco at Craigies on Loch Ryan in Stranraer did the trick. On my taxi ride to my B&B tonight, I asked the driver if he needed the address and he says, “I ken where it is. It’s not like I havena been there before.” They really DO talk like Jamie Fraser on Outlander! More fiction becoming reality for me, I ❤️ it! It’s one of the things I wanted most for this trip! Yes, I’m a dork, it’s OK. I already know.

About to hit the hay cuz my taxi to the train station that takes me to Inverness tomorrow comes at 6:30am. Can’t WAIT for the rest of Scotland! Ireland, I love you, but you did me kinda dirty. I’m hoping this trek will be kinder.