County Antrim is one of the most visited counties in Ireland, thanks in large part to the magnificent Glens of Antrim, its spectacular coastal vistas and the world famous Giant’s Causeway, Northern Ireland’s only UNESCO World Heritage Site. Antrim lies in the north-east of Northern Ireland, bordered to the south by County Down, and to the west by County Londonderry.

Lying just 13 miles from the Scottish coast, County Antrim’s spectacular coastline runs north from Larne, through the majestic wooded valleys of the Glens of Antrim to the open sea. The Glens, as they are colloquially known, are comprised of nine individual glens. The glens were widely inhabited in the Neolithic, and the evidence for settlements is scattered throughout the area.

On the edge of the glens, on the north-east coast is the world famous Giant’s Causeway, Northern Ireland’s premier tourist attraction. The causeway is made from 40,000 basalt columns. The popular image of the causeway is that all the columns are hexagonal, and while generally true, there are a few with with four, five, seven and eight sides. Given the apparently artificial nature of the columns, it is no surprise that they have long been the stuff of myth and legend.

According to folklore, the causeway was built by an Irish giant, Fionn mac Cumhaill to fight his Scottish counterpart, Benandonner. However, after seeing Benandonner's great size, Fionn fled and asked his wife to disguise him as a baby. Upon seeing the massive bulk of the 'infant', Benadonner assumed the father must be a giant of incredible size, and fled home in terror, tearing up the causeway behind him to prevent pursuit.

Inland from the coast much of the county is hilly, although there are no great towering mountains in County Antrim. It is also a county of loughs and rivers, with the Bann and Lagan rivers and Belfast Lough and Lough Neagh offering fantastic opportunities for angling and watersports. Indeed, County Antrim is a favourite destination for outdoor enthusiasts of all kinds, from hikers to cyclists.

County Antrim is also home to Belfast, the principal city of Northern Ireland. Despite its turbulent history throughout the Troubles, particularly the sectarian strife which afflicted the city, since the cease fire Belfast has been transformed into one of Europe’s most vibrant and dynamic cities. It now boasts all the facilities of a booming cosmopolitan city, from trendy bars and cafes, to major sporting and live music arenas. Belfast is also a city of great beauty, with a host of magnificent Georgian buildings, spectacular views along the Laganside Walk and the quiet tranquillity of the Botanic Gardens, particularly popular with Belfast residents on hot summer days.

From its sweeping coastline to the stunning Glens of Antrim, Giant’s Causeway and the refined beauty of Belfast, it is little surprise that County Antrim ranks among the elite of Northern Irish tourist destinations.