Northern Ireland's Antrim Coastline is spectacular and contains World Heritage must-see locations like the world-famous Giant's Causeway as well as surprises like The Gobbins cliff path.
And the Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge is another but many from all over the world come to trace the Game of Thrones trail.
And thousands will descend on this part of the world next year (2019) with The Open golf comes to Portrush.
With quality scenery, warm people, good food and fine hospitality, the Antrim coast is well worth a visit.
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The Goblins Cliff Path
The Gobbins Path was masterminded by the Irish railway engineer, Berkley Dean Wise.
It originally opened in 1902 and was later abandoned in the 1960's until an investment of over £7.5m brought about its rebirth in 2015.
It takes around 2.5 hours to do the fully-guided tour and you do need a good level of fitness as there is a one in five gradient climb at the end and the cliff path is tight with 50 flights of stairs to negotiate.
Safety is a premium but the effort is worthwhile. Yes, we saw it on a stunning day as the sun split the sky.
We tasted sea salt on your lips, felt the soft Irish Sea breeze, listened to our excellent guide Mandy to hear tales of local smugglers and saw a host native sea birds.
We didn't see any dophins swimming off the rugged coastline but the walk along a narrow path hugging the dramatic cliff face is an adventure.
Health and safety includes wearing a hard hat and sturdy walking boots which are provided.
No bags are allowed and lockers are provided at the well-appointed and busy café/shop where you start the memorable tour.
The Gobbins is an adventure which starts with interactive exhibition telling the history of The Gobbins Path, its flora and fauna, and the story of how the path was reborn.
There is free car parking at the visitor centre and the staff there are slick and provide hearty meals at reasonable cost. The pear and parsnip soup was stunning and the Irish stew with special bread was superb.
The cake selection attracted several members of our party.
The Giant's Causeway
The Giant's Causeway was once named as the fourth greatest natural wonder in Britain.
I can see why. It is a mind-boggling arrangement of mostly hexagonal columns.
And the tops form stepping stones that lead from the base of a large cliff and disappear under the sea.
That description does not do this UNESCO World Heritage Site justice.
It is a must see and it is on the Antrim Coast of Northern Ireland near the Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge.
The causeway is also a nature reserve and the 40,000 interlocking basalt columns were the result of a volcanic eruption.
Much of the site is managed by the National Trust and legend has it that the columns are the remains of a causeway built by a giant called Finn MacCool.
He was apparently challenged to a fight by Benandonner, a Scottish giant and Finn is said to have built the causeway so the pair could meet.
The rest is mythology. Strangely, they allow visitors to clamber over the columns.
They provide a wonderful place for pictures and the six-year-old, ultra-modern visitor centre is packed with gift ideas. It is about 20 minutes walk from the causeway.
The Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge
The Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge on The Antrim coast in Northern Ireland is only 66ft long, but it was a bridge too far for me. However, tens of thousands from all parts of the globe cross it every year.
It is thought that salmon fishermen first built the bridge over 350 years ago and it is 98ft above the rocks below.
The bridge has two handrails and there are large gaps between the slats. I looked down and that, plus the swinging motion, was enough for me.
It is owned and maintained by the National Trust and is open all the year round, subject to the weather.
Eight people can cross at one time and for those with bottle it is fun. My two female colleagues sailed over and got a certificate to prove they had made the crossing.
They were all smiles while I considered what might have been. I didn't want to be one of the visitors who walked over and could not walk back.
They send a rescue boat for you. How embarrassing. The bridge is in an area of exceptional, cliffside beauty with views of Rathlin Island and even Scotland, on a clear day.
It is also only a few minutes from the Giants Causeway, known world-wide, and the two centre trip is a good day out. Trust me we did it and enjoyed the experience despite not crossing the rope bridge.
Where we stayed
The Ballygally Castle Hotel
The biggest compliment I can possibly pay to The Ballygally Castle Hotel is that I felt at home.
I will also always remember the sun filling the room with the sound of the waves gently lapping the seashore of the magnificent beach opposite. It was so tempting I went for an early-morning stroll and loved it.
The Ballygally Castle is one of the ten featured in the Discover the Doors Trail which was sparked by the Game of Thrones series which brings visitors to the hotel from all over the world.
The hotel is also known for its ghost. Don't let that put you off, we didn't even feel a slight presence. I slept well and there were no bumps in the night that I heard.
The 54-bed hotel's tag line is: "Not far away, but a world apart."
Well it took me 2hr 40min to drive from Edinburgh to Cairnryan to pick up the P&O Ferry.
A relaxing two-hour crossing was followed by a 15 minute drive along the stunning Antrim Coast and we were there.
Norman McBride, the general manager, has a host of packages to suit, including a Game of Thrones tour and also a themed afternoon tea, a coastal escape with dinner, bed and breakfast, and "blissful" breaks.
The hotel is on the tip of the Causeway Coastal Route and is a 17th-century castle which overlooks golden sands in Ballygally Bay, with an interrupted view across the Irish Sea.
It is also ideally located for a number of tourist attractions like Bushmills Distillery, Carrickfergus Castle, Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge and the world-famous Giant's Causeway.
Other leisure activities nearby include golf and Royal Portrush, home for the 2019 Open, is around an hour away. Incidentally, the hotel was fully-booked within a week of the Open golf confirmation.
There are also walks in the Carnfunnock Country Park and the hotel has manicured gardens far from the madding crowd if you want to sit in the shade with a book.
Rooms are tastefully decorated. Some have original beamed ceilings and mine was sizeable with the added attraction of the sea view.
The Garden Restaurant – with beams - is relaxing and it boasts an extensive menu which is reasonably priced.
Local produce is sourced if possible and the dinner menu had something to suit most tastes.
Salt and chilli scampi was served with Napa slaw and the sharp chilli taste blended beautifully with the fish.
I had to try the seasonal soup of the day despite the soaring temperatures and it was like your granny made. That's a compliment.
It was served with a Hastings (the hotel is part of a chain) wheaten scone and, for me, it didn't work. A home-made roll would have sufficed.
My colleagues tucked into crispy Irish pork belly with buttered Savoy cabbage, baby potatoes crushed with black garlic and a tarragon cream sauce and pan-fired sea bream, the braised chicory, tender broccoli and lemon butter which merging well.
I could not resist staying traditional and my slow-braised short rib of Northern Irish beef fell away in my fork.
It was served with spring onion mash (so good I'm going to make this standard at home), squash and baby carrots in a red wine jus.
I didn't feel that the champagne caramelised shallots, however, lived up to expectation and the bitter taste, for me, detracted from the red wine jus.
On to the sweet. Sticky toffee pudding was a dream as was the Bramley apple and salted caramel sponge. I had mine with luscious sorbet (raspberry).
Is it any doubt I slept well?
Breakfast boasts many of the best from Northern Ireland's seasonal larder.
Grant's dry cured bacon was just how I like it and the Carnbrooke honey bee (with a hint of Mourne Heather Honey) sausages made from 100 per cent Irish pork were also packed with flavour.
Free range scrambled egg was offered along with award-winning Gracehill black and white pudding, both cooked to a T, the white being particularly impressive.
Kippers or cod and Eggs Benedict are also available but at an added cost of £3 and there are vegetarian options.
Ballygally pride themselves in their field to fork delivery and also popular are White's Irish porridge oats from County Armagh. What I found unusual was the offer of Bushmills Irish Whiskey as a potential topping.
Too much for me, but the booklet describing the products and where they are from is a fantastic touch and it includes a section on Irwin's wholegrain Guinness bread.
Yes, I felt at home here and congratulations to Norman and his staff. A sign as we left the village said: "Histe ye back." I'd love to.
How to get there
Over 39 million passengers and 8.8m cars travel one of the Discover Ferries ships each year.
They are a collection of 12 ferry operators who have come together to promote ferry travel in UK and Ireland.
Members operate over 80 routes across the UK and Scotland to Ireland is one of the most popular routes.
They also have ferries to the Continent, the Isle of Wight and the Isles of Scilly and around the islands of Scotland.
Emma Batchelor of Discover Ferries said that people who take a ferry for the first time often become converts.
"We have a real diversity of membership and there is something for everyone.
"We say that travelling by ferry is really part of your holiday and your holiday starts as soon as you get on board.
"What is great about ferries is that you can take your pets on board and there is often a dedicated children's area.
"Generally, you can walk about and eat and you can relax in a comfortable lounge. It is about enjoying the experience, not enduring it."
Two companies operate from the Scottish port of Cairnryan. As you drive down Loch Ryan from Glasgow you first see Stena. The P&O terminal is a short distance further on the Stranraer road.
The best advice is to check your ticket.
Let's look at Dover-based P&O first. They operate ferries from the UK to Ireland and Continental Europe.
Car parking at Cairnryan is free and their welcoming staff are always on hand to assist.
Embarkation was smooth and the ship we sailed on was comfortable and well-appointed with sizeable dining and rest areas.
The first class area is small but the service is slick and you can enjoy complimentary drinks and nibbles as well as snacks like fruit and tasty toasted bacon sandwiches.
They were ideal after an early morning and a 2hr 40min drive from Edinburgh to the ferry terminal.
We returned with Stena who claim to operate the biggest ferries between Scotland and Northern Ireland. You pay for car parking at Cairnryan.
The Stena Superfast VIII from Belfast to Cairnryan crosses in only 2hr 15min with a choice of up to six daily crossings.
The German-built, ten-deck ship, which was 667ft long and weighs over 30,000 tonnes, has a capacity of 1,200 passengers and 661 cars.
The Stena ship is like a cruise vessel. First class is luxurious with complimentary wine and soft drinks and nibbles. Try the lemon drizzle cake, it's delicious.
A full main meal list is available with the burger the most popular.
Recliner seats are a bonus if you have endured a long drive and TV screens are conveniently placed around the secure area. There is no sound.
You can upgrade to first at the port, online and when you book and the Superfast VIII has a number of suites for extra exclusivity (a built-in en-suite), a sauna, where you can also have a 15-minute massage, and a jaccuzzi.
A Barista-branded coffee shop is near a spacious lounge area where children can play games.
There is also a children's playroom with designated attendant and you can indulge in retail therapy at a well-stocked shop.
The Stena is a "cruise-style ferry" and you can book a luxury cabin with an en-suite including shower plus with a bed and a TV.
The best way to book at holiday is to go on line and get some info from Discover Ferries at www.discoverferries.com.
Their tag line is: "The adventure starts here." Ours did.