Slideshow: Ballintoy is a perfect location

Now made world famous by the global television sensation that is ‘Game of Thrones’, for most of my lifetime Ballintoy was a secluded seaside gem.

And, while this beautiful little part of North Antrim does manage to maintain its air of quaintness it is also now very firmly on the TV tourist trail!

The harbour itself was used the location for the Iron Islands, homeland of the treacherous Theon Greyjoy and his piratical clan and thanks to that exposure, you can now expect sveral dozen tourist parties to arrive for their obligatory snap shots every day.

But a trip to Ballintoy is not just about parking up and enjoying an ice cream from the little cafe with its home made delights, make sure you get out of the car and follow the route through the amazing seastacks until you come across the gigantic ‘Elephant Rock’, which is the virtual border between Ballintoy and White Park Bay.

The ground can be a little boggy in places but the walk is of a grade suitable to most levels of fitness.

In the other direction, you can take the cliffside path from the famous little white Church of Ireland to the great quarry at Larrybane, another location for many ‘Game of Thrones’ scenes.

And remember, Ballintoy is an all-year-round pleasure with some of the most stu nning views coming when the spectacular shoreline is mauled by huge Atlantic waves!