Great Irish Roads - a series by Bob Montgomery Drive No 6: Glenariff to 'Queen of the Glens'
There are nine Glens of Antrim of which Glenariff, where we begin our journey, has bestowed on it the additional title 'Queen of the Glens'.
Described by the writer William Thackeray as "Switzerland in miniature", Glenariff is a spectacular glen, a classic U-shaped valley created by a glacier and with many tumbling waterfalls dropping down to feed the river of the same name that flows along its valley bottom.
By way of contrast to our usual transport we travelled by means of a true grand tourer, Audi's 4.2-litre A8 quattro, and incidentally, a turbo diesel, an indication of just how far diesel engines have progressed in recent years.
Begin this journey by taking the A43 out of Ballymena and head for McGregor's Corner (marked by a Peugeot dealership) and on through the hamlet of Martinstown. To the east of the road rises the gentle slopes of Carncormick (436m) while to the north rise Slievenanee (540m) and Trostan (551m). Having passed through the village of Cargan, the landscape takes on a bleaker, more mountainous grassy aspect, with streams cutting deep into the earth.
Meeting a junction with the B14, stay with the A43, ignoring the signs for the 'Scenic Drive'. Hidden in the trees just to the left of this junction is the ruined Parkmore railway station, which was opened in 1876 and was one of the highest railway stations in Ireland.
Originally, the narrow gauge Ballymena, Cushendall and Red Bay Railway transported iron ore through here before becoming a tourist route after the ore was exhausted in 1889.
The glen now shows its most attractive face and a short excursion can be made to Glenariff forest park from where some of the best views of the area can be seen.
Back on the A43 again, one begins to descend and a spectacular view to the sea opens up with the village of Waterfoot at the head of Red Bay.
Soon, the A43 meets the A2 along the coast and turns for the pretty village of Cushendall, passing through 'The Red Arch' along the way. In the main street of the village watch for the left turn as the A2 continues through Glencorp - the Glen of the Slaughtered, so named for reasons I was unable to discover - towards Cushendun via the Glendun Viaduct.
Turning west from Glencorp the road crosses the Dun river on a magnificent high viaduct known locally as 'The Big Bridge'.
Designed by Charles Lanyon, the architect of Queen's University, the bridge was built between 1834 and 1839 with all the stone for its construction being drawn from the Layde quarry near Cushendun by horse and cart.
It really is a most impressive structure, and a short diversion will take you to its base from where it can be better appreciated.
Having crossed the viaduct, the road twists and turns its way gently before dropping once more as it comes closer to the attractive village of Cushendun.
Many of the buildings here are owned by the National Trust and with an unusual Cornish-style architecture, Cushendun was the work of Clough Williams Ellis - who also designed the village of Portmeirion in Wales - between 1912 and 1925 for Lord Cushendun.
We ended our journey at the water's edge in Cushendun beside an unusual and poignant memorial, a sculpture of a goat 'Johann', commemorating the last animal to be culled in the Foot and Mouth outbreak of spring 2001.
The Glens of Antrim, of which we have journeyed over but a few, are superb motoring roads well worth exploring and discovering for yourself. Journey over them and you will not be disappointed.