Bushmills to Malin Head

It's a good day when you start drinking whisky in the morning at no less distillery than Bushmills.

We did have to do the tour first learning that it started in 1608 and was eventually Licenced in the 1800s. It was bought by Mexican tequila makers Jose Cuervo in 2015 who have put a lot of money into it and built a brand new distillery building - so you can bet you are about to see a lot more Bushmills!!

No photos were allowed in the distillery due to the risk of fire - it already burned down in the late 1800s and was rebuilt.

However here are the pictures from the bar area at the end and outside. Some of you will have already appreciated my picture with the vat hat!

Next was more cultural to an old stately house owned by the Bishop of Londonderry when his brother set him up with the job. He splashed a bit of cash to build a big stately home Downhill Demesne and a circular library on the seafront called Mussenden Temple. There was a fire lit permanently in the basement to stop the books from going mouldy.

Our stop for the night was Malin Head - the most northerly part of Ireland. The views were quite stunning but bleak. We managed to find a relatively sheltered spot for Gus.