Backpacking in Spain: Visiting the 2nd century Roman Amphitheatre of Italica

Posted: June 2024 | Tagged: Spain​
Italica was the first Roman city founded in Hispania in 206 BC.

The Roman amphitheatre of Italica was built during the reign of emperor Hadrian (think Hadrians Wall - who was born in Italica), between the 117 and 138 AD and was one of the largest in the Roman Empire with a seating capacity of around 25,000. The Amphitheatre in El Jem in Tunisia, just for comparison, had an estimated seating capacity of 35,000 but a long way off that of the Colosseum.
The Amphitheatre was used to host gladiator fights and animal hunting.

How to get from Seville to Italica by bus:

It's June (and it's fucking hot) so I started early. The site opens at 9 am. I took the 8 am bus from the Estación de Autobuses “Plaza de Armas”:
The fare is 1.65€. I paid cash. Drivers prefer exact change as most people pay with their Seville travel card.

​The ride takes 30 minutes. So you can get a coffee across the road from the restaurant.

Travel Hack: How to do your laundry when travelling

Posted: May 10, 2024 | Tagged: Travel Hacks​
This is how I do my laundry:
One of the things I hate about travelling are the smelly travellers you end up sharing your hostel dorm with.

It might not be the actual traveller smelling bad, but rather the clothes they are wearing and the dirty clothes they have stored in their backpacks, awaiting laundry day.

A flash back to a hostel dorm in Istanbul, 2010. 2 Aussie dudes had just arrived having flown in from South America and were sorting their gear out in the dorm. They had a pile of clothes bigger than my backpack. I thought, dang, I don't even own that many clothes when living at my dads. And they were on travels. And the smell, OMFG.

Another flashback, to Cambodia I think and I fell into conversation with another traveller who was shocked at my travelling set up of just 2 T-shirts and 1 shorts. He was one of these (new at the time), anal flashpackers, backpacking the world on daddy's credit card and because I only has such a minimal supply of clothing, he assumed I was some smelly bastard. So I let rip.

I had been in the tropics for months and my mo for surviving the intense heat was to shower as often as I could and wash my clothes out, each and every night. I would sleep in my sarong and my shorts and T shirt would be dry enough to put back on the next morning.

And there was this twat with all of last week's clothes, all rank, slowly rotting, cos nothing ever dries properly, in his backpack.

In Southeast Asia it was always easy to borrow a bucket from the hostel, hotel or wherever you were staying and find a small 100g portion of soap powder in the local store.

I even bought a bucket in one place and left it at the hotel when I moved on.

And then as the travels went on, scrounging a bucket became a chore so I started using an Ortlieb dry sac, which is obviously designed to keep the water out but hey they make great laundry bags.

So the whole operation is quite simple though it requires having a spare pair of shorts to change into while the other ones are soaking.

Put some soap in the bag, fill with just enough water, shake it up a bit, put your clothes in, roll the top and snap the buckles together and shake it, then leave it somewhere for a few hours. Then just rinse them when taking your night time shower.
The issue is with finding somewhere to hang your wet laundry.

I wring it out the best I can, then wring it out again after 20 minutes and repeat. Carpets soak up the excess water.

Quick dry clothing is a God send.

And hand washing laundry never gets the stuff super clean and yeah I do get a machine wash sometimes or just dump it and buy new stuff but mostly I get attached to my stuff.

Backpacking in the United Kingdom: Charing Cross, the Centre of London

Posted: May 10, 2024 | Tagged:​
​There can't be much to write about Charing Cross that hasn't been written before but what the hell.

I needed to get some admin done at an office very near Charing Cross Underground Station (this story may be blogged about one day soon), so after I had sorted that out, I put my backpack and Nomadic Backpacker cap on and went backpacking.

Charing Cross as seen by Nomadic Backpacker; traveller, and travel blogger:

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How To Get From Mexico City Airport to Downtown

Posted: February 29 2024 | Tagged: Mexico | Property of Nomadic Backpacker
The Aeropuerto Internacional Benito Juarez - AICM in Mexico City, more commonly known as Mexico City Airport, is located on the outskirts of the city, to the Southeast.

Do not get confused with the new Felipe Ángeles International Airport - AIFA 35 kilometres to the Northeast of CDMX, which is taking more and more flights to relieve the pressure on Mexico City Airport.

Mexico City Airport has 2 terminals; Terminal 1 and Terminal 2.

Terminal 1 handles VIVA AEROBUS, VOLARIS, BRITISH AIRWAYS, IBERIA, and KLM amongst others

Terminal 2 handles most of the AEROMEXICO flights, COPA and DELTA.

Of course, you must always check your own flights. Things can and do change without warning.

This post details how to get from Mexico City Airport to the city centre. I have a separate post as equally as detailed, How to get to the Mexico City Airport.
Arriving in a foreign country can be daunting. Even more so when they don't speak your language. So I hope this blog post will help ease your concerns.

How to get from Mexico City Airport Terminal 1 to Downtown

If you are arriving on an international flight at Terminal 1, the International Arrivals Hall is at Puerta 7. Gate 7 , where you will find an array of ATMs known as Cajero Automáticos from banks such as HSBC, BBVA, Banorte and Citibanamex which has the cheapest fees of the ATMs in the airport.

There are many money changers all with varying rates, so walk up and down and find one with the best rates.

You can pay for most things with card in Mexico but for the times when you can't, you're gonna need some cash.

There is free WiFi in the airport so don't panic about not being able to get online.
​
​To get downtown, whether your destination is the Historical Centre or Roma Norte/Condesa, you have a few options available to you.

​If you have lots of bags, or simply in Mexico for the first time, take an Uber or use one of the licensed taxi companies that operate out of the airport.

Using the public transport in Mexico City is not for the faint-hearted and it is best avoided at peak times and if you have more than 1 main bag and a small day pack, what ever your level of experience is.

Yellow Cab operate authorised taxis. As of February the fare to the Centro Historic or Roma Norte was 325 pesos. You can pay with card:
You can get an Uber. As everywhere, prices vary depending on your destination, the time of day or night and if it is raining or not. I have paid just 120 pesos from Roma Norte to Mexico City Airport but 200 is a more realistic figure.

The cheapest option from Mexico City Airport is to take the Metro, though if you are not travel smart, you have too many bags and its rush hour, don't be a hero, take a cab/Uber.

To ride the metro, you need to get yourself a Metro Card, which costs 15 pesos which you can get at the machines in the arrival hall. And then you need to top it up. Each ride on the metro costs just 5 pesos. You can use the same card to ride the MetroBus too.

The machines in the airport take cards or cash and there are instructions in English.

I wrote separate blog posts on how to use both the Metro and MetroBus. They don't operate 24/7.

So once you have some cash, got yourself a MetroCard, head off to the Terminal Aérea Metro Station which is just a short walk, it's literally 10 minutes. You can walk all the way down to Puerta 1, inside the airport, then follow the signs:
Depending on your destination, you will most likely need to switch lines and few times.

Line 1, the pink line, is under renovation and it's total chaos, so best avoid it. As of February 2024, the line goes from Pantitlan only until Isabel la Catolica and then there are replacement buses but these are not for those with lots of bags or the uninitiated.

Just watch your things, watch your pockets, hold on tight and act the Alpha Male - You know what you are doing, you have done it many times before.

You can also get the MetroBus which runs from San Lazaro to Terminal 1, stopping near Puerta 5​, continuing onto Terminal 2 and back to San Lazaro where you can connect with the Metro. The Metrobus fare is 30 pesos.
If you need to transfer from Terminal 1 to Terminal 2 or vice versa, you can take the Tetsa bus for 25 pesos from outside Puerta 7 at Terminal 1. Cash Only.

How to get from Mexico City Airport Terminal 2 to Downtown

Cost of Living in Mexico City for Backpackers 2024

Posted: February 29 2024 | Tagged: Mexico | Property of Nomadic Backpacker
It was reported in the Economist that Mexico City is now the world's 16th most expensive city. This is a topic that is up for discussion. And am sure a thesis could be written about it but is a little beyond the scope for my backpacker oriented travel blog.

But what does being labelled as the world's 16th most expensive city mean for the traveller? Does Mexico still make a great budget destination for the backpacker?

Here I bring you the costs of the basics that a backpacker needs to know when considering a trip to Mexico City.
This is a one-off post. Details have been collected in February 2024 and will not be updated. This is a here-and-now post. February 2024.
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​It is not a post about my opinions. It is a post of pure facts. And at the end of it, you can compare the costs listed here with those in your own country or what you thought it cost and you can make up your own mind if Mexico City is cheap or not.

Prices are quoted in Mexican pesos.

The current exchange rate on the USD is 17.09.

Accommodation in Mexico City:

Your accommodation is your biggest investment as a traveller. And it is not just about picking the cheapest option. You need to pick wisely.

Consider the location. It will cost you more in the long run if you are a long way from the main centre and/or a metro station, or in a less salubrious location and you need to take an Uber everywhere.

Consider the amenities. A kitchen will save you a crap load of money. Do they have free coffee or a water dispenser?

For the purpose of this blog post, I looked on booking to find the best deals for a random, mid-week date in March 2024. I had the results sorted by 'lowest price first'. And these prices listed here are without any genius discounts:
​
  • Whost Centro Historico: 180 pesos + taxes
  • Hom Balderas: 183 pesos + taxes
  • Roomies Hostel Centro Medico: 186 pesos + taxes

All three results are for a bed in a dorm room.

What do you think? 11 USD for a dorm bed, not too bad eh? As to whether they are any good or not, who knows. What's good for me is not good for the next person.

Getting around Mexico City:

Here are the fares for using public transportation in Mexico City in 2024:
​
  • Metro: 5 pesos
  • Metrobus: 6 pesos
  • Trolleybus: 4 pesos (7 pesos from midnight until 5am on selected lines)

The metro and metro buses stop running around midnight, some lines for the Trolleybuses run 24/7 and there are night buses on many routes but I have not covered those in my blog as I only have limited experience with taking them.

In certain areas, walking from the metro station or metro bus stop late at night might not be the best option so Uber or Didi are your available alternatives.

The cost of a ride with Uber depends on how far you you are travelling, at what time of the day or night and if it's raining or not.

10 km across the city can cost just 100 pesos or it could be 250 pesos but it's preferable to using the Pink and Whites, which are not recommended. This is advice from Miss CDMX. She is a bona vide Chilanga. She once had to bail out of a pink and white at 40 kph. The drivers are unlicensed and unaccountable.

Beer:

At the bottom end of the scale, beers bought from a budget grocery store or supermarket such as Bodega Aurrera will be your cheapest option. Here are some examples of the cost of beer in Bodega Aurrera:
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  • Carte Blanca 330ml 6 pkt: 59 pesos
  • Carte Blanca 473ml: 19 pesos
  • Cerveza Corona 330ml 6 pkt: 64 pesos
  • Cerveza Victoria 475ml 6 pkt: 84.50 pesos
  • Dos Equis 473 ml: 21 pesos
This blog post is the property of Nomadic Backpacker. If you see it published elsewhere, please contact me.
Alcohol purchased at the OXXO or 7-11 convenience stores will cost you more. A 473ml can of Victoria can be 29 pesos. So you best avoid them if you are looking to travel on a super low budget.

And if you aren't into drinking at home and prefer a bar, café or restaurant, here are the prices of beers across Mexico City:
  • ​Cerveza Corona/Victoria 350ml: 40 pesos +
  • Dos Equis 300 ml: 45 pesos +
  • Modelo Negra: 45 pesos +

Coffee:

Prices and quality vary big time. Here are the prices of the cheapest coffees in Mexico City:

  • Nescafe bought on the street: 11/16 pesos
  • McDonalds regular/small Americano: 20 pesos
  • OXXO/7-11 regular/small Americano: 22.50 pesos
  • Tim Hortons regular/small Americano: 29 pesos

Starbucks: Can you even buy a regular coffee here? Biggest waste of money ever. Just remember you are paying for the comfy sofas and WiFi and the sickly cakes. The coffee is just a front. Of course, if you need a tall, skinny, oat milk, vanilla latte, Starbucks is the place for you. Coffees are 60 pesos upwards.

Some cafés in Roma Norte charge 40 pesos for a large cup. Some charge 45 for a small cup. Even in neighbouring Doctores, the slightly less salubrious neighbourhood next to Roma Norte, a regular black Americano costs the same.
Some hostels have free tea and coffee. Make sure your choice of hostel has, otherwise get a water heater and make your own coffee.

Entertainment:

Going out needn't cost the earth. There are more than 150 museums in Mexico City. I have been to around 30 that are free every day of the week for foreigners and locals and a few that are just free on Sundays. Take your pick. It depends what you are into but museum entry fees are around 80 to 250 pesos, for example, the Museum of Modern Art costs 90 pesos. At the other end of the scale, The Frida Kahlo Museum cost 250 pesos, 270 on the weekend.

​The Museo del Metro is an small but interesting museum that you can visit for free in Mexico City:
A trip to the top of the Torre Latinoamericana for fabulous views costs 180 pesos:
Other entertainment:
​
  • Lucha Libre (wrestling): From 50 to 475 pesos
  • Cinema (Cinépolis Buenavista) 65 pesos
  • Baseball game: For a Diablos Rojos home game at the Alfredo Harp Helú Stadium, we paid just 150 pesos in 2021 but now all the tickets are sold through Ticket Master and the cheap ones are sold out within minutes, so good luck with that.
  • Football match: For a Club America home game at the Azteca Stadium, 1,342 pesos for the cheapest seats, 1,830 pesos for the more expensive seats.

I saw Top Gun Maverick at the cinema in Buenavista, just 65 pesos for a ticket but there is a big mark up on drinks and snacks:

ATM Withdrawals:

Some countries have ATMs that offer free withdrawals. Mexico is not one of those countries. But at least the fees are not extortionate like in Panama at 6.50 USD per withdrawal or in Guatemala where the ATM fees are now 50 Quetzales (6.40 USD).

I have a post dedicated to ATM withdrawal Fees in Mexico. Inbursa consistently has the lowest withdrawal fees which can change without warning; HSBC, incidentally went from 84 pesos down to 35 pesos last month where as Banorte went up from 46.20 to 58 pesos.

Drinking Water:

Don't drink the tap water, it is not suitable for drinking. We get the 19-litre bottles delivered. The best price in Roma Norte is 30 Pesos. Some charge 50.

19 litres lasts 7 or 8 days for the 2 of us. We use it for making tea and coffee as well. But this is not suitable for those staying only a few days. Hopefully your guest house offers free water.

Recently, 2 1 litres bottles on special at the OXXO store was 23.90 pesos:
A 5-litre bottle can cost 27 pesos + depending on where you shop. Avoid those corner stores.

Eating Out:

The sky is the limit here in Mexico City regarding eating out. We eat at home a lot but I need to share the restaurant options too.

These are cheap, good value options that we use.
​
Pizza take-out from Little Caesars Pizza. The 12-inch cheese pizza costs 89 pesos. It's suitable for 2 people:
The other week I was downtown and on the way back I stopped at the SUBWAY. A 6-inch sub with a drink and chips cost me 152 pesos. That ain't much difference from what it would cost in the UK:
Caldos de Gallina "Luis" on the cnr of Orizaba and San Luis Potosi. This is a local place that's been going for years. This is a 1/2 portion of Enchiladas with mushrooms and is great value at just 60 pesos. Beers, from 45 pesos:
And these are Flautas with cheese. 3 for 80 pesos. Again, super filling:
This (below) is a 1/2 portion of Chilaquiles with salsa verde with an extra egg, eaten at home, purchased from a little stall that is set up on the cnr of Cuauhtémoc and Calle Dr Velasco, opposite Jardin Pushkin.

Chilaquiles are what hard-working Mexicans eat for breakfast. It's very filling, I can only manage a 1/2 portion and super cheap at just 35 pesos but you need to get there before 9 am otherwise they will be sold out. Obviously, it's takeaway only. The bread is included:
There are taco stands on virtually every corner. Meat features highly on the menu. But forget the idea that you can get a meal for 50 cents. Those days are long gone. These are just snacks for 20 pesos or so and you will need 3 or 4 to fill any hole.

And if you go to half decent restaurant, you will be paying about 200 pesos upwards for a meal. Beers will cost you 45 pesos +.

I haven't eaten in a McD or BK for a long time, but just last week I saw that BK has a Cheese Whopper with small fries and small soft drink for 79 pesos.

Food Shopping:

Bodega Aurrera is the best of the discount supermarkets in Mexico City. You can get most of what you need there.

Street markets are your best bet but there are ones that are good value, and some that are not. We regularly use the weekly street market in Doctores. They set up on Sundays from 11 ish until about 5 pm:
Here are costs of some staple foods at the Bodega Aurrera and the street market (prices go up and down depending on the season and availability). Supermarkets have great special offers too.

This list is not meant to be comprehensive. It's just a guide:
​
  • Avocados: 65 pesos a kilo or 15 to 20 pesos for 1
  • Bananas: 21.90 a kilo
  • Tomatoes: 25 pesos a kilo
  • Uht Lactose-Free Milk Alpura 1 lt: 31.50 pesos
  • Tuna fish 140 gr: 22 pesos
  • Fresh Fruit Juice: 25 pesos for a small, 35 for a medium and 45 to 50 pesos for a litre.
  • 200g of Barilla spaghetti: 13.50 pesos
  • white rice 750 gr: 30 pesos
  • Bread roll known as a bolillo: 2.50 pesos
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So what do you think? Is Mexico City backpacker-friendly?

Inflation in Mexico as of December 2023 was 4.66%. Inflation on food and drinks is much more. Imagine 5 pesos on a beer that was costing 40 pesos, now 45 pesos, that's 12.5%.

A 5-peso increase may seem small but that is 30 cents American or 23 pence using Pounds Sterling. Quite the increase, even for us. Consider that for the locals here.

So are you booking your next vacation in Mexico City or will you go to El Salvador instead?

My Favourite Beers in Mexico

Mis Cervezas Favoritas en México​​

Posted: January 20 2023 | Tagged: Mexico | Donate: PayPal

1. Tempus Doble Malta:

2. Modelo Negra:

Part of the Modelo Group

3. Dos Equis:

Best of the Mexican Lagers, Dos Equis is 4.2% Alc. Vol and my favourite of the regular lagers in Mexico.

4. Corona Extra:

Part of the Modelo Group, Corona Extra (the best-selling Mexican beer in the world).

5. Victoria:

Also part of the Modelo Group, Victoria

6. Carta Blanca:

Carta Blanca is part of the Cuauhtémoc Moctezuma Group, a Mexican brewery based in the city of Monterrey and a subsidiary of Heineken International.

Carta Blanca is one of the cheapest beers in Mexico. 6 cans for 56 Pesos at Bodega and it's the beer that you buy when going to a party. Which is a shame because I quite like it.

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Metro Museum CDMX

​​Posted: November 5, 2023 | Tagged: Mexico
metro-museum-cdmx

​Metro Museum CDMX
The Metro Museum is located within the Mixcoac Metro Station, which is the terminus station for line 12 that runs from Mixcoac to Tláhuac and one of the intermediate stations on line 7 that runs from Barranca del Muerto to Rosario.
The Metro Museum or the Museo del Metro has been open since January 28 2017. I am not sure how or why I never knew about this museum until now. But certainly, Facebook does have its uses.

Check out the official site of the Museo del Metro in CDMX.

Opening Hours of the Metro Museum CDMX:

Tuesday to Sunday: 10:00 am until 8:00 pm

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​Posted: November 2 2023 | Tagged: Mexico | Donate: PayPal

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Backpacking in Mexico: Zipolite, the Ultimate Naked Getaway

​Posted: September 2 2023 | Tagged: Mexico
Zipolite, Mexico's only official Playa Nudista. 2023 and this is my 4th visit here. I first came here in December 2020. The pandemic had worn me out. It had been a game of staying ahead of ever changing restrictions. I came here to escape life for a bit.

That year, I stayed for 1 month. It is where I met up and connected mi novia, Miss CDMX. Yeah, and we are still together.

We returned in 2021 and 2022 and now, in 2023, we are back again.

It's the perfect place to come to and escape life for a bit. Zipolite is Mexico's only official nudist beach, la playa Nudista where clothing is optional. So you can forget about life, you can forget about internet because the connection is mostly slow and you can forget your clothes and no one will care.

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Countries and Territories Visited According to Nomadic Backpacker

​Posted: October 2 2023 | Tagged: 
I don't accept the so-called 'UN Countries' list simply because it should be termed UN Member States.

The UK's Foreign and Commonwealth Office list is a little better but nah.

The Travelers' Century Club list is a joke. It counts Alaska as 1, Tasmania as another, which is fair enough but then it counts the 2 Spanish enclaves in Morocco, Ceuta and Melila as 1. 

But many go by these lists. There is even a FIFA list that some football fans like to use as their baseline. 

Nomadic Backpacker has always preferred to blaze his own trail. So I am gonna categorise, list and document every country, territory, significant region, enclaves, autonomous communities, republic, recognised or not and that I have been to. And I am gonna include islands too. And I am not gonna do a numbered list.

It will be a list of where I have been, beyond cities, towns and villages. And will be for visits, however short they were, even if it was just to drink a coffee, beer and eat a meal, not for the minimal requirement of 24 hours.
Republic of Frestonia:


Portugal
France + Corsica
Spain + Ceuta Melilla
Norway
Sweden
Finland
Estonia
Latvia
Lithuania inc Užupis (Bohemian neighbourhood)
Denmark
Germany
Poland
Ukraine
Belarus
Russia
Netherlands
Belgium
Luxembourg
Switzerland
Austria
Romania
Bulgaria
Italy
Croatia
Bosnia
Kosovo
Serbia
Albania
North Macedonia
Montenegro
Hungary
Greece inc Idra, Crete Santorini Samos
Czech Republic
Slovakia
Ireland
The Americas:

Canada: British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario, Quebec
United States: Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, New York
Mexico
Guatemala
El Salvador
Honduras
Costa Rica
Panama
Nicaragua
​Belize
Oceania:

Australia: Western Australia, Northern Territory, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, New South Wales and Australian Capital Territory
New Zealand: North Island, South Island, Great Barrier Island
Asia:
Turkey
Georgia - Abkhazia
Armenia - Nagorno Karabakh
Azerbaijan
​Russia
Kazakhstan
Kyrgyzstan
Tajikistan -  Gorno-Badakhshan
Uzbekistan - Karakalpakstan
India - inc Sikkim
Sri Lanka
Nepal
​
Africa:

Morocco inc Western Sahara
Mauritania
Senegal
The Gambia
Guinea-Bissau
Guinea
Sierra Leone
Liberia
Mali
​Ivory Coast
Egypt
Sudan
Ethiopia
Kenya
Tanzania
Uganda
Rwanda
Burundi
Zambia
Botswana
Namibia
Malawi
Mozambique
Zimbabwe
South Africa
Lesotho
Middle East:

Turkey
Syria
Jordan
Israel
Palestine
Sinai Peninsula
UAE - Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Ras Al Khaimah
Backpacking in Frestonia:
Backpacking in Banda Aceh, Indonesia:
Frestonia  The Republic of Frestonia
Basque Country Basque Autonomous Community
Catalonia Autonomous Region
Navarre autonomous community​
Uzupis Republic of Užupis
corsica
​Sud Tyrol Autonomous province

Ceuta
Melilla
Western Sahara
Sud Tyrol


Gorno Badakhshan
Karakalpakstan
Abkhazia
Adjara

Tatarstan
Sikkim
Ras Al Khaimah
Abu Dhabi
Dubai
Sumatra
Java
Bali
Lombok
Sumbawa
Flores
Komodo Island
Aceh
Sabah
​Sarawak
Jeju
Zanzibar

China:  Xinjiang Hong Kong Taiwan Guangxi

quebec

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Bushmills: Gateway to the Giant's Causeway and home of Irish Whiskey

May 21 2023 | Tagged: United Kingdom
First stop out of Belfast, Bushmills, Gateway to the Giant's Causeway and home to Irish Whisky.
My first time in Northern Ireland and I made a logistical error of taking the ferry from Scotland to Northern Ireland on a Friday, without checking the accommodation options first.

For such a big city, Belfast, there aren't too many hostels and on the weekend, the beds get booked out pretty far in advance

I got lucky on the first night but it just wasn't possible for the Saturday and Sunday nights as it was the Coronation Weekend.

So after a brief 1-night stop in Belfast, I took the train to Coleraine, then Portrush.

With frequent onward buses to Bushmills, I backpacked Portrush for an hour before continuing my journey (I posted the Photos from Portrush on a separate page, so please go take a look). 

Top 5 things to do in Bushmills

Bushmills is a cute little town. The Bushmills YHA Youth Hostel is a great place to stay, there are 2 decent supermarkets, SPAR and Co-op, a few cafés, good transport connections and some top places to visit.

1. The Giant's Causeway 

The Giant's Causeway, Northern Ireland's greatest natural wonder.

Just a few miles east of town, take a bus, ride the tram if it's running or walk.

It's isolated and there is nowhere to shelter so take a rain jacket and decent footwear as the rocks are slippery.

After, you can pop into The Nook for a meal or just a drink.

2. The Old Bushmills Distillery 

This is a great activity within the town itself. Just make sure you book online as you must be part of a tour to visit the Old Bushmills Distillery 

3. The Northernmost point of Northern Ireland 

Benbane Head lies at 55⁰ 15" 6' N, 6⁰ 29" 1' W and is the northernmost point of mainland Northern Ireland.

It is between Dunseverick Castle and The Giant's Causeway. Sadly there are no signs to indicate the position.

4. Dunluce Castle

Dunluce Castle passed me by. It's just a few miles west of town. Easy to get the bus there.

5. Backpack the town itself

The town of Bushmills dates from the Norman times (1150-1520) and was originally known as Portcaman but as water-powered industries developed from the 1600s then so did the village name. At one time there were 7 mills working the River Bush and 5 distilleries.

With the "discovery" of the Giant's Causeway by the outside world in the 1700s, Bushmills became the gateway for visitors who came to marvel at this natural wonder.

By the mid-1800s, much of Bushmills had been redeveloped by the Macnaghten family and boasted 3 hotels, a cattle and produce market, a court house and a thriving distillery.

In 1883, the world's first hydroelectric tramway opened. Pioneered by William Traill of Ballylough and engineered by the  Siemens Company, it ran from Bushmills to Portrush where it linked up with the Portrush-Belfast line. The line was then extended to run to the Giant's Causeway.

In 1899 an overhead electric wire was installed and the Tramway was known as the 'first long electric tramway in the world'. It ran for 65 years before it was closed down in 1949.

The Giant's Causeway and Bushmills Railway Company is a non-profit organisation with charitable status and in 1999 work began to reopen the tramway and carried its first passengers in 2002.

I didn't take the Giant's Causeway & Bushmills Heritage Railway as it operates at Easter and from June onwards (though when I got to the end of the line, it says it was running, but the schedule would have meant waiting around a long time to make it worth it) so I walked alongside it in its entirety and spent a glorious day backpacking The Giant's Causeway, Northern Ireland's most spectacular natural wonder.
When the tramway was extended to the Giant's Causeway, Bushmills was bypassed and with new hotels being built in Portrush and at the Causeway, the town went into decline and was left to depend upon the success of the Old Bushmills Distillery to survive. It wasn't until the late 20th century when Bushmills became a destination in its own right that the town began to recover.

There are over 80 listed buildings in Bushmills:

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​NOMADIC BACKPACKER © 2024.