THE CACHE IS NOT AT THE PUBLISHED CO ORDINATES
The Causeway Coast Way (part of The Ulster Way) is an exhilarating 33 mile (52 km) walk along the most celebrated stretch of coastline in Northern Ireland. It encompasses the geological wonder of The Giant's Causeway (Ireland's only UNESCO World Heritage Site) and the iconic Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge together with windswept cliff top walks, long sandy beaches pounded by North Atlantic surf and brooding castles built by tribal chieftains of old on rocky headlands haunted by sea birds.
This simple Letterbox Hybrid has been placed on the Ballintoy-Portbradden section and is probably best accessed from Ballintoy as the short stretch of rocky shoreline connecting the eastern end of Whitepark Bay with the western end of the raised beach at Ballintoy is inaccessible except at low tide. You can park in the (free) car park at the little harbour beloved of artists and photographers for generations and made internationally famous in more recent times by the HBO TV series 'Game of Thrones'.
Ballintoy Harbour
Walk westward along the path past the caves and the little cottages and join the public right of way via the stile. This whole raised beach area was once below sea level as evidenced by the caves cut into the limestone cliffs on the landward side and is now damp meadow land studded with sedge and wild flowers and used for grazing sheep. Dogs are permitted, obviously under control. The basalt to seaward further along the shoreline has been carved by waves over the millenia, there is a particularly striking arch and a small conical stack looking very much like a witches hat up which generations of children have scrambled. The area approaching the second stile can get extremely muddy in winter and after heavy rainfall so sensible footwear is advised.
Once over the second stile you may decide to stop and find Nemo in the home where he has lived happily since 2009 https://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GC1QNPT_finding-nemo?guid=18ad6c9f-6371-453b-9acf-7fd56ae9fcaf). Continue onward and over another stile, where you enter low sand dunes and are likely to encounter at least a few of the massive population of rabbits. Skylarks provide a welcome soundtrack overhead in spring and early summer, in the evening you may hear the haunting call of the curlew. Approach the gap in the tumbledown fence (the stile fell down years ago and was never replaced) and you will see the fabled Elephant Rock dominating the shoreline, dwarfing in its lowering basalt majesty a much more elegant limestone arch. You will more than likely have this little beach all to yourself apart from the wheeling seabirds and the occasional passing walker.
From here it's a short walk to the cache. You can use the sheep track along the landward side of what's left of the fence. Walk along it until you can go no further and look to your left. Don't worry, you won't have to go in there. You are looking for a small tablock box in a waterproof camo bag in a natural recess outside. It's easily reachable and contains a log book and pen. There is room inside the cache for small TBs. There is a stamp and an ink pad in the cache. These are not trade items and should not be removed.
**If you are walking from Whitepark Bay at low tide you will see the feature you are looking for under the cliff above you as you round the limestone outcrop immediately after you have wrestled with the makeshift gate.**
Elephant Rock
