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exposed in its northwest which are 300 million years old. Elsewhere these are overlain by a varied geology which includes both igneous and sedimentary rocks and the colours and features these rocks give to the landscape are reflected in many local place names such as red Bay, Blackcave and
Whitebay.
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which is 500 metres (1,600 ft) at its highest point. This plateau is incised by rapidly flowing rivers into a series of glens which run eastwards and north-eastwards into the sea. The coastline within the AONB includes the only inhabited offshore island in
Ireland, dramatic headlands and bays,
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The most recent force to shape the landscape were the glaciations, the last of which ended around 17,000 years before the present. The ice has moulded the landscape in the AONB, leaving scars in the rocks and scouring out hollows which have filled with water to create small loughs and bogs.
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farmland and, in the uplands, open expanses of moorland. There is a long history of human activity in the areas and has many important archaeological sites, listed buildings, historic monuments and conservation areas. It has a rich culture with close links to
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145:. Rathlin Island is an important site for breeding seabirds and in the breeding season 250,000 of them come to the island, these include species such as
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There are a number of habitats within the AONB, the largest area is the open landscape of the Antrim
Plateau. This is partially covered with
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for 400 years. It is home to a rich mythology and, especially in the middle part to traditional Irish pursuits such as
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161:. The woodlands and fields provide homes to a variety of species and these include mammals, insects and wild flowers.
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is only 20 kilometres (12 mi) from Torr Head. The AONB covers an area of 70,600 hectares (174,000 acres).
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covered north eastern
Ireland and parts of western Scotland, its kings eventually becoming the kings of the
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285:"Local Development Plan 2030 Technical Supplement 10 Appendix A - Landscape Character Assessment"
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The area's links with
Scotland are reflected in the culture and the ancient kingdom of
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Breakers on Antrim Coast near
Ballycastle, Northern Ireland, with cliffs of
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189:. Today the area has a working landscape of farms and fishing villages.
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Antrim Coast & Glens Area of
Outstanding Natural Beauty
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and is home to ground nesting birds of open country like
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Areas of
Outstanding Natural Beauty in Northern Ireland
290:. Mid & East Antrim Borough Council. September 2019
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The Antrim Coasts and Glens AONB extends to include
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265:. Causeway Coast & Glens Heritage Trust
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16:Area of County Antrim, Northern Ireland
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310:"Dalriada historical kingdom, Ireland"
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105:The oldest rocks in the AONB are the
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485:Protected areas established in 1988
370:Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty
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62:Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty
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490:Protected areas of County Antrim
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214:Coleraine-Portrush railway line
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236:"Antrim Coast and Glens AONB"
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456:Areas marked † are proposed
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312:. Encyclopaedia Britannica
209:Belfast-Derry railway line
204:Belfast-Larne railway line
199:A2 road (Northern Ireland)
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84:, and is dominated by the
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181:has been the seat of the
480:Northern Ireland coast
385:Antrim Coast and Glens
50:Antrim Coast and Glens
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220:Notes and references
141:, seals and the odd
175:Kingdom of Scotland
60:, designated as an
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165:Cultural heritage
27:Antrim coast road
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314:. Retrieved
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240:. Retrieved
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128:hen harrier
120:blanket bog
82:Ballycastle
68:Description
469:Categories
420:Strangford
405:Binevenagh
135:butterwort
124:red grouse
151:kittiwake
147:razorbill
139:cetaceans
64:in 1988.
42:Fair Head
316:25 March
294:25 March
269:25 March
242:25 March
193:See also
171:Dalriada
91:Scotland
415:Sperrin
187:hurling
159:sponges
107:schists
101:Geology
31:Glenarm
424:Lecale
400:Mourne
155:puffin
93:, the
288:(PDF)
143:otter
78:Larne
29:near
422:and
318:2020
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Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
