2 Bayhead Rd, Portballintrae, Antrim, Bushmills BT57 8RZ
Overlooking the tranquil North Antrim bay in which snuggles the harbour village of Portballintrae, the Bayview Hotel has surprisingly a story to tell of noise and action of guns and war. In May 1918 a German submarine was engaged in conflict with the British Merchant steamer, the Wheatear, off Dunluce castle. Several of the German shells during the protracted encounter fell in or near Portballintrae and one overshot the roof of the Bayview and lodged in the hillside immediately behind, tearing quite a gash in the ground. The full details of what happened afterwards make for an exciting, action-packed adventure but to find out how it all ended you need to visit the Bayview and read the whole story, told in a framed synopsis in the Reception area. You’ll also see a fragment of the actual shell which fortunately missed both the steamer and the hotel.
While you are there, you’re advised to try the Porthole Bar or the Snug Lounge, two very convival settings for a drink before or after you visit the superb indoor heated swimming pool or the games room with its full-size snooker table. You might even want to take along your model ship and submarine to the pool and re-enact the piece of First World War action that happened just above your head.