A Northern Ireland driving route has been named the fifth most scenic in the United Kingdom. The Causeway Coastal route was ranked in a study by Scottish retailer The House of Bruar, which used Instagram hashtag counts to assess popularity.

The 130-mile route hugs the coastline from Belfast to Derry/Londonderry. It gathered 82,800 hashtags on the social media platform, according to the analysis of RAC data.

Key attractions along the drive include the Giant's Causeway, Dunluce Castle, Portstewart Strand, and the Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge. The study described the route as combining wild scenery with historical sites and natural wonders.

The Jurassic Coast Drive in Dorset and Devon topped the list. Scotland's North Coast 500 came second, with the Pembrokeshire Coast 200 in Wales taking third. Somerset's Cheddar Gorge was fourth.

The House of Bruar said road trips have become more popular due to the flexibility they offer, as well as cost, pet-friendly travel, and an absence of luggage restrictions.