Short break in Belfast/ Antrim

Pee

I hope you don't mind me posting on your board as I am not local, but would like some tips and ideas for when I visit the area in April.

I am flying into Belfast City on Wednesday 21st April and flying back on the following Monday.

I really want to see the Giant's Causeway and the Bushmill's Distillery but otherwise would like some suggestions of places to stay, places to eat and drink, places to visit..... I have a bus timetable printed out from the internet which makes me think this will be manageable by public transport, but I would welcome your views on this.

griff2010

Hey if you are wanting to visit those places then Portrush could be a good place to stay. It's a lovely place to Portrush and not to far from both the GC and B-mills D, They have a hotel called the Ramada in Portrush. I dunno what it's like but I do know there is a load of B+B's about Portrush also. If you also get a chance check out the Carrick a-rede rope bridge it's not to far from the GC. Also Ballycastle is a nice place around that part of the world and again it isn't to far.
For places to eat i've only ever tried the Smugglers inn which is just facing the GC and is pretty nice though there could be many more nice places to eat around that vicinty Hope you have a good trip. It really is a lovely place around that part of the world :-)

Snoozle

Are you planning on staying in Belfast and just travelling up to the North Coast for a day, or are you just weighing up the options at this stage?

maguim

Hi Pee. I've sent you a pm. The staff at Tourist Information at the airports are very helpful and I'm sure will point you in the right direction if you're still undecided when you get here.

belfastgirl23

Hey Pee and welcome to NI

What kinds of things do you fancy doing? The 'troubles' black taxi tour that goes up the Shankill and down the Falls is pretty popular as is the bus tour around the city - I have friends who have done both and really liked them.

If you're a walker there is a really nice walk across the Belfast Hills. Or even up Cave Hill (taking in Belfast Castle along the way) is good.

You could also think about spending some time up the Mourne mountains if you like being active. It's very scenic up there.

There are tours up to the Giant's Causeway as well, check the tourist board but again someone I knew did it and it was great apparently.

Do you want recommendations for places to eat and stay etc or do you have that covered? If not give us an idea of budget and we can try to come up with places

You'll have a great time

Pee

Snoozle wrote: »

Are you planning on staying in Belfast and just travelling up to the North Coast for a day, or are you just weighing up the options at this stage?

I'm just looking at the options so far, but thought to spend either two or three nights in Belfast and two or three further north.

Pee

I'd probably like to indulge in a couple of more expensive meals and also some more budget options. I saw a nice thread about the best chinese takeaway!

The rope bridge looks fantastic. I wonder will I be brave enough to cross that!

belfastgirl23

Well I do have a few suggestions for food. the Mourne Seafood Bar is very good obviously for seafood (duh ) The Cloth Ear bar do nice food as well (have only been for lunch though) and very good cocktails if you like such a thing. They also do trad music on a Sunday afternoon if you fancy it - the more upbeat version rather than the dirgey stuff. The Apartment also do good food. These are all city centre and none of them should break the bank.

South Belfast is the other place that tends to have a lot of places to eat. There is a very good cafe just behind the university called Common Grounds that's good for sandwiches etc. But it's mostly volunteer run so expect the service to be very pleasant but a bit slow! For something fancier I do like Deanes at Queens this is our local celeb chef Michael Deane and I think this is the nicest of his places. Don't whatever you do go to Cayenne which is the other celeb chef place (paul Rankin) the last time I ate there the service was abysmal.

Oh and for coffee you have to go to a Clements they also do really really good buns

gotta go work will see if I can come up with a few more

Belfast_Mum_2

I spend quite a bit of time on the North coast so these are my recommendations -

Rope Bridge

White Park Bay - stop if even to take a photo from layby on road or drive into car park and take walk to beach - steep climb on way back up!

Giants Causeway - try the Nook (small stone cottage at entrance) for food - usually have an open fire blazing - really cozy

Causeway Hotel or Smugglers Inn - reasonably priced accommodation

The Bushmills Inn - est 1608, great place to pop in for a drink, turf fires, nooks etc - more expensive for accommodation/food

Bushmills - take walk from steam train station (follow path alongside track) leads along Portballintrae beach to causeway, about 2 miles - you can take steam train back if it's running

Dunluce Castle - great photo opportunity

White Rocks Beach - beautiful beach for a walk

Portrush - absolutely don't miss restaurants at harbour - Ramore excellent - don't take bookings so queue for table - well worth it

Hope you have a good trip

Pretani

I found a great self-catering place recently in Carrickfergus, and its reasonably priced too. http://barnmillscarrickfergus.co.uk/

There's a good restaurant in Carrick, Papa Browns.

You could get the bus from Carrick to the Giant's Causeway, taking the coastal route, that would be a nice drive.

Hope you enjoy yourself!

SuperMum2010

Dont think the rope bridge will be there at this time of year - they take it down for safety and repair over the winter months, dont think it goes up again until after Easter but you could check online. I recommend staying in Bushmills itself, especially the Bushmills Inn

http://www.bushmillsinn.com/

as from here you could walk to the causeway along the tourist train track (its really cute!), through the golf course and sand dunes - its about 45 mins-1 hour walk but beautiful and bracing!

Then recommend The Nook for eating at the causeway, its an old school house just by the car park and really atmospheric and quaint

http://www.discovernorthernireland.com/The-Nook-At-The-Giants-Causeway-Bushmills-P7359

and here for pic: http://www.geograph.ie/photo/222388

You can get a train from Belfast to Coleraine and buses or taxis from Coleraine to Bushmills.

Have fun!