4 nights in Northern Ireland. Where and what?

jammin_2

Hi guys,

I live in Waterford. I have a visitor coming over from Singapore in a couple of weeks. She's flying in to Dublin on the Saturday and leaves for Britain the Wednesday. So we have four nights. Having taken her round the Republic before, we plan on this visit to go to the North and see Giant's Causeway and whatever else there might be, practicality permitting.

Now, from Waterford I've driven to Newry, Lisburn, Kilkeel, Belfast and Larne - but that's about it.

Could anyone give me a few pointers please, or even suggest an itinerary?

As I say, we will stay 4 nights (can be 4 nights at different B & Bs).

Many thanks in advance for any suggestions.

2gorgeousgirls

Kilkeel is near Newcaste, so Mountains of Mourne come to mind.

Lisburn - fantastic for shopping. If you have kids with you, it has a waterpark (google Lisburn Leisure Centre) which my kids love. Apart from shopping and waterpark I don't know Lisburn very well. Sure there are other things of interest in the area.

If you're in Belfast before end August then there is a Titanic exhibition on at the Transport Museum (closes Mondays). Also across the road is the folk park with houses, schools, police station, shops etc showing how we used to live (google Folk and Transport Museum). The buildings are mainly originals which were removed from their original sites and rebuilt at the museum.

Belfast itself is a thriving shopping area. There are bus tours round the city which may also take in Harland and Wolff where the Titanic was built.

Larne has a terrific park called Carnfunnock. Great walks with gorgeous views over the sea. If you have children with you there is also a fantastic play park, with crazy golf and a little train.

Don't know Newry direction really so can't help there.

Hope you enjoy your visit.

jammin_2

Many thanks for that. I must say I think we'd want to avoid Belfast though, not that I don't think it's great because I do, it's just that we've been there before and want to see something different.

I was thinking the Northern coast - definitely Giant's Causeway - but is there anything else up there, worthy of a visit?

Perhaps (over the course of 4 days) up by the Northern coast then West to Londonderry and down South-East from there to Dublin. Would this be an ideal itinerary and would there be much to see by doing this?

2gorgeousgirls

It's quite a lot of driving over 4 days. If it was me I would need a week to recover!

What route are you planning to take? Are you coming through Newry/Belfast motorway? If so when you come through Belfast cut off the M2 at Larne and take the Antrim Coast Road rather than motorway, you'll not regret it. The scenery is the best in the world! You can still do Carnfunnock if you wish - fantastic for a picnic.

North Coast is fantastic, beautiful beaches and scenery (hope you get the weather though, absolutely freezing if you get the wind off the sea!).

Bushmills village is near the Giants Causeway. Home of Bushmills whisky and you can do a tour of the distillery, used to cost £5, but may have changed.

Don't like Portrush myself, a lot of it has fallen into disrepair but it does have Barry's amusements and a couple of nice shops and restaurants.

Portstewart has a lovely coastal walk.

Dunluce Castle is worth a visit (between Portrush and Port Ballintrae).

Coleraine is good for shopping (have to get shopping in somewhere!).

On towards Derry/Londonderry (being politically correct!) is Mussenden Temple.

Derry/Londerry, again great for shopping. Also you can walk Derry's Walls. Plenty of museums in the area as well.

Have a look at these websites www.northcoastni.com/
and www.carnfunnock.com/

Will post again if I think of anything more.

jammin_2

Thank you again! Off googling now..

GlynD

Morelli's Ice Cream parlour in Portstewart
Dunluce Castle
The Royal Golf Links Portrush (cheaper rates from the council club at the town end of the links)
Bushmills Whiskey Distillery
Benone Strand

sarahfitz

If you are heading to the North coast, may I recommend Port Rush & Port Stewart, they are supposed to be amazing beaches (weather permitting obviously) and near to the Giants Causeway.
You can also visit the Bushmills Irish WhiskeyDistillery, which is the oldest licensed distillery in the world.....https://www.bushmills.com. Which is also near Port Rush/Stewart & The Giants.

You also have Lough Neagh, which you could visit on your way up towards the North Coast (or on your way down) http://www.discoverloughneagh.com/

Hope this gives you some more ideas. I would recommend going onto Northern Irelands Tourist Board Website, http://www.discovernorthernireland.com/ it can help you plan your trip, help with B&B's and you can also look at things to do in certain Countys.

Enjoy N.I!!

GlynD

I've stayed here. http://www.bushtownhotel.com/index.php Very quiet location and convenient to everything on the north coast. Also not too far from Derry City which is a fabulous day out, especially if you like, complete, walled, medieval cities.

tara747

2gorgeousgirls wrote: »

It's quite a lot of driving over 4 days. If it was me I would need a week to recover!

This always makes me LOL. :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:Norn Iron is absolutely tiny!!! The distances involved are so short that you could drive the whole way around the 'edges' in a single day.

Good suggestions everyone btw. I would add Fermanagh to the list; the N2 from Dublin to Monaghan is excellent so it would be easy enough to get there. It is the most beautiful county in NI in my opinion; especially if the weather is good. If you search online, you can find some amazing thatched cottages to stay in, they are a real home from home.

From there, you could go to Derry (the walled city is gorgeous, and the old fashioned pubs are nice), then on around the coast, maybe spend a night or two around Whitepark Bay (a fantastic beach) and near the Causeway. Ballylinny Cottages are brilliant, very reasonable prices and within walking distance of the Causeway. The tour of the Old Bushmills Distillery is worth doing too.

Then perhaps you could go down the Ards Peninsula (some fab villages there, and Mount Stewart is lovely) or to the Mournes. Have a lovely time xo

tara747

GlynD wrote: »

I've stayed here. http://www.bushtownhotel.com/index.php Very quiet location and convenient to everything on the north coast. Also not too far from Derry City which is a fabulous day out, especially if you like, complete, walled, medieval cities.

I've stayed here too. It's lovely, and the food is fantastic (and huge portions to boot!!). Just don't eat all day before you arrive and wear elasticated trousers! :rotfl: Ask for the almond potatoes, they are delicious.

2gorgeousgirls

tara747 wrote: »

This always makes me LOL. :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:Norn Iron is absolutely tiny!!! The distances involved are so short that you could drive the whole way around the 'edges' in a single day.


True, but OP is also driving from Waterford and will be running around sightseeing all day in between all that driving. And don't forget all that shopping!

However, I will be the first to admit I have no stamina;)

ETA: OP if you are down the peninsula, there is a ferry across from Portaferry to Strangford then you could head back to Newry from there. Exploris sea life centre is also in Portaferry if you're interested in local sea life.