When visiting Northern Eire for the primary time, I anticipated picturesque inexperienced fields dotted with sheep and bordered by hedges. I used to be not ready for a surprising shoreline of dramatic cliffs, sandy seashores, rocky shores, and crystal clear water. In case you are visiting Northern Eire, I extremely encourage you to plan a highway journey alongside the Causeway Coastal Route from Belfast to Derry, with a view to see this lovely shoreline.
The most important mistake you can also make when driving from Belfast to Giants Causeway is to hurry and never give your self time to cease at each scenic overlook or stroll on any seaside you want.
I’d suggest spending no less than 4 nights in whole. Begin with two nights in Belfast. Belfast has its personal airport, however not as many worldwide flights as Dublin. You might discover it best to fly into Dublin and drive the 90 minutes as much as Belfast.
Additionally give your self an evening in Bushmills or Ballintoy alongside the Coastal Causeway, and end with an evening in Derry. You may then return to Dublin (about 3.5 hours) or proceed on into the Republic of Eire and later fly out of Shannon.
The place to Cease on a Northern Eire Street Journey
Notice: my journey was hosted by Northern Eire Tourism, Tourism Eire, and Steller. All opinions are my very own. This submit could comprise affiliate hyperlinks, should you click on a hyperlink and make a purchase order I could obtain a small fee.
This highway journey ought to take three to 4 days and might simply be mixed with an extended highway journey on the Wild Atlantic Method or only a few days in Dublin.
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Cease 1: Belfast
Years in the past nobody needed to go to Belfast, the Northern Eire capital metropolis torn aside by violence in the course of the many years of “The Troubles.” However for the reason that Good Friday Peace Accords in 1999, town has rebounded and as we speak is a well-liked vacationer vacation spot. Certain, Sport of Thrones and Titanic Studios could have performed a hand in that in latest years, however Belfast has a youthful vibe and from my opinion, is a metropolis on the rise.
It does assist to have an understanding of the Troubles earlier than visiting, past simply that there was a battle between Catholics and Protestants or those who needed to stay within the U.Okay. and those who needed to affix with the Republic of Eire.
I simply completed a ebook referred to as Say Nothing: A True Story of Homicide and Reminiscence in Northern Eire, which helped actually body the battle and provides voice to a few of the fundamental figures of the time, which you will notice referenced in Belfast.
The place to Keep in Belfast
We stayed on the high-rise Grand Central Lodge in Belfast and I liked the placement in Central Belfast. It was simply walkable to eating places and lots of the extra widespread districts with pubs and leisure. In the event you keep, undoubtedly ensure that to have a drink on the Observatory Lounge for lovely views of town.
In case you are searching for a luxurious, five-star lodge, pals have raved about The Fitzwilliam Hotel in Belfast. In any other case, I visited the Titanic Lodge and it’s a historic, boutique lodge that’s fully charming.
The place to Eat & Drink in Belfast
What to do in Belfast
You want no less than two days to discover the varied quarters of Belfast. Just a few Belfast highlights embody:
- Titanic Belfast – give your self no less than two hours to discover the Titanic Belfast, extra if you wish to go to a few of the different boats within the quarter. The Titanic Museum tells the story of Titanic from the shipyard to its tragic sinking. There are interactive reveals, however it’s nonetheless quite a lot of info coming at you to soak up. If visiting with household, I’d suggest following the Household Journey exercise map out there at visitor companies.
- Black Cab Mural Tour – a Belfast taxi mural tour will take you into the Protestant and Catholic neighborhoods to see lots of the murals in every, which depict tributes to fallen people on either side of the battle. Additionally, you will go to the Peace Wall and have an opportunity to depart your personal mark on the mural painted there. Nothing drove the historical past dwelling for me greater than seeing the large “Peace” wall that divides neighborhoods and the spikes nonetheless in place on the prime.
- Sport of Thrones Studio Tour – if you’re a Sport of Thrones fan, you will need to take a look at the Sport of Thrones Studio Tour, that includes costumes and props from the present. It’s positioned half-hour outdoors of Belfast, so you have to transportation.
Cease 2: Darkish Hedges
The Darkish Hedges isn’t alongside the Causeway Coastal Route, however it’s definitely worth the detour. This picturesque avenue of Beech bushes was planted by the Stuart household within the 18th century. It’s a widespread website for Instagrammers and photographers, particularly because it was featured on Sport of Thrones because the Kings Street.
In the event you can, attempt to get there early to beat the crowds, or go to simply earlier than sundown. Ballinlea Street is busy and parking alongside the highway, and particularly not on the highway with the bushes, is forbidden. Sadly in recent times a number of bushes have fallen after individuals parking beneath them broken their roots. You may park close by at The Hedges Lodge, however be ready to pay a price.
You might want to attend for teams of vacationers to go so as to get a transparent photograph. Plan to spend no less than an hour right here as a result of, if you’re like me, you’ll want to stroll the size of the highway and take footage from each angle. These bushes appear magical.
Cease 3: Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge
The rope bridge at Carrick-a-Rede was first put up greater than 350 years in the past by fishermen. However don’t fear, this website is now a part of the Nationwide Belief and a brand new, sturdy bridge was put in not that way back. I’ve heard of this website for years, however all the time thought it was only a rope bridge. I had no concept {that a} beautiful coastal stroll was an enormous a part of the attraction, or that the views can be much more thrilling than the rope bridge.
There’s a massive automobile park and you’ll pay to park to stroll alongside the coastal route even should you aren’t courageous sufficient to go over the bridge. Nevertheless, to cross the bridge you have to to buy a ticket. Timed tickets MUST be pre-booked on-line previous to your go to. In the event you take the kilometer stroll solely to reach with no ticket and be turned away, you can be very disillusioned.
The stroll alongside the coast takes about 15-20 minutes at a brisk tempo, with a number of hills that may sluggish you down on the return journey. When you arrive on the bridge, you have to to attend your flip for one-way site visitors to cross the bridge (and pose for his or her selfies), earlier than attending to the island that the bridge connects to the mainland.
Give your self time on the island to discover and take within the views. There may be additionally a fisherman’s cottage, which is open to the general public on choose weekends. Espresso, tea and light-weight refreshments, in addition to public bogs, can be found on the heart close to the car parking zone.
Cease 4: Ballintoy Harbour
Simply down the highway from Carrick-a-Rede you’ll come throughout Ballintoy Harbour. This raised seaside and fishing harbour may be accessed on the finish of a small slender steep highway down Knocksaughey Hill.
The village has some retailers and eating places and makes a cute cease alongside the coastal route. The Harbour was additionally used as a Sport of Thrones filming location, as the outside of Pkye and the Iron Islands. Additionally it is the place Theon first encounters his sister Yara.
Cease 5: Giants Causeway
Giants Causeway is the crown jewel of the Causeway Coastal Route, welcoming over a million guests per yr. Like Carrick-a-Rede, there’s loads of room to discover and get away from the crowds, particularly should you take a stroll alongside the cliffs above the causeway.
Giants Causeway is made up of 40,000 interlocking basalt columns, brought on by an historical volcanic fissure eruption. Now a UNESCO Heritage website, these columns kind stepping stones alongside the coast. There are additionally different rock formations that will catch your eye (though some take a bit creativeness), just like the Large’s Boot, the Camel, the Wishing Chair, and the Organ.
You may entry the Giants Causeway free of charge, however to enter to the Customer’s Middle upon your return (and use the services), you have to to buy a ticket. The Customer Expertise ticket consists of parking, entry to the middle, and a guided tour. In the event you go early within the day or later within the day, when it’s much less crowded, tickets are cheaper. You can too get monetary savings by pre-booking tickets on-line. The stroll downhill to the Grand Causeway is simple, however on the way in which again uphill, you could favor to pay to trip the shuttle bus.
Cease 6: Bushmills Inn
The stunning Bushmills Inn in Nation Antrim makes an ideal pitstop in your manner from Belfast to Derry. I’d suggest an in a single day keep, or no less than go to their restaurant for a scrumptious meal.
When you are there, you’ll be able to plan a go to to the close by Bushmills Distillery for a tour and whiskey tasting.
Cease 7: Dunluce Fort
Not removed from Bushmills, you’ll come throughout the ruins of Dunluce Fort (additionally used as Pyke Fort in Sport of Thrones), which was constructed on the Antrim coast within the sixteenth century. In 1639, the earth beneath the kitchen crumbled into the ocean, taking a part of the constructing and workers with it.
Dunluce Fort nonetheless belongs to the MacDonnell household, however it’s managed by the Northern Irish Surroundings Company. Today you’ll be able to go to every day between 9:30 am and 4:30 pm. My advice can be to go to within the morning, when the solar isn’t immediately overhead, as it is possible for you to to get higher footage of the ruins.
Simply take into account that parking close by is extraordinarily restricted. Your finest guess stands out as the Magheracross Automotive Park after which stroll about 10 minutes.
Cease 8: Derry / Londonderry
The ultimate cease in your Northern Eire coastal highway journey will probably be Derry, also referred to as Londonderry. Derry additionally has a historical past of protests which have turned violent and strikes me as a metropolis making an attempt onerous to maneuver on, however isn’t fairly there but.
It is smart to cease right here and probe for a day, however count on town to be a bit grittier and dirtier than what you’ll find in Belfast. In fact followers of the present Derry Women will discover it acquainted (and need to hunt down the Derry Women mural.)
The place to Keep in Derry
I’d suggest staying at Bishop’s Gate Lodge, simply throughout the walled metropolis. This boutique lodge presents a full service restaurant and attention-grabbing Edwardian structure. My tip can be to request a room with a balcony, as they’re bigger and provide the higher view.
The place to Eat in Derry
- Walled Metropolis Brewery — voted the perfect gastropub in Eire, with many types of home-brewed beer.
- Pyke n’ Pommes — spectacular meals truck with a wide range of burgers, tacos, and seafood. Plus you’ll be able to eat in a double-decker bus!
What to do in Derry
- Stroll the partitions of the previous metropolis — Derry is the one remaining fully walled metropolis in Eire. Constructed between 1613-1618, the partitions are 1.5 km in circumference and kind a walkway across the inside metropolis. You’ll find 24 restored cannons perched on the partitions.
- Stroll throughout the Peace Bridge
- Go climbing, biking, mountain climbing, paddle boarding or take a Growth Board skateboard tour with Far & Wild
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Tamara Gruber is the Founder and Writer of We3Travel. A former advertising and marketing govt and journey advisor, Tamara is an award-winning journey author and acknowledged knowledgeable in household journey. Tamara is a member of SATW and the Journey Journey Commerce Affiliation, and serves on the Board of the Household Journey Affiliation. She can be the writer of YourTimetoFly.com and the co-host of the Trip Experts journey podcast.