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Welcome to our UK travel forum where you can get advice on everything from holidays to exotic destinations, to tips on London travel.

Original poster

Has anyone been to Northern Ireland - I’m looking for inspiration

29 replies

OublietteBravo · 25/06/2018 19:34

I’m considering a trip to NI towards the end of August for the four of us, i.e. me, DH, DD (14) and DS (12). We’ll go on 23/24 August and move on to Ireland (Cork - visiting family) on 27 August.

Where should we go?

OP posts:
somewhereovertherain · 25/06/2018 19:37

W5 and titantic in Belfast

The usually giants causeway, creek-a-rode bridge, bush mills distillery

Ulster folk museum, cab tour of Belfast. Loads to do and quite cheap.

Amalfimamma · 25/06/2018 19:41

Spade of thrones tour which includes the dark hedges, Derry, bushmills distillery and the train along the coast to the giants causeway.. Lough erne is nice as are the marble arch caves.

Beaghmore stone circles and lough neagh for some water sports. Check to see if the llamas fair is on in bally castle while here

Amalfimamma · 25/06/2018 19:42

Also the ulster folk park in omagh. Gortin Glens are nice too

Chocolatedeficitdisorder · 25/06/2018 19:42

Me, Dh and Ds21 are leaving on Saturday morning for our first ever trip to NI. We're staying on the coast near Portstewart.

We're planning to go the Giant's Causeway, Bushmills Distillery and many people have recommended the Titanic exhibition.

We also plant to drive into Eire one day too.

I can't wait!

CherryBlossom23 · 25/06/2018 19:46

@chocolatedeficitdisorder Don't start calling it Eire when you cross over the border! Grin

FiveGoMadInDorset · 25/06/2018 19:49

Titanic, don't forget the dry dock, Games of thrones tour, Ballintoy, Giants Causeway, Rope Bridge, Belfast walking tour is on our list of things to do as well as Crumlin jail. Portrush

RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 25/06/2018 19:57

Titanic exhibition is excellent.
Giant's Causeway v impressive - the Bushmills brewery didn't do a great deal for me.
Belfast open top bus tour was v good (not something I'd usually do, but our guide was excellent).
Ulster museum and Botanical gardens both worth a visit (the museum is in the gardens). If any of you like Game of Thrones the museum currently has an excellent (huge) tapestry based on it.

jollyjester · 25/06/2018 19:58

The belfast hop on hop off bus tour is great and gives an idea of main sightseeing things around Belfast.

Are you hiring a car? The scenic drive up to the Giants causeway is lovely.

Recommend what other posters have suggested but as you would be pushed for time W5 is more suited to primary school aged children.

For musuems check out www.nmni.com.

The ulster folk and transport museum is on the outskirts of belfast and can take a whole day to do.

The ulster American folk park is outside Omagh and is a living history museum about emigration during the famine etc.

Crumlin Road Gaol is very good as well.

Where are you staying?

I live near Armagh so have done lots of the touristy things, if you have any questions pm me.

RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 25/06/2018 19:58

With the Titanic entry you get entry to a 'sister' boat outside - we really enjoyed that too.

Original poster
OublietteBravo · 25/06/2018 20:23

We’re going by ferry and taking our own car. (I’m going to be in the Wirral for work just before the trip, so figured we might as well take the Belfast ferry for a change).

I’ve not sorted out any accommodation yet - I plan to have a nose on airbandb and see what I can find.

None of us watch GoT, and neither DH nor I like Whiskey. So I might give the GoT your and the Bushmills distillery a miss.

I’d really like to see the Giants Causeway, and it sounds like we should spend at least a day in Belfast.

OP posts:
dramalamma · 25/06/2018 20:32

@jollyjester I was sure I was the only mumsnetter living near armagh! 😁

Just as everyone else has said - loads to do and some amazing food. Tonnes of really good local festivals over the summer too. Love NI.

Amalfimamma · 25/06/2018 21:14

OublietteBravo the got tour is not only for got fans. I send quite a lot of Italians on that tour either by themselves or in the car (better) to see some real beauty spots. Have a look at the dark hedges which, even if I've seen them on Google and you'll see what I mean.

waves to the Armagh girls. Tyrone expat here

PurpleShepNeedsToGoToBed · 25/06/2018 21:21

@dramalamma and @jollyjester

I'm not far from Armagh! Part of the AC,B&C district anyway

We love the Ulster museum. You can touch the iron core of an old planet...

tomhazard · 25/06/2018 21:49

Yes I had a lovely trip there once. Stayed in a cottage at Lough Eske in Donegal. We then drove along the wild Atlantic way stopping at Glenveigh National Park. It was beautiful but a bit chilly for August. Very memorable though and would definitely go again

dramalamma · 25/06/2018 21:55

All the Armagh girls are coming out of the woodwork now! Cant understand why our local board is such a desert!?!

Amalfimamma · 26/06/2018 00:01

@Chocolatedeficitdisorder

Sorry for tagging but just points. Don't call it Eire once you cross the border and if you're planning on going to Dublin look into the bus or train, just as handy but much less expensive once you take into account parking in Dublin, toll roads and petrol. Ulterbus have a bus an hour iirc from Belfast

Chocolatedeficitdisorder · 26/06/2018 17:42

Sorry for tagging but just points. Don't call it Eire once you cross the border

Just Ireland then? It doesn't feel right calling it 'Southern Ireland' since it isn't South of where we're staying, more like West.

FromageAffray · 26/06/2018 17:52

I would recommend that you stay on the north coast (Portstewart and Portrush are very popular, and Castlerock, Bushmills and Ballycastle are also options). As a native of Portstewart, I would definitely recommend it for the beautiful beach and the ice-cream! Lots of Air B n B options there. The Carrick-a-rede rope bridge, Giants Causeway and Bushmills Distillery are all a short drive away. The beauty of NI is that everywhere is accessible by car in about 2 hours max - it would be a 1-1.5 hour drive to Belfast, and I would recommend Titanic Belfast and Crumlin Road Gaol. It is worth taking the longer but very scenic coast road to Belfast. Ulster Folk and Transport Museum outside Belfast is also worth a visit. Lots of good restaurants on the coast and in Belfast too these days. Hopefully you’ll love it!

Amalfimamma · 26/06/2018 18:46

Chocolatedeficitdisorder

Ireland is fine. I call it the free state but that's because that's what my family call it. Others call it the south, the republic or just plain old Ireland

CherryBlossom23 · 26/06/2018 18:52

Don't call it the south, it's very annoying. Just Ireland is perfectly fine - it's the name of the country!

Chocolatedeficitdisorder · 26/06/2018 22:33

Ireland it is! Thanks for saving me Smile

Original poster
OublietteBravo · 26/06/2018 23:01

Thanks for all the advice - I’ve got DH searching for suitable accommodation near the north coast.

We’re arriving in Belfast on the overnight ferry from Liverpool at some ungodly hour on Friday morning, so I plan to spend at least that day in Belfast main lining coffee

OP posts:
KenDoddsDadsDog · 26/06/2018 23:08

Tayto Castle in Tandragee !
The finest crisps money can buy Grin.

kktpj · 26/06/2018 23:12

Portrush is beautiful in this weather

lastnightidreamtofpotatoes · 28/06/2018 19:18

You really will get the great weather OP! My SIL is in NI and when the weather is good it is stunning. If travelling on a short visit with teens I would do the gaol over the other museums. Unless you have a keen interest in the Titanic it is a very expensive day out the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum isn't great for teens IME. The best thing will be the scenery on the Causeway Coastal route.