The Highlights of Northern Ireland

Take a tour of this amazingly preserved Georgian home, one of the most important in Ireland. If you’ve time, walk one of the trails in the gardens and take in the beautiful Fermanagh countryside.

This UNESCO Heritage site is host to magnificent natural and man-made attractions including Tully Castle (a 17th-century ruin), Gortmaconnell Rock, Cuilcagh Mountain Boardwalk, Money Gashel Cashel (remains of a fortified settlement), Drumlane Abbey, Pollnagollum Cave and Whitefather’s Cave, as well as the titular Marble Arch Caves which you can enjoy a guided tour through.

This folk museum is made up of six replica thatched cottages with original artifacts an utensils. Overlooking Glen Bay Beach in South West Donegal, this unique living museum was built and is maintained by locals, allowing a fascinating insight into the hardships of rural Irish life between 18-20th centuries. Don’t forget to explore the craft shops to peruse locally-made knitwear or stop by the tearoom for a bowl of warming soup and an Irish coffee.

Eddie Doherty learnt traditional Irish weaving by hand at the age of 16. Now, 40 years later, after two long stints with large Irish fabric companies, he uses Donegal wool to handweave pure wool blankets and tweed at his home in Ardara.

Get off the beaten track on a magnificent cliff walk to the Giant’s Causeway that will take your breath away. Escape the crowds and enjoy more of this coast than the average tourist ever sees. This walk is six miles long and once you reach the iconic Giant’s Causeway, you will have some time to explore the stunning natural rock formation.

An atmospheric ruin, set against on a steep cliff edge in north County Antrim, Dunlace Castle is imbued with myth and fable. The castle dates back to 1500, when it was made by the MacQuillan family. A local legend says that the castle was abandoned after the kitchen collapsed into the sea, taking the cooks with it. The mystery of the castle has inspired writers and filmmakers alike: from C.S. Lewis’s Narnia to the TV series Game Of Thrones.

Located in the heart of Belfast, on the very slipways where the Titanic was built, Titanic Belfast is spread over nine galleries, with multiple dimensions to the exhibition. Drawing together special effects, dark rides, full-scale reconstructions and innovative interactive features to explore the Titanic story in a fresh and insightful way; from her conception in Belfast in the early 1900s, through her construction and launch, to her infamous maiden voyage and catastrophic demise. The journey goes beyond the aftermath of the sinking, to the discovery of the wreck and continues into the present day with a live undersea exploration centre.

For generations, Cave Hill has been synonymous with Belfast, with its imposing outline visible throughout the city. Named for the five caves located on the side of the cliffs, the area contains a wealth of natural, archaeological and historical features, including Belfast Castle, built in the 1860s and one of the city’s most famous landmarks. The estate contains landscaped gardens and mature mixed woodland and offers superb views of the city from a variety of vantage points.

A must see for all visitors to Dublin. The Book of Kells is Ireland’s national treasure, a 9th-century manuscript documenting the four Gospels of the life of Jesus Christ. The exhibition is on display inside the 18th-century Old Library building and includes access one of the world’s most beautiful libraries, the Long Room, which displays 250,000 of Trinity College’s oldest and rarest books.

Dublin’s musical pub crawl takes participants to two city centre pubs where musicians, also acting as your guides along the route, demonstrate their Irish traditional instruments and tell the story of Irish music. This is a great way to participate in some Irish ‘craic’ (fun), song and a couple of pints.