Nothern Ireland Weekend Trips
Despite the decades of unrest, Northern Ireland’s countryside is beautiful and peaceful with its sandy beaches, parks, forests, islands, easy walking trails, and tons of entertainment. Belfast is Northern Ireland’s major bustling city. The six counties of the North include Antrim, Armagh, Down, Londonderry and Tyrone all in close proximity to the largest inland lake in the British Isles, Lough Neagh. County Fermanagh, in the southwest has plenty of its own lakes.
Starting out in Belfast City, take one of the cities famous Black Cab Tours to become acquainted with Belfast’s history & culture. Take the time to stroll through elfast Castle and Cave Hill County Park. McArt’s Fort, on the summit of Cave Hill, is an ancient earth=work, all that remains of a defence built against the Vikings, and in 1795 used by Wolfe Tone and fellow United Irishmen to plan the 1798 rebellion. Other unforgettable attractions to behold include The Titanic and Cathedral Quarter, the Shankhill Road & the Falls Road. Retreat a bit north of the city is the Antrim Coast, known for its infamous ‘The Giant's Causeway’ Northern Ireland’s only UNESCO World Heritage Site including 38,000 polygonal basalt columns formed 60 million years ago by the cooling of molten lava produced b the volcanic hiccough that produced the Antrim plateau. For those who care to extend their weekend, venture to Derry and Donegal. The former is the place to soak up some turbulent history and the latter is the spot for relaxing, reflecting and enjoying nature at its best with a varied landscape of valleys, sandy beaches and cliffs while indulging in traditional Gaelic Music, Dance and Folklore.
