Northern Ireland recommendations

[Adamcrs]

Booked the ferry to Belfast for 10 days in August with the campervan. My son wants to visit the Titanic museum, but any recommendations for sites, places to see across NI would be much appreciated!

[RizzoTheRat]

The North coast road (Atlantic Way I think) is worth a drive, it takes you past the Giants Causeway, Carrick-a-rede rope bridge, Ballentoy (beautiful little harbour town with a fantastic cake shop and was a filming location for Game of Thrones), Malin Head (most northerly point), several castles and at least one distillery. I've ridden it a couple of times on a motorbike and the scenery is lovely.

I'm going to Belfast next month and a friend recommended Crumlin Gaol as well as the Titanic museum.

[POIDH]

The Mourne mountains are lovely - Slieve Donard is an easy to follow path from Newcastle. We stayed at a good campsite at Castlewellan - very family friendly, nice walks around there. A lovely few days walking and exploring, some good beaches too.

The (multitude) of inland loughs are really nice as well. Many years since but I visited Lough Neagh for some dinghy racing and have fond memories of the area, and we had a day out to another lough for a swim that was delightful. We visited a few on our way back from Galway - Belfast a couple of years ago but I would struggle to tell you which were Republic and which Northern Ireland...

The usual Giants Causeway and Derry - well worth it. Again, been a couple of times too many years ago with friends who stay in NI. I have not explored the place enough.

We are back this year to do the Antrim coast, Rathlin (a place we have peered at from Scottish islands and mainland many a time), and then over the border to Donegal, Sligo, Mayo and Galway.

[TrevorHill]

The Giants Causeway. Worth seeing, but not worth going to see. If you are in the area certainly go and have a look but I wouldn’t go out of my way to see it. While I’ve never been to the Titanic museum I have stayed in the hotel beside it and it’s very nice.

If you’re a Game of Thrones fan there are a number of locations throughout the north where it was filmed. The Mourne mountains are well worth a visit as well. If you are a Golfist, Royal County Down is a must. It’s situated where the Mountains of Mourne sweep down to the sea at the aptly named Slieve Donald hotel.
The North West 200 is the biggest sporting event in the north I think it’s in May or June from memory.

Avoid the Twelfth.

[P675]

In May I got the ferry to Dublin, went clockwise around most of the coast, Northern Ireland was in the last 2 days before returning to Dublin for the ferry. Now the weather was cloudy in the North compared to 12 days of blistering sunshine I'd had around the rest of the isle, so that might have swung my opinion. But I personally think NI is pretty mid compared to the rest. Going backwards from my route:

Mourne Mountains: was wet but still warm, views weren't there but roads were ok, could see it being more fun in sunshine. Mountains isn't really the word I'd use, maybe I just couldn't see the tops in the mist.


Coast road from Belfast up to Glenariffe: Nice scenic road right on the sea for the most part


Antrim Glens: nice area but nothing special

Torr Head Drive: wouldn't recommend with a caravan, some nice coast


Causeway Coast: nice roads and plenty of places to stop like castle ruins and viewpoints


Maddybenny Farm Camping: really nice site in quiet area, is also a horse riding place, short drive to Portrush and Portstewart where they do the NW200 race.


Sperrin 'Mountains': Hills would be more apt. A lovely area but not much there and again nothing special.


Inashowen Peninsula: you've got Malin Head and some other sightseeing here just over the border


Knockalla Caravan and Camping: good site with a lovely big beach a short walk away


If you want a nice drive and scenery I'd suggest going a bit further to Glenveagh National Park, some fast open roads and mountainous backdrops.

[Steve Kimberley]

RizzoTheRat said:

The North coast road (Atlantic Way I think) is worth a drive, it takes you past the Giants Causeway, Carrick-a-rede rope bridge, Ballentoy (beautiful little harbour town with a fantastic cake shop and was a filming location for Game of Thrones), Malin Head (most northerly point), several castles and at least one distillery. I've ridden it a couple of times on a motorbike and the scenery is lovely.

I'm going to Belfast next month and a friend recommended Crumlin Gaol as well as the Titanic museum.

Ursa Minor, the cake shop's called. On the main street. We went through last September, but didn't call in.
That whole northern stretch of coast is wonderful.

[TrevorHill]

P675 said:

Mourne Mountains: was wet but still warm, views weren't there but roads were ok, could see it being more fun in sunshine. Mountains isn't really the word I'd use, maybe I just couldn't see the tops in the mist.

The highest point on the island of Ireland outside of county Kerry is Slieve Donard, in the Mournes.

I’m 99% sure that photo above is on the road up to Spelga Dam. A great driving road, especially if you come up the back way from Rostrevor, passed Yellow Water and on over towards Kilkeel.