ITINERARY HIGHLIGHTS
This tour of Northern Ireland will show you breathtaking scenery, while you learn of the history and its culture. You’ll visit stately home – Florence Court, Ulster American Folk Park, Walls of Derry, Bushmills Distillery, Giant’s Causeway – World Heritage Site, Carrickfergus Castle, Folk & Transport Museum, City Hall, Titanic Belfast, the world’s largest titanic visitor experience.
DAY 1 WELCOME TO NORTHERN IRELAND
Morning arrival Belfast International Airport and after clearing customs, the group will be met by our guide in the Arrivals Terminal. Board our awaiting motorcoach and transfer to Enniskillen via the scenic shores of Lough Erne to stately Florence Court for a guided tour. The tall three storied Georgian mansion, containing fine plasterwork and 18th-century Irish furniture also offers extensive gardens and breathtaking views down to the Fermanagh lakelands. Explore the walled garden and woodlands surrounding the house. If time on hand we will take a trip into the Buttermarket in the town of Enniskillen.
Dinner in hotel.
Overnight Enniskillen
DAY 2 ENNISKILLEN – OMAGH –DERRY/ LONDONDERRY
Full breakfast.
Depart Enniskillen for Omagh, on the outskirts of the town visit the Ulster American Folk Park. The museum comprises an indoor and outdoor site. ‘Emigrants’ is a major indoor exhibition focusing on the reasons for emigration, the Irish famine of 1845, Ulster emigrants and their impact in the wider world. The outdoor museum of emigration tells the story of the flow of emigrants who left these shores in the 18th & 19th centuries. In the early afternoon, travel north to Londonderry. On arrival, take a walking tour of the City of Derry which will include the Guildhall – chief interest is probably the superb stained glass windows, illustrating almost every episode of note in the City’s history.
Dinner in hotel.
Overnight: Derry/Londonderry
DAY 3 DERRY/LONDONDERRY – NORTH ANTRIM COAST – BALLYCASTLE
Full breakfast.
Today tour along the magnificent Antrim coastline stopping to view Dunluce Castle, the main fort of the Irish MacDonnells, Chiefs of Antrim. Next we visit the ‘Old Bushmills Distillery’ which is truly a legend among distilleries. It is the world’s oldest licensed whiskey distillery having received a licence in 1608. This afternoon we will have the opportunity to visit the new Giant’s Causeway Visitor Experience. Within the new visitor facility, five designated interpretive zones reveal interesting facts and stories about what makes this site so unique. It is the only World Heritage Site in Northern Ireland and is renowned for its 40,000 basalt columns. Resulting from a volcanic eruption 60 million years ago, this is the focal point of a designated area of outstanding natural beauty and has attracted visitors for centuries. It harbours a wealth of history and legend. On the way to Ballycastle, stopping to view Carrick-a- Rede Rope Bridge.
Dinner in hotel.
Overnight: Ballycastle
DAY 4 BALLYCASTLE – GLENS OF ANTRIM – BELFAST
Full breakfast.
This morning experience one of Ireland’s popular scenic routes travelling along the east coast road and admire the spectacular views of the ‘Nine Glens of Antrim’. Stop in the town of Carrickfergus to visit the heavily fortified Carrickfergus Castle which was founded in 1180 by some of the earliest Norman invaders. We continue our journey to Holywood, stopping at Cultra to visit the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum. View Ireland’s most comprehensive transport collection including the Irish Railway Collection.
Dinner in hotel.
Overnight: Belfast
DAY 5 IN BELFAST
Full breakfast.
This morning sightseeing tour of Belfast, during which we will see some of the more notable sights, Stormont, Queen’s University, Shankill, Crumlin Road, Albert Memorial Clock Tower, Crown Liquor Saloon, Grand Opera House and visit to City Hall.
This afternoon visit the all new Titanic Belfast, the world’s largest Titanic visitor experience. We get to experience every emotion from her conception in the early 1900’s, through her construction and launch, to her infamous maiden voyage and catastrophic demise. Fly through the shipyard, travel to the depths of the ocean and uncover the true legend of the Titanic, in the city where it all began.
Dinner in hotel.
Overnight Belfast
Day 6 BELFAST – BELFAST INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
Full breakfast.
Transfer from hotel to Belfast International Airport in good time for our return flight home.