Places To See In Picture Perfect Northern Ireland
Whilst I write usually on more exotic places on the planet to visit, this week it is my home country of N. Ireland that takes the spotlight. The picture above is from the beautiful coastline of Bangor West, leading from Stricklands Glen, where I am lucky enough to take my dog walking every day. Northern Ireland has plenty of stunning scenery to see just like this, and I hope to guide you in some way to seeing picture Perfect Northern Ireland, as I do, so let’s go.
Ever seen a country that looks like out of a perfect dream, with picture perfect rivers, landscapes and mythical perfection?
Northern Ireland is that place, an area of ancient rocks and great stories. Many times Northern Ireland is not termed as a country but a region, province or a part of United Kingdom. The country shares part of the land with the south and west borders with the Republic of Ireland. The country was created May 3rd 1921 after portioning by the Government of Ireland Act 1920. Tourism in N. Ireland is growing steadily year on year because of its awe-inspiring natural beauty and beautiful sights.
The Game of Thrones Tours
The popularity of the TV show game of Thrones has led to an increase in the popularity of the place and you can experience it too. Get a tour of the ‘Westeros’ area where lay beautiful castles, landscapes and true natural beauty. You can take a tour and visit the Dark Hedges, Old Castle Ward and many more famous locations where actual filming took place. The Tours do involve some walking to get to the filming locations, so be sure to check with the tour operators for full info. Game of thrones tours
Tollymore Forest
The Tollymore Forest park also has significant importance since the show aired and also due its own sublime beauty. It is the forest where the first scenes of the Starks were shot as their family residence. Visiting in normal weather, you will find beautiful landscapes and photographic moments throughout the day. It is an ideal place for a fine day’s picnic. The entrance fee is £5.00 per car.
The Titanic Centre Belfast
This incredible star-shaped building is a striking landmark in Belfast and represents the White Star Line’s maritime history and honors the story of the Titanic.
Titanic Museum BelfastThere are nine interactive exhibitions available to enjoy as you delve into the Titanic history to discover what it took to create this ship. The are guided and non-guided tours so you can easily decide what suits you best. For an additional fee, you can also visit the SS Nomadic and experience first-hand what it was like to be a passenger boarding Titanic on her fateful maiden voyage. There is of course, a restaurant, café, and gift shop too. This is a world-class tourist attraction and one that should not be missed if your thinking of coming to Belfast.
Hours: Daily June-August (& April) 9am-7pm, May & September 9am-6pm, October-March 10am-5pm
Admission: Adults £15.50, children (5-16) £7.25, child (under 5) free, family (2 adults, 2 children) £39.00, senior (over 60) Monday-Friday £11.00, senior (over 60) Saturday & Sunday £13.00, student £10.00
Belfast City Hall
The City Hall in Belfast is an extremely popular site to visit. It was built in 1906 in a classical art and Renaissance art inspired idea with astonishing architecture. The entrance hall itself is an epitome of grace with beautiful stained glass and exquisite marble. The industrial revolution of Europe is paid tribute via this site with bronze figures on the sides of the statue of Queen Victoria which is taken as a symbol of shipbuilding.
The Causeway Coast
The Causeway Coast has some of the most breathtaking visuals that a person can experience. Popular from the show Game of Thrones, the site has picked up great tourism since. Considered to be highly mythical, the place is filled with beautiful rocks, landscapes and side gardens. The scenes if Iron Islands, harbours and Dragonstone were filmed in this area.
The entrance fee into the Giants Causeway is £8.50 for adults and £4.25 for children. However, you do NOT NEED TO PAY THIS. They do not tell you this, but that fee is for entrance to the visitors centre plus 45 min tour, which by all accounts has been described as a rip-off! Fair warning. Read more
The Causeway coastal area is a great base to explore many of the film sets used in the Game of Thrones series and the rope Bridge at Carrick a rede is a must stop.
Not far from the Causeway coast is the town of Bushmills where the famous Bushmills whiskey is brewed. You can do a tour of the brewery and sample the good stuff, not recommended if your driving though.
Prices for adult admission is £7.50 and £6.50 for seniors and children £4.00 aged 8 – 17. tours are hour and half hour between 09.30 and 13.00h only Monday – Saturday, no tours on Sunday.
Benone Beach
The last place of great interest to mention in this post today has to be the beach known as Downhill strand, or Benone beach. I love this beach and learned to drive here as a kid. It is a blue flag beach stretching for seven miles of beach and sand dunes between Castlerock and the Magilligan peninsula, and its perfectly safe for children.
Yes, we do have great beaches in Northern Ireland (weather permitting) and Benone beach is stunning, this is the place were Melisandre birthed the shadow assassin. She also burned the old gods on Dragonstone, This a beautiful area that is overlooked by the 18th century ruins of Mussenden Temple.
I hope this short post helps you in someway see Northern Ireland as a great place to come to visit and I will be creating many more articles about my home country in 2017. We intend soon to go live on Facebook at some of the Game of Thrones film sets, so keep tuned for that.
