Touring Ireland: Highlights of Northern Ireland £645pp for 7nts

For just six counties, Northern Ireland is truly blessed with must-see places, from the natural wonders of the Giants Causeway and the Marble Arch caves, to the country houses and gardens of Castleward, Mount Stewart and Florencecourt, from the glorious sandy beaches of the Antrim coast, to the tranquil shores of Lough Erne and Strangford Lough, and not forgetting the bustling and colourful city of Belfast. It is certainly easy to spend a week exploring this corner of the British Isles, and this Irish touring holiday is designed to make that possible.

Day One - to Belfast

Travel to Northern Ireland, with ferry options from southwest Scotland, as well as overnight from Liverpool and a wide range of options by air. Your first base is a friendly guest lodge conveniently placed on the edge of the city centre.

Day Two - things to do in Belfast

Today the perfect introduction to the city and to the recent history of Northern Ireland with a personal "Black Taxi tour" accompanied by an expert, fully qualified local guide. Time afterwards to explore the city of Belfast, with other highlights including the newly refurbished Ulster Museum, the Victorian splendour of the City Hall and the Ulster Folk & Transport Museum.

Day Three - to Fermanagh

Leave the city behind and head west to the lakeland of Upper & Lower Lough Erne. Your next base is a lovingly refurbished historic hotel which has an enviable position, right on the shores of Lower Lough Erne. Time to visit the remarkable Marble Arch caves or Florencecourt House this afternoon.

Day Four - exploring Lough Erne

With 365 islands - one for every day of the year - there is really no shortage of places to visit today. We have included a half day boat hire for you to find your own! Several of the islands have historic connections - the mysterious White Island figures are a personal favourite since childhood and there is the wonderful Round Tower on Devenish Island. Not forgetting the Belleek pottery, for enthusiasts

Day Five  - to the Antrim Coast

Today head north, perhaps stopping at the Ulster-American Fold Park in Omagh, a fascinating tracing of the story of the hundreds of thousands of emigrants from Ireland, with reconstructions of the dwellings and life they left, and the houses they built when they arrived in America. Your destination is the village of Bushmills, famous for its distillery and perfectly placed to explore the Antrim coast.

Centuries of history exude from the old timber beams and rough plaster walls of this landmark inn. At its heart is the gaslit sixteenth century snug, with soot-stained walls and ceilings and a pulley suspended above the fireplace. You could spend hours here over a Guinness or a dram, dreaming up romantic notions of encounters goneby. The snug is encased by a mere two-hundred year old inn, with an even more modern, yet sympathetically designed, outer shell. Guest rooms are spacious and atmospheric, with individual character and attention to detail to keep design in-keeping with the building's charm. This place is a genuine meeting point for travellers and locals alike, buzzing with conviviality and conversation throughout a jigsaw puzzle of interconnecting public rooms and cosy corners. The outdoor courtyard and terrace come into their own in the summer months, while open peat fires provide the perfect ambience in other seasons.

Day Six - Exploring the North Coast

The famous sights of the Northern Coast, including the geological phenomenon of the Giants' Causeway, and the much-photographed clifftop ruins of haunting Dunluce Castle, are just a short drive away. For the more adventurous, test your nerve and head for heights by venturing across the suspended rope bridge at Carrick-a-Rede.

Day Seven - Rathlin Island

For your final adventure we have included a day trip to the peaceful wildlife haven of Rathlin Island, which despite being six miles off shore is still home to a vibrant community of around seventy people. In the harbour is the Boathouse, where visitors can discover some of the exciting history, learn about present day island life and see some artefacts from shipwrecks around the island. A short walk around to Mill Bay there is a colony of seals, who are fun to just sit and watch! At the other side of the harbour are two churches where visitors can sit quietly or just admire the architecture. At the west of the island is the renowned RSPB Seabird Centre, where puffins, guillemots, razorbills and kittiwakes can be viewed during the summer months. It is also home to some magnificent views, on clear days Donegal, the North Antrim coastline, the island of Islay and the Mull of Kintyre can be seen. There are many tales of myth and mystery surrounding Rathlin, the most famous tells of Robert the Bruce.

Day Eight - Return Home

Prices & Dates for this tailor made holiday in Ireland

This self-drive touring holiday can be arranged from mid-March to end October 2012.

The price is £645 per person for holidays in March, £675 per person for April, May & October, £695 per person for June to September.  This is for 7 nights on a bed & breakfast basis, a black taxi tour of Belfast and day return as foot passengers to Rathlin Island. 

Travel to Ireland

We would be delighted to arrange your travel to Northern Ireland for this sel-drive holiday. There are short ferry routes from the Southwest of Scotland, as well as an overnight service from Liverpool to Belfast. With the improvement of the road network in the south of Ireland, Dublin would also be a possible starting point for this tour.

There are also direct flight connections to Belfast from many UK airports including London, Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Leeds, Manchester, Luton, Southampton, Glasgow and Edinburgh. Ask us for a flydrive quotation.

All our self-drive touring holidays include a map of Ireland with recommended routes from your specified starting point, suggestions on places to see and visit depending on your personal interests and our expertise to help you get the most from your holiday.

All Ireland itineraries and room types are presented subject to availability at specific hotels.

The McKinlay Kidd Guarantee

All our holiday prices include a service charge of £8 per person per night towards the costs we incur in researching, planning and designing your holiday.

We guarantee to refund this service charge if you believe that arranging your holiday through McKinlay Kidd has not met your expectations for value. All we ask is that you write to us within 7 days of your return and explain your reason for claiming the refund. This will ensure that we can improve the experience for all our future guests.

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