Giant's Causeway — basalt columns at golden hour on the Antrim coast
An independent guide to Northern Ireland

Wild edges,
warm welcomes.

Six counties. Eighty-five miles of glens and basalt cliffs, lake-stitched farmland, painter's-light cities. Nowhere is more than ninety minutes away — so you don't have to rush.

Chapter 01 · The regions

Six places to start,
none to rush through.

Most of Northern Ireland is within ninety minutes of anywhere else. We've grouped the country into six honest regions — pick one to anchor your trip, and treat the rest as day trips.

01

Causeway Coast

Antrim · 35 miles of basalt

The road from Ballycastle to Portstewart is one of the most extraordinary drives in Europe — basalt steps into the Atlantic, ruined castles on every headland, and the world's oldest licensed whiskey distillery just inland.

SEASON · APR — OCT STOPS · 12 4H SLOW SEA-CLIFF BLUE
Causeway Coast
causeway coast · golden hour
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02

Mourne Mountains

Down · twelve summits

Granite domes rolling down to the Irish Sea — the high Mournes are quieter than they should be. Most people stop at Newcastle and never look up. The mountains that inspired Narnia.

SEASON · MAY — SEP STOPS · 9 2H + WALKS GRANITE GREEN
Mourne Mountains
mournes · slieve donard
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03

Belfast & Cathedral Quarter

A small city, big shoulders

Painted murals, Victorian arcades, the world's best Bushmills bar in a bonded warehouse. The Titanic was built here. Stay two nights minimum, three if it rains — and it usually rains.

YEAR-ROUND STOPS · 14 WALKABLE BRICK & RUST
Belfast murals
belfast · cathedral qtr
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04

Fermanagh Lakelands

Fermanagh · 154 islands

Lough Erne is the slow secret of Ireland. Take a boat, find an island monastery, eat trout that was swimming an hour ago. Belleek pottery and round towers older than the Vikings.

SEASON · APR — OCT STOPS · 7 BY WATER REED & WATER
Fermanagh Lakelands
lough erne · fermanagh
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05

Sperrin Hills

Tyrone & Derry · the empty quarter

Northern Ireland's least-visited region, and our favourite. Heather, peat, dark-sky observatories, sheep, and silence you can hear. Best in late August when the heather turns.

SEASON · AUG — OCT STOPS · 6 3H + STOPS HEATHER & PEAT
Sperrin Hills
sperrins · heather season
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06

Glens of Antrim

Nine valleys, one road

Glenariff is the "Queen of the Glens" — but every one of the nine rewards. Old roads, waterfalls, pubs that still light real fires, and the ferry to Rathlin Island for puffin season.

SEASON · MAY — OCT STOPS · 9 3H SLOW MOSS & SHADOW
Glens of Antrim
glens of antrim · glenariff
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Chapter 02 · Things to do

A short list, well-walked.

Every place below has been visited by someone on the team in the last twelve months. We update it regularly and remove anything that's gone off — closures, crowding, prices that no longer feel honest.

Chapter 03 · Plan a trip

Build a route, your way.

Tap any place on the map to add it to your route. Reorder, remove, play with the days — when it feels right, save it. We'll fill in accommodation, food and transit on the next page.

LOUGH NEAGH N
On your route Available · 10 places
Your route
0 stops · 0 days

    Tip · we'll suggest a sensible order, accommodation and a Day 1 dinner when you save.