Planning a 1 week stay in Ireland in September 2020, after 2 previous weeks elsewhere in Europe. We have a 3-day visit with family outside of Belfast, and our flight back to the states leaves from Dublin on day 7. We would appreciate suggestions for how to make the most of days 4 through 6 without any day-long driving? We would like to maximize scenic visits with a cute town or two. Thanks.
Posted by
Colorado Mountains, USA
7937 posts
Head north, to the awesome Giant’s Causeway, on the northern coast. We stayed at a B&B outside of Bushmills, but passing they the town, it seemed cute. There’s a famous whiskey distillery in town two, which offers tours and a tasting.
Heading back towards Dublin, we stayed 2 nights in Trim. It has a giant castle, and a neat town with music pubs and a great Indian restaurant. It’s also a great base from which to explore the mystical Neolithic tomb sites in the Boyne Valley.
Posted by
Lincolnshire, UK
2282 posts
Giant's Causeway, Carrick a Rede Rope Bridge and the ruined Dunluce CAstle make a great day along the north coast of Northern Ireland. Try and plan your visit to Giant's Causeway for low tide. At high tide it just isn't as dramatic as much of it is covered! If time allows, go for a walk along the top of the cliffs for views down onto the causeway (and views of the tourists scurrying around like ants!)
There are several attractive small towns along the Antrim coast.
If you are interestred in Irish American history then you might enjoy the Ulster American Folk Park, just outside Omagh. This coveres the stories of Ulster families who left to make a new life in America. There homes have been reconstruxcted and there is a ship that took them across the Atlantic (6'6 space per family below decks, no knowing how long the voyage would last or guarantee where they would land...) There are also reconstructions of their homes once they arrived in America. There are costumed interpretors who know about the familiea, why they decided to leave Ireland and what life was like ondce they arrived - not easy! There is a lot to see, and you could easily spend a full day here.