We will be spending some time in Dublin then hiring a car for 2 weeks to see Northern Ireland.
We want to see Giant Causeway,
the rope bridge,
Belfast, and
Portstewart (I've read this is a good place to stay)
Any suggestions or which route to take and any other places of interest
Mary
Posted by
Colorado Springs
2980 posts
One place you don't mention that should be on your list is the walled city of Derry. Beautiful place with a long history. The city museum there (tucked below one of the old city gates along the wall) is worth a meander. Has fascinating displays telling the history of the old city since before the Plantation, and there's also an interesting exhibit showing some of the artifacts they pulled up from one of the 1588 Spanish Armada ships that sank in one of the bays near the Giant's Causeway.
If your heritage traces to Ulster you might also head down to Omagh and visit the Ulster-American Folk Park there. Can google it for details and opening times. Does a great job showing the history of early Scots-Irish emigration to America starting in 1715.
The RS guide is a terrific resource for Ireland in general and Ulster in particular.
Safe travels.
Posted by
317 posts
Hi Mary
Robert is right, Derry is a wonderfully historic city. Rick Steves is a big fan, as am I as its my hometown. Portstewart is a very quiet place and there really isn't much there. Portrush would be a better choice in my humble, but expert opinion. Ive taken 500 tours to Northern Ireland over 20 years.
If you need any more detailed advice just pop me a message
le meas/with respect
Stephen McPhilemy
Rick Steves Ireland Tour-Guide
Derry and Dingle
Posted by
Rocky Mount, VA
290 posts
I would echo the suggestion to visit Derry. In addition to the wall and the museum which have been suggested, I enjoyed the exhibits in the Guild Hall which is near the lower end of the wall and the Peace Bridge. The Bogside Murals were also fascinating, and you can get a tour of them led by local residents if you want.
The Ulster Irish-American Folk Museum was well done and informative and worth a visit. I drove across Boa Island and stopped at the Caldragh Cemetery to see the Janus Man stone figure. It's a small cemetery and not visually impressive, but the mystique of the two headed figure and the fact that it inspired Seamus Heaney's poem "January God" appealed to me; plus I like to visit a few spots that don't get a lot of visitors.
Giant's Causeway and the Rope Bridge are both amazing.