Dublin to Belfast to Derry via Coastal Causeway to Galway

Here is a link to one of the campgrounds. If you check the bottom left side of the webpage, it also lists several others.

https://www.pitchup.com/en-us/campsites/Northern_Ireland/Northern_Ireland/Co_Antrim/Bushmills/causeway-coast-wigwams/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMInMq92czL4gIVjL9kCh1MLw1TEAAYASAAEgLfX_D_BwE

I like that you are spending as much time as you are along the Causeway Coast. It is beautiful and deserves the time. The walks along the coast are terrific. I have to admit I question adding the long drive to Galway for the Cliffs of Moher. It wouldn't be my first choice, but you may have different priorities. The key question you need to ask yourself is, "Does it make sense to drive that far for 1 site, or should I leave that for the next trip?"

Thanks for the feedback & Good point! Would it make sense to stay in Belfast for 2 nights to explore the southern most part of the causeway landmarks easily before going to stay in Ballycastle?

We just got back. My girlfriend was only able to come for a week so her time went like this:

2 nights Dublin. She arrived early one morning. I picked her up at the airport and we went to the Archaeology museum, Dublinia/Christchurch and Whiskey Museum (across the street from Trinity College). I liked all three of these. The next day we took a Mary Gibbons tour to Newgrange. Last time I took a Bus Eireann tour to Newgrange; I considered it both a better value and better tour. Later we visited the Leprechaun museum (Reviews said it wasn't as cheesy as it sounds. For me it was every bit as cheesy as it sounds).

1 night Ballycastle. We took a bus to the airport and picked up a rental. Even though we left our hotel at eight, we weren't "on the road" until nearly noon. It takes roughly two hours to Belfast. We stopped at Monasterboice on the way. We spent two to three hours at Titanic Museum then a fairly brief stop at Carrickfergus castle before driving to our B&B (booked online while at Titanic Museum) in Ballycastle (about an hour drive). After check in we had a good dinner at a host recommended pub. After dinner drove to Kinbane castle for some spectacular sunset views before heading back to the B&B. The castle isn't much but the scenery is outstanding.

1 night Derry. After breakfast in Ballycastle we went to Carrick-a-Rede. We arrived about a half-hour before the bridge opened so opted to save 12 pounds each and just walk the mile or so out to a view of the bridge. For 12 pounds you walk across the bridge and maybe another hundred feet on the trail. We were more concerned about time than money and walked instead of waiting to buy a ticket. Next Giants Causeway. We saved money by parking across the street (on some grass off the curb) rather than paying to park. We walked down to the causeway and rode the bus back. After that we went to Dunluce Castle then Bushmill's Distillery. I liked each of these sights. They are fairly easy to include in a day because they're all inside about a ten mile (or less) circle. Finally we stopped at Royal Portrush Golf Club (where the British Open is played this year) before heading to Derry for the night. If you're interested in Game of Thrones sights, you might want to add another night in Ballycastle. Otherwise, I think your time is better spent in Donegal, Sligo, Westport and/or Clifden (Sligo is the most central of the group).

The only sight in Derry that interested me is the wall (and things you can see from the wall). We walked some of the wall in the evening after dinner. In the morning we got up and drove to Grianon of Aileach, a great ring fort not far from Derry. Places I'd like to have visited with more time are Newmills Corn & Flax Mill (not open for the year when I was there) and the Beltany Stone Circle. We had little time so bypassed Donegal. I would have preferred to see the above sights and end the day at Donegal but that didn't work in our schedule.

We stopped for Sligo Abbey and lunch (and a brief walk around) in Sligo, another place I'd have preferred to spend more time. Afterwards we stopped at Carrowmore Megalithic Cemetery and briefly at Kylemore Abbey. We also skipped Westport - a great place to rent a bike. Originally I had thought Clifden would make a good stop. I wanted to catch the ferry to Aran Islands, however, so Roundstone was more convenient. I liked Roundstone, it's a small town on the water with a tiny port. We had both the best lodging and best dinner of our trip there - but no traditional music session on a Friday night.

The next morning we took the ferry to Inismor, rented bikes rode from one end of the island to the other and stayed Saturday night.

After catching the first ferry back Sunday morning, we visited Cong Abbey and the School of Falconry (hawk walk). We stopped at Clonmacnoise then stayed in an Airbnb near Dublin Airport to drop my girlfriend off Monday morning.

Everyone’s feedback has been super helpful. We booked 3 days in Dublin, then 3 days in Belfast. Then off to an Airbnb in Ballycastle for 4 days. We have 1 extra night that we have left open before driving back to Belfast. So we decided maybe take a different way back rather than the causeway and find a town to stay in to do some hiking and explore. Possibly somewhere in County Fermanagh. Enniskillen? It seems to be about an hour or so from both Ballycastle and from Belfast. Any thoughts on that or other suggestions would be so helpful. Thanks! 🙏🏼