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Some Questions Based on Northern Ireland Itinerary

Posted by on

Hey There;

My partner and I are planning a 10-day excursion in early September (technically 11 days, but that last day will probably end up being waking up and heading to the airport) and we arrive and leave in Dublin. Right now, I have been leaning towards a self-drive tour of the North, with our itinerary as follows:

  • Dublin (2 nights);
  • Galway City or nearby (2 nights) - one day spent at Cliffs of Moher/Burrens;
  • Westport (1 night) - spend the day either enjoying Connemara or day trip to Aran Islands
  • Ballyshannon (2 nights) - spend time in Sligo and/or Donegal;
  • Derry (1 night);
  • Belfast (1 night); - after spending day travelling Antrim coast
  • Dublin (1 night); - either spend the day exploring Belfast, checking out sights north of Dublin like Newgrange, or in the city again depending on feel.

1) I've started to consider going from Ballyshannon to Belfast (stopping in Enniskillen) and spending two nights there instead of spending the night in Derry. Ideally I would do both, but an extension to our trip is not possible. Anyone have recommendations?

2) Do you think there will be enough nearby these locations to do indoors if the fog/rain is extremely bad? They seem like a lot of coastal towns so I’m not sure.

3) Do you think it’s worth it to go to Aran Islands if you don’t like bicycling? I’m getting the gist from online reports that you won’t be able to get anywhere if you’re walking.

4) A lot of car hire places are advertising diesel cars, which I have no experience with. Is diesel easy to find across all gas stations in Ireland, or will picking a diesel car confine as somehow.

5) We both expressed a desire to see Giant's Causeway and the rope bridge and I’m starting to fret that I based all our plans around that. It seems everywhere I look, the overwhelming suggestion is to stick to the south for your first Ireland trip. I know that if we go the Northern side, we won’t get to see many castles (which my girlfriend expressed a desire to see, but no real specific castle in mind), nor the “popular” spots like Glendalough or the Dingle Peninsula, and maybe less of traditional small Irish villages and more traditional cities, which I think we wanted to get away from. (I don’t think either of us has an interest in seeing the Titanic museum, for example). I guess what I’m asking is for general opinions as to whether I will get to see beautiful sites either way, or if I should seriously consider going for a south-based itinerary and save the wishlist for Northern Ireland for a future trip.

Thanks in advance to answers to any of my enquiries.

Posted by
127 posts

I disagree with the suggestion that you should stick with the Republic of Ireland for your trip. You get an entirely different perspective on both nations when you cross over into the UK. And Belfast is a surprisingly dynamic and vibrant city.

That being said, it's your trip. Figure out what you want to do and go!

Posted by
2987 posts

Taking your questions in order:
1. Personally I wouldn't sacrifice Derry for Donegal. It's a beautiful city with an evocative history, and has one of the oldest city walls in Europe. Also, 2 nights in a place equals only one full day of touring. While I understand the temptation to try to cover as much ground as possible on your first visit my advice is to slow down a bit and savor the experience...and allot 2 nights for each stop. Suggest driving from Westport to Derry for a couple of nights...you'll pass right thru the heart of Donegal along the way.
2. There's plenty to do at each stop if you're willing to slow down a bit and enjoy some of Ireland's subtle charms. Rainy days were made for a pint of Guinness at a friendly pub - sitting near a turf fire and chatting with the locals.
3. There are a number of van tours at the ferry dock at Kilronan on Inishmore. Don't need to do it by bike. Besides, you'll cover more ground if you do it with a local guide.
4. Diesel is everywhere and is also the cheaper option, unlike many places in the US. The diesel vehicles also get some truly legendary mileage which will help take the sting out of the overall high gas prices.
5. The day trip to Belfast via Giant's Causeway and the rope bridge is a pleasant day out, plus you'll pass the ruins of Dunluce Castle along the way. For an off-the-beaten path excursion take the coastal hike along the headlands past the beach where they salvaged the wreck of one of the 1588 Armada ships...whose artifacts are on display in one of the museums in Derry.

Allow plenty of time to visit the Newgrange and Bru na Boinne sites on your return trip to Dublin. Lots of Irish history on display in the area.

Good Luck.

Posted by
42 posts

I regret that I never went to NI till my fifth trip. It is magnificent and you will love it. The cliffs in the north are beautiful and if you go to Inish Mor they are better than the cliffs of Moher. Less touristy and that is one sweet island. You could save a bit of back tracking that way. Take the ferry out of Rossaveal .
I loved Giant's causeway. The causeway hotel serves a good lunch. Visit City Hall in Belfast. It was built by the same craftsmen that built the Titanic and is very similar. The Crown pub is great as is Bittle's Bar. We enjoyed the Black Cab tour. Premiere Inn city center is good.

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