Northern Ireland Country Guide

Belfast

Northern Ireland
Mountains and moors, forests and glens, lakes or loughs, and miles of spectacular coastline...Northern Ireland is only 5,500 square miles, about the size of Connecticut, so you can easily see most of the main attractions in a week, experiencing a little of each of its quite distinctive regions. Northern Ireland--or as it is sometimes referred to as the province of Ulster--comprises Counties Down, Armagh, Tyrone, Fermanagh, Londonderry, Antrim and the capital city, Belfast. Each offers its own unique mix of history, culture and stunning scenery.

Take a tour or drive yourself --the country roads are well sign posted with plenty of places to stop along the way to enjoy the views, and the only traffic jams you are likely to find are caused by flocks of sheep! The weather can be fickle, but the rain keeps the land a magical emerald green, and, when the wind blows the clouds out to sea, the sky, like the mountain is blue. The air is clean and so sweet, you'll want to be outside--walking, cycling, pony trekking, sailing, playing golf or just lounging around.

Belfast
Belfast, the capital city, is not to be missed. History, art and antiquities, beautiful botanical gardens and plenty of beer--the lively pubs have great food and music, too. Enjoy an evening at the Grand Opera House or Waterfront Concert Hall. Climb Cave Hill for a great view down over the city, or take one of the city tours to help you get acquainted, especially with the locals--you'll never meet a friendlier bunch. Stormont is to become the new Parliament building; though not generally open to the public, its landscaped grounds are well worth visiting. Belfast International Airport, with flights from Britain or the US, borders Lough Neagh--the British Isles' largest lake and a good place for fishing, sailing and other watersports.

North of Belfast the enormous Anglo-Norman ruin, Carrickfergus Castle guards the approach to Belfast Lough, where ferries leave for mainland Britain and the Isle of Man. The US President Andrew Jackson Center is also here, where his parents lived before their emigration to the US in 1765. In Lisburn, the Irish Linen Center recreates Ulster's greatest industry with weaving workshops and demonstrations. A good place for gifts, too.

County Down

Hillsborough Pub,
Down

To the southeast of Belfast, explore the Ulster Folk & Transport Museum, which has taken more than 40 years to complete. The gardens of Mount Stewart and Rowallane--the National Trust's Northern Ireland headquarters--are stunning at any time of year, especially in the spring. From there, travel south along the shores of Loch Strangford, famous for its eels--a great Ulster delicacy. Go sailing or more leisurely bird-watching. St Patrick is buried in the graveyard at Downpatrick Cathedral, a 12th-century Benedictine Monastery on the Hill of Down at the edge of the beautiful moors and hills of the Mourne Mountains. For golfers, there's the championship course at Royal County Down on the coast at Newcastle, one of more than 60 golf courses in Northern Ireland.

County Armagh
St Patrick's Trian is located in three 18th- and 19th-century buildings in downtown Armagh; although the two St Patrick's Cathedrals dominate the city--one Anglican, the other Roman Catholic. The Palace Stables Heritage Center was once part of the Anglican archbishop's palace, but now the restored stables, horse-drawn carriages and exhibits recreate life of the palace in 1776. Nearby you can visit the historic house at The Argory, the 17th-century farmhouse at Address House or Peatlands Park, to see demonstrations on peat cutting and for a ride on the narrow-gauge railway. Navan Fort was the stronghold of the Celtic Ulster king's pre-Christian Ireland.

County Tyrone
Here the Ulster Heritage Park in Cullion explores the archeology of Ireland from the Stone Age, while the Ulster-American Folk Park near Omagh focuses on the migration from Ulster to America in the 18th century. The are more American connections at the Wilson Ancestral Home, which belonged to Woodrow Wilson's grandfather, and the Grant Ancestral Home, the birthplace of Ulysses S. Grant's maternal great-grandfather. Both of whom emigrated to America. Go walking in the Sperrin Mountains, or try your luck panning for gold at the Sperrin Heritage Center in Gortin. Don't miss the Tyrone Crystal factory at Dungannon, which offers tours of the factory all year round.

Fishing on
Upper Lough Erne, Fermanagh

County Fermanagh
A lakeland paradise: Enniskillen, is situated on an island between Lower and Upper Lough Erne. Enniskillen Castle was once the stronghold of the Gaelic chieftains who controlled the lakes. Take a cruise around the lake from here to one of many monastic island settlements, Devenish Island with its picturesque 12th-century round tower, or to the famous pottery at Belleek. The cream-colored pottery with its signature latticework design makes a great souvenir. The Marble Arch Caves are small but fascinating limestone caverns with a subterranean lake, or take a tour of the stately mansion Castle Coole.

County Londonderry
The City of Derry, with its 17th-century city walls, is situated on the banks of the River Foyle and is the only completely walled city in Ireland. Only one mile long, it's worth the walk, combined with a visit to the Tower Museum and the Guildhall. Derry is another great place for live music--traditional and rock--at its numerous bars and arts centers, and for shopping at the Craft Village.

County Antrim
The spectacular coastline of Antrim offers one of the most scenic cycle routes in Britain – it's surprisingly not that steep and, on a clear day, you can see all the way across the Irish Sea to Scotland! Follow this up to Ireland's first World Heritage Site, the Giants Causeway, a must-see for all--40,000 basalt columns, formed 55 million years ago are a true wonder of the world. Cross the Carrick-a-rede-rope bridge, if you dare--60 feet of swinging rope with an 80-foot drop! Try a visit to the distillery at Bushmills to steady your nerves first. Nearby, the dramatic ruin of Dunluce Castle sits on a rocky headland looking out across the Irish Sea; play golf on Royal Portrush championship course or travel inland to the Glens of Antrim and Glenariff Forest Park, with its spectacular glen walks, thundering waterfalls and amazing mountain views. Perhaps you will even catch a glimpse of the "wee folk"--the mythical fairies of Glen folktales and legends.