The first time I booked a trip to Northern Ireland was because my brother had moved there and (don’t tell him) I missed him. I was met with many comment’s from concerned friends that maybe taking my daughter to Northern Ireland wasn’t the safest thing to do.
I am not going to lie and say that Ireland does not still have it’s fair share of divided people and opinions. It most certainly does. You can visibly see neighborhoods supporting their political views by the flags they hang in their windows and on city streets. In the North you will mainly see the Union flag which is generally considered to mean the flag owner supports the occupation. Most people that are for the Union flag are of Prodestant backgrounds and most of the people for the National flag are of Roman Catholic background. This is not a hard and fast rule though. There are exceptions.
Having said that, public displays of political violence, bombings and places you used to have to avoid at all costs are a thing of the past. The last few decades have held peace and progress. Northern Ireland is now a pretty hot travel destination, as beautiful as it is. So, now that you know that Ireland is a safe and beautiful travel destination, here are a few “to do’s” I recommend.
Most people start their trip in Dublin. It is a cool city, and is generally the cheapest one to fly into. In my opinion, you should spend a few days exploring all that Dublin has to offer. (I have many tips and must do’s for Dublin but I will have to address them on another post) Once you have had a few days in the city, I urge you to head out to visit the coast of Northern Ireland.
GIANT’S CAUSEWAY
My first recommendation is a day tour to the Giant’s Causeway. We booked a tour with a Carrick-a-rede rope bridge and Bushmills Distillery stop, and I would advise for you to do the same. The tour bus picks up the passengers right in Central Dublin. All you need to do is find your way to the bus stop and let the tour guide and bus driver get you where you need to be. There are many tour operators to choose from and you can book online fairly easily.
The Giant’s Causeway is a Unesco World Heritage Site. It is a collection of approximately 40,000 interlocking basalt columns, and estimated to be about 50 to 60 MILLION years old!
There are a variety of folklores attached to this site that vary depending on who you ask. My daughter’s favourite is the one where the Giant Finn McCool is having trouble with the Scottish Giant Benandonner. He threatened Ireland which in turn provoked Finn to toss the biggest rocks of the Antrim coast into the sea. These rocks soon made a path for Finn and he was determined to follow them and teach Benandonner a lesson.
Unfortunately for Finn, Benandonner was GIGANTIC. When Finn realized his mistake and turned back home, Benandonner followed. Lucky for Finn, he had married a very clever wife. She disguised Finn as a baby, which prompted Benandonner to contemplate about how big the baby’s father must be if the baby was the size he was. He went home and never caused a problem again. So, the giant rock formations are actually the result of a very angry Giant!
Whether you choose to believe it was Finn McCool or decide to trust the scientific explanation of a volcanic fissure eruption is totally up to you. What cannot be disputed is the sheer raw beauty of this place.
TOP TIPS: Remember that Northern Ireland uses a different currency than the Republic of Ireland. In place of euros, make sure to have a few pounds sterling on hand. A credit card should also be ok to use at most establishments. There are a variety of opportunities for food, drinks and souveniers so you may want to have some cash on hand.
Following a very windy walk down the hilly coast, we were famished. We popped in to the Inn for a treat. We had a limited amount of time before we had to head back to the bus, so they were kind enough to settle us in the bar lounge. We were more than pleased with the service and our treats.
CARRICK-A-REDE ROPE BRIDGE
Next stop on the tour was the Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge. The bridge is approximately 15 meters long and is drawn across two coastal cliffs. Although the bridge pictured was installed in 2000, it is estimated that these cliffs have had a bridge between them for about 350 years. It doesn’t seem so scary at first glance, but don’t be fooled. The winds that cross this bridge are FIERCE! If you happen to go and get the jitters, just remember that my daughter and I crossed the bridge without a problem. Just hang on to the ropes for comfort.
DUNLUCE CASTLE
I should mention that we also made a quick stop for a road-side viewing of the Dunluce castle. I have never seen an episode of the Game of Thrones (Gasp!) but fans of the show might recognize it. Local legend states that at one point, part of the kitchen next to the cliff face collapsed into the sea, after which the wife refused to live in the castle any longer. Locals say when the kitchen fell into the sea, only one boy remained alive as he was sitting in the corner of the kitchen that did not collapse. The truth is with the people of the past, but it must be told that much of the kitchen is still intact. Only in the 18th century did the North wall crumble into the sea. East, West and South walls are still standing. I think I managed to get a pretty decent shot of the place considering I was standing on the side of the road. What do you think?
BUSHMILLS WHISKEY DISTILLERY
The Last leg of this tour was the Bushmills Distillery. Bushmills claims to be the world’s oldest whiskey distillery. Bushmills was granted a license to distill in 1608. I am not a whiskey drinker, but it is possible to book a tasting experience if that is your cup of tea. After exploring the grounds which were actually pretty cool, we headed in for some food at the lounge/café. (Yes we are always hungry!) There is also a shop where you can purchase whiskey to take home along with a variety of other souveniers.
After the distillery it was back on the bus and back to Dublin. It really is a great tour and I highly recommend it for anyone who has plans to head out that way.
CAVEHILL
Now for the second “to do” on my list. My second pick is for the sunrise chasers. Yes you will have to get up earlier than the crows. Yes it is going to be cold. Even still, I promise you it will be worth it.
The views granted stretch far over the bay, and on a clear day afford you a glimpse of Scottish soil. If it suits you better you can hike in the afternoon when the temperature would probably be warmer, but I believe that watching the sun rise is the most rewarding view. It is truly spectacular. Pictures do not do it justice. This is a view you gotta work for but it is well worth it!
Bring yourself a thermos of hot tea, wear a warm hat and don’t forget to enjoy the views. It is also worth mentioning that it is possible to be a little more adventurous and walk along a very narrow ledge (where honestly, there are no guard rails and zero room for error) and you can follow it to a cave that is housed on the hill. To be safe, I did not take my daughter that far. Luckily for me, I have an amazing brother who went back and hiked the very next day to take a photo for me! You can judge for yourself if walking the dangerous ledge is worth it or not. Either way, stay SAFE and enjoy! =).
MUSSENDEN TEMPLE
The last item on your to do list is to visit the Mussenden Temple and Downhill Estate. Mussenden Temple is located in Downhill Demesne near Castlerock in County Londonderry. It is set atop a 120 foot cliff that overlooks the Atlantic Ocean.
Built by Frederick Augustus Hervey, Bishop of Derry and Earl of Bristol (or the Earl Bishop) in 1785, it was purposed to serve as a summer library. The whole estate is unbelievably stunning, and the surrounding views are among the most photographed scenes in Ireland.
Over the years the Temple itself was under danger of being lost to the sea, and in 1997 the National Trust stepped in and had the eroding cliffside stabilized to prevent losing this treasure. When the Temple was first constructed, a horse and carriage were able to easily navigate around it. Today the Temple is much closer to the edge of the cliff and it is hard to fathom how that was once possible.
To get to the town of Castle Rock we took a train from Belfast (Our first train ride while in Ireland) and really enjoyed the views along the way. The Irish countryside is unbelievable. So green is the Emerald Isle, and everywhere you look dotted with those famous Irish wacky woollies!
Once in Castle Rock we walked from the center of town. We took beautiful (although dangerous) winding country backroads. It was quite a trek. The dirt back roads were lined with the most charming country homes I have ever seen, and as much as I loved the beauty of it all, I wouldn’t recommend you follow the same route if you will be walking. The roads do not have shoulders and we literally had to jump into tall unruly grassy fields to avoid getting hit by cars that show up in a split second around the bend. Your best bet is to stop in town and ask a shop or café owner if they would be kind enough to call you a cab. The Irish people are some of the friendliest I have ever encountered and you will not have a problem getting some assistance.
DOWNHILL ESTATE
Well that wraps up your “to do” list while in Northern Ireland. I hope you enjoyed my suggestions. Let me know if you are ever lucky enough to make it out there.
Cheers!
Tamara Irvine
*All photographs in this post are my own and taken by me (Other than the cave photo – credits for that photo go to my brother)
