See the sights of Northern Ireland by car

This sponsored post from Jeannette Kelly takes us on a driving tour of Northern Ireland which has everything one could look for in a holiday destination – beautiful sandy beaches, top sightseeing spots and out of the way places for those who love exploring off the beaten track.

Stay in Londonderry

I would highly recommend starting your tour somewhere like Londonderry (also known as Derry) which has a rich cultural heritage and is the only remaining walled city in Northern Ireland. You can take a walk around medieval walls with a view over the old city, stopping off at the Tower museum to find out more about the city’s past. Although Londonderry is in the northern part of the country, it’s still central to the whole of Northern Ireland and County Londonderry boasts some amazingly beautiful beaches, scenic nature walks and fun water sports – something for all ages and tastes.

From Londonderry, it is only a short car ride (around one hour) into the capital city of Belfast. Hiring a car in Ireland is definitely recommended, as there are so many places to visit off the ordinary tourist trails it would be mad to miss out. If you enjoy driving then take the longer scenic route from Londonderry to Belfast on the ‘Causeway Route’ taking in cliffs and beaches at Portrush, the Bushmills Whiskey Distillery and of course the famous Giant’s Causeway.

Giant’s Causeway

The thousands of hexagonal ‘steps’ of the Giant’s Causeway, leading out into the sea are the topic of myth and legend in the local area. The columns of rock were formed of basalt as a result of a volcanic eruption and lava flow 60 million years ago and the area has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage site. Legend claims that the giant Finn McCool built the causeway as a pathway the Scottish island of Staffa so he could confront his enemies there, and the rock formations have been given names such as Giant’s Boot, Giant’s eye and Chminey Stack.

Rathin Island

For those who want a little less touristy day out, why not visit the wild and rugged Rathlin Island, where visitors can experience the tranquility of an island with a population of only 70 people. Rathin Island is home of the RSPB seabird centre and in the summer months you can hope to see puffins, guillemots, razorbills and kittiwakes on the island. Arrival is by small ferry from Ballycastle which should be booked in advance, taking between 45 and 60 minutes, and if you want to stay a little longer there are self catering cottages and guest houses available.

Belfast Black Taxi Tour

If you really want to do something new, take a Belfast Black Taxi Tour. Local cabbies will happily share with you their experiences during the time of ‘the troubles’ for real honest first hand information as they drive you around some of the sites, made infamous by conflicts like Shankill Road and the wall murals – it’s a very interesting journey, and I thoroughly recommend it. You also get to drive past the shipyard known for building the ill-fated cruise liner, the ‘Titanic’ and it can also be arranged to have the trip extend outside of Belfast. Prices are £25.00 for 1 or 2 people, 3-5 people pay £10.00 each for the standard tour which lasts around and hour and half.

Car hire in Ireland can be easily arranged before the trip through one of the many car rental companies at the airport or in cities such as Belfast or Londonderry and is one of the best ways to get around everything you want to see in a short space of time.

Travel Resources for visiting Northern Ireland

Official Tourism site Northern Ireland – Discovernorthernireland.com
Official Tourism site Londonderry – Derryvisitor.com
Belfast Black Taxi Tours
Car Hire Ireland -To search for Cheap Car Hire in Ireland

Thanks to travel writer Jeanette Kelly who writes on a wide range of destinations in the UK.  Whether you want to know about dolphin spotting in Wales or reading destination articles, her articles definitely come recommended for those with the travelling bug.

Photo Credits: Londonderry Walls from DerryVisitor website,  Giant’s Causeway by Christolakis, Rathin Island by Karenwithak, Live Free Belfast Mural by PPCC Antifa

Read more travel articles at Travel Blog Home

Don’t miss out – subscribe to Heather on her travels