Things to do in Northern Ireland
60 places worth stopping for and 18 places to stay on a road trip through Northern Ireland.
See and do
- Walk
Walk · Bushmills
Giant's Causeway
Forty thousand basalt columns stepping into the sea, and the reason most people drive this coast.
- Wildlife
Wildlife · Ballycastle
Rathlin Island
Seabird island 25 minutes by ferry, famous for puffins in early summer.
- Viewpoint
Viewpoint · GarrisonHidden gem
Cliffs of Magho (Lough Navar)
A clifftop viewpoint 250 metres above Lough Erne, reached by a forest drive.
- History
History · Castlerock
Mussenden Temple and Downhill Strand
A round temple on a sea cliff above a long empty beach.
- Scenic drive
Scenic drive · CushendunHidden gem
Torr Head scenic road
Narrow coastal road to a headland just 12 miles from Scotland.
- Walk
Walk · Newcastle
Slieve Donard
The highest peak in Northern Ireland, with the sea beside it.
- Walk
Walk · Ballintoy
Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge
A swaying 20 metre rope bridge to a tiny island over a drop to the sea.
- Beach
Beach · BallintoyHidden gem
White Park Bay
A wide curve of pale sand with dunes and cattle grazing behind.
- History
History · BallycastleHidden gem
Kinbane Castle
A small castle ruin on a white limestone headland, down a lot of steps.
- Walk
Walk · BallycastleHidden gem
Fair Head
Sheer 190 metre cliffs with views to Rathlin and Scotland.
- Viewpoint
Viewpoint · BallycastleHidden gem
Murlough Bay
Quiet coastal bay with a steep scenic drive down to it.
- Walk
Walk · Islandmagee
The Gobbins cliff path
Dramatic cliff path with bridges and tunnels carved over the sea.
- Museum
Museum · Belfast
Titanic Belfast
Big museum in the yard where the Titanic was built.
- History
History · Bushmills
Dunluce Castle
Ruined clifftop castle that looks like it could slide into the sea at any moment.
Beach · Limavady
Benone Strand
Seven miles of flat sand under cliffs, big enough that you can be alone.
- Viewpoint
Viewpoint · LimavadyHidden gem
Binevenagh viewpoint (Gortmore)
Cliff-top viewpoint over the Magilligan lowlands to Donegal.
- Beach
Beach · Portstewart
Portstewart Strand
Two miles of beach you can drive onto, backed by huge dunes.
Walk · Cushendall
Glenariff Forest Park
Waterfall trail through a deep wooded glen, the Queen of the Glens.
- Garden
Garden · Greyabbey
Mount Stewart
Lavish gardens on the Strangford shore, with one of the finest collections in the UK.
- Walk
Walk · Newcastle
Tollymore Forest Park
Stone bridges, river gorges and trails right at the foot of the Mournes.
- Cave
Cave · Florencecourt
Marble Arch Caves
Guided boat-and-walk tour through underground rivers and chambers.
- Walk
Walk · Florencecourt
Cuilcagh Boardwalk Trail
The Stairway to Heaven, a raised boardwalk over blanket bog.
- Lake
Lake · Newtownbutler
Crom Estate
Island castle ruins and ancient woodland on the shore of Upper Lough Erne.
Lake · Kilkeel
Silent Valley Reservoir
Reservoir in the heart of the Mournes, ringed by granite peaks.
History · CookstownHidden gem
Beaghmore Stone Circles
Seven Bronze Age stone circles in a dark-sky moorland.
Walk · NewcastleHidden gem
Hare's Gap and Trassey Track
Rocky pass between the high Mournes, a classic day walk.
History · Derry
Derry~Londonderry city walls
Complete walled city, walk the circuit in an hour.
Brewery · Bushmills
Old Bushmills Distillery
Whiskey distillery licensed since 1608, with tours and a tasting.
- Walk
Walk · RostrevorHidden gem
Kilbroney Park and Cloughmore Stone
Forest park with a giant boulder left by the ice age and views over Carlingford Lough.
- Walk
Walk · BallymenaHidden gem
Slemish Mountain
Volcanic plug that rises out of farmland, linked to St Patrick.
- Viewpoint
Viewpoint · Belfast
Belfast Castle and Cave Hill
Hilltop estate with a cafe and views across the whole city.
Beach · Dundrum
Dundrum Bay and Murlough Nature Reserve
Soft dunes and a long beach with the Mournes behind it.
Walk · Castlewellan
Castlewellan Forest Park
Lake, arboretum and trails below the Mournes.
- Walk
Walk · NewryHidden gem
Slieve Gullion
Forest drive and a summit cairn with views over five counties.
History · KeshHidden gem
Janus figure at Boa Island
Two-faced carved stone figure in a tiny graveyard on a lake island.
- Scenic drive
Scenic drive · Stranocum
The Dark Hedges
A tunnel of twisted beech trees along a quiet country lane.
Beach · BallintoyHidden gem
Ballintoy Harbour
Tiny rocky harbour under steep cliffs, with a cafe in the old lime kiln area.
- Town
Town · Ballycastle
Ballycastle seafront
Pretty harbour town, home to the ferry to Rathlin and a good coffee strip.
- Museum
Museum · Cultra
Ulster Folk Museum
Open-air village of relocated cottages, churches and shops.
- History
History · Strangford
Castle Ward
Part Gothic, part classical house on a tidal inlet, with a Game of Thrones set.
- Scenic drive
Scenic drive · Portaferry
Portaferry to Strangford ferry
Five-minute car ferry across a fast tidal narrows.
- History
History · Enniskillen
Devenish Island
Monastic island with a round tower on Lower Lough Erne.
- Museum
Museum · Omagh
Ulster American Folk Park
Open-air museum tracing emigrants' journey from Ulster to America.
- History
History · CastlewellanHidden gem
Legananny Dolmen
A slim capstone on three tall legs, sitting alone on a hillside.
Scenic drive · PlumbridgeHidden gem
Glenelly Valley
Long quiet valley road through the Sperrins with stone bridges.
- Museum
Museum · Belfast
Crumlin Road Gaol
Victorian prison turned visitor attraction, with self-guided tours.
History · Mahee IslandHidden gem
Nendrum Monastic Site
Early monastic site on Mahee Island in Strangford Lough, with concentric stone walls and a sundial.
Wildlife · Comber
WWT Castle Espie Wetland Centre
Strangford Lough wetland reserve with wildfowl, a sensory garden and a gallery.
- Viewpoint
Viewpoint · Newtownards
Scrabo Tower
Victorian tower on Scrabo Hill with panoramic views over Strangford Lough.
- Garden
Garden · GlenarmHidden gem
Glenarm village and Castle Walled Garden
Oldest town in the Glens, with a walled garden behind a Norman-style gate.
- Town
Town · CarnloughHidden gem
Carnlough harbour
Small harbour town with a limestone viaduct and a classic coastal inn.
- Viewpoint
Viewpoint · HilltownHidden gem
Spelga Dam
Quiet upland dam with open Mourne views and a wide lay-by.
Wildlife · Lurgan
Oxford Island
Lough Neagh nature reserve with hides, trails and a discovery centre.
History · BushmillsHidden gem
Dunseverick Castle
Ruined gate tower on the cliff edge, an old seat of kings.
- History
History · Carrickfergus
Carrickfergus Castle
Norman castle on the water that held its walls for 800 years.
- History
History · Armagh
Navan Fort
Iron Age ritual hill fort, ancient capital of Ulster kings.
- Museum
Museum · Armagh
Armagh Observatory and Planetarium
One of Ireland's oldest observatories, with a planetarium and astropark.
- History
History · Florencecourt
Florence Court
Georgian mansion and walled garden in a big estate near the caves.
- History
History · Enniskillen
Castle Coole
Neoclassical mansion in a big park, famous for its hall.
Lake · Irvinestown
Castle Archdale Country Park
Lakeside park with marina, WWII history and a caravan site.
Food stops
- Pub
Pub · Belfast
Crown Liquor Saloon
Victorian gin palace with snugs, gaslight and tiled walls, owned by the National Trust.
- Ice cream
Ice cream · Portrush
Maud's Ice Cream
Long-running Northern Irish ice cream brand with a Portrush parlour near the seafront.
- Market
Market · Belfast
St George's Market
Victorian covered market in Belfast with food stalls and live music on weekends.
Ice cream · Portstewart
Morelli's Portstewart
Family ice cream parlour that has been on the prom since 1911.
Pub · Strangford
The Cuan Strangford
Old inn at the ferry pier with fish and a fire.
Restaurant · DundrumHidden gem
Mourne Seafood Bar
Local mussels and seafood from the bay, served beside it.
- Brewery
Brewery · LisburnHidden gem
Hilden Brewery and Tap Room
Ireland's oldest independent craft brewery, with a brewery tap.
Places to stay
- Campground
Campground · Newcastle
Tollymore Forest Park caravan and camping site
Forest Service touring and tent site at the foot of the Mournes, open all year.
Motel · Bushmills
Bushmills Inn
Gas-lit coaching inn with turf fires, a short walk from the distillery.
Campground · Newtownbutler
Crom camping and cottages
Camping on the Crom estate, with lough access and canoe hire.
- Glamping
Glamping · Ballycastle
Black Knowe luxury glamping, Ballycastle
Design-led glamping pods near Ballycastle with ensuite shower, kitchenette, fire pit and resident alpacas.
Holiday park · CushendunHidden gem
Cushendun Holiday Park
Woodland council park five minutes' walk from Cushendun beach and village.
- Holiday park
Holiday park · Ballymoney
Drumaheglis Holiday Park and Marina
Five-star council park beside the Lower Bann with 55 hardstanding pitches and a marina.
Holiday park · Portrush
Carrick Dhu Holiday Park
Council-run coastal park between Portrush and Portstewart with 35 touring pitches.
Campground · Castlewellan
Castlewellan Forest Park caravan and camping site
Council-run touring site in a forest park with an arboretum, ten minutes from the town.
Holiday park · Cushendall
Cushendall Holiday Park
Sea-edge council park beside the yacht club, five minutes from the village.
Holiday park · Ballycastle
Ballycastle camping and caravanning park
Seaside holiday park with a view to Rathlin and a short walk to the beach.
Campground · Irvinestown
Castle Archdale caravan and camping
Lakeside campsite and caravan park on Lough Erne.
- Campground
Campground · Cushendall
Glenariff Forest Park caravan park
Forest caravan and camping site at the head of the Glen.
Holiday park · Rostrevor
Kilbroney caravan park
Caravan and camping park inside the forest park above Carlingford Lough.
- Holiday park
Holiday park · Bushmills
Ballyness Caravan Park
Family-run caravan park near the Giant's Causeway and Bushmills.
- Motel
Motel · Carnlough
Londonderry Arms Hotel
Old coaching inn on Carnlough harbour once owned by Churchill's family.
- Campground
Campground · EnniskillenHidden gem
Blaney Caravan Park and Camp Site
Lough Erne campsite near Enniskillen taking tents, caravans and motorhomes in open countryside by the Lower Lough.
- Glamping
Glamping · Benone
Benone Getaways glamping village
Six glamping pods with hot tubs near Benone Strand on the north coast, plus two self-catering homes and a BBQ hut.
- Campground
Campground · Portrush
Sandhill Drive Motorhome Park, Portrush
Pay-and-display motorhome parking for up to 10 vehicles, with sluice and water/electric tokens.
Plan the drive, not just the stops
Roadtrip works out what the drive costs in fuel for your car, splits it into days with the best stops and places to sleep, and finds the cheapest fuel on the way.
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