Northern Ireland, Cosy Country Living

On arrival to either of the Belfast airports or the central train station you will be met by your private guide, who will be your escort throughout your tour until you depart. Alternatively, you can be collected from your accommodation, if you’ve opted to stay a night in Belfast before your tour. Travel through the countryside of County Antrim to Kilmore House, a beautiful country lodge, which will be your home for the next four nights. Freshen up, settle in and enjoy the views. Set off on a short trip to Laragh Lodge in Glenariff Forest Park to soak in the beauty on a walk to the waterfalls. Then continue on to Glenarm Castle, explore the walled garden before meeting Viscount Dunluce for afternoon tea (based on his availability). Dinner this evening will be taken at The Londonderry Arms Hotel in Carnlough, with live music as entertainment to finish the evening. The hotel was built in 1848 as a coaching inn by Lady Londonderry and her great-grandson, Sir Winston Churchill, inherited it in 1921. The O’Neill family have owned and managed the hotel since 1946 with its old world charm and reputation for good, locally-sourced food. Return to Kilmore House to retire for the night. Note: we can arrange for you to spend a night or two in Belfast prior to beginning your tour, to give you time to look around this very interesting city or to get your legs under you if you’re flying in from North America. Please ask us for rates for the various accommodation options

After breakfast you leave Kilmore House for the day and travel first to Cushendun, a beautiful, little, conservation village. After your visit here carry on to Bon a Margie Friary in Ballycastle, the ancestral burial grounds of the Macdonnells’. Time for lunch at Thyme and Co. Next up is the iconic site of Northern Ireland, the Giant’s Causeway. You’ll explore this 8th Wonder of the World in depth, and learn about the geology, history and legends of this very unique and special place. The Giant’s Causeway is Ireland’s only natural UNESCO World Heritage Site. After this fascinating site you’ll make a stop at Bushmill’s, home to the famous whiskey distillery. A visit here may be able to be incorporated in your program if you are interested. Please ask for possible options. From Bushmill’s, continue on to Dunluce Castle, the ancestral home of the clan MacDonnell, and hear stories of the castle’s history and ghost stories of some of her former residents (all true, to be sure!). The next stop is the picturesque Dark Hedges, well known as a filming location for Game of Thrones. The stories are likely to continue when you have tea at Upstairs at Joe’s in Cushendall and then while enjoying some live Irish music and the best of craic amongst the people of the Glens of Antrim. Return to Kilmore House for a nightcap and overnight

Leave Kilmore House after breakfast for another interesting day of touring with your personal guide. The first stop is Homeplace in Bellaghy, the birthplace of Northern Ireland’s own Nobel prize winner for literature, Seamus Heaney. Enjoy an emotional insight into the poet’s life and inspirations behind his poetry. Enjoy lunch in the centre. You’ll tour South Derry and discover the places that gave Heaney his inspiration and visit the poet’s grave. Next up is a visit to Mt. Slemish near the lovely town of Broughshane. Slemish was where Saint Patrick was a shepherd as a boy, a place of real religious significance in Ireland. If the weather is fine and you’re game, you can climb up to the top for a spectacular 360 degree view of the surrounding countryside. Even if you don’t do the climb, the view from the car park is beautiful. Back to Broughshane, known as the “Garden Village of Ulster”. The village was recently named Village of the Year, Great Britain for 2018 and has previously won Ulster in Bloom, Britain in Bloom and Entente Florale (Europe in Bloom), as well as the All Ireland Tidy Town Award. Well worth a visit and a walk along the main street, where you’ll find some quaint little shops. Time for an evening meal at the historic Thatch Inn, a quaint pub and historic, thatched building, originally a planter’s house. Make a stop at The Hidden Village of Galboly (weather permitting) on the way back to your cozy home base at Kilmore Country House, where you’ll spend time this evening in the company of Liz Weir, a traditional Irish story teller.

A final breakfast in this beautiful country house before saying your farewells and departing for Belfast. Check in to the lovely, centrally located Hotel Europa before heading for the Titanic Quarter for a visit to the Titanic Centre, recently voted “The World’s Best Tourist Attraction”. Once you’ve toured through this fabulous attraction you’ll head back to central Belfast for a tour of Northern Ireland’s capital city with Dee Morgan, Belfast’s best tour guide. A child of “the troubles” no one can tell the story of the Capital City better than Dee. She has lived through its darkest days and is inspirational to listen to, as she highlights the future with pride and passion. Overnight at Belfast’s famous Europa Hotel, with lots of restaurants for dinner options and pubs in the area for a nightcap, should you be in the mood.

After breakfast at the hotel you’ll check out and transfer to one of Belfast’s airports or the train station for your departure. We can arrange for extra nights of accommodation in Belfast after this tour, to allow you time to further explore this lively and historic city. Accommodation ranges from hostels, B&B/guesthouses, all categories of hotels up to castle stays. Please inquire.