Activities in Northern Ireland
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Original Belfast Black Taxi Tours
Black-taxi tours of West Belfast's murals - known locally as the 'bombs and bullets' or 'doom and gloom' tours - are being offered by an increasing number of taxi companies and local cabbies. These can vary in quality and content, but in general they're an intimate and entertaining way to see the sights and can be customised to suit your own interests. There are also historical taxi tours of the city centre.
For a one-hour tour expect to pay around £25 total for one or two people, and around £8 per person for three to six. Call and they will pick you up anywhere in the city centre. A recommended company is Original Belfast Black Taxi Tours.
reviewed
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Old Bushmills Distillery
Bushmills is the world's oldest legal distillery, having been granted a licence by King James I in 1608. Bushmills whiskey is made with Irish barley and water from St Columb's Rill, a tributary of the River Bush, and matured in oak barrels. During ageing, the alcohol content drops from around 60% to 40%; the spirit lost through evaporation is known, rather sweetly, as 'the angels' share'. After a tour of the distillery you're rewarded with a free sample (or a soft drink), and four lucky volunteers get a whiskey-tasting session to compare Bushmills with other brands.
reviewed
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Castle Archdale Country Park
This park has pleasant woodland and lakeshore walks and cycle tracks in the former estate of 18th-century Archdale Manor. The island-filled bay was used in WWII as a base for Catalina flying boats, a history explained in the visitor centre. You can hire bikes for £4/8/12 per hour/ half-day/full-day, or swap two wheels for four legs – the park offers pony trekking (£15 per hour), as well as short rides (£5 per 15 minutes) for beginners. There are also boats for hire (£55/80 per half-day/full-day), and you can also rent fishing rods (£5 per day including bait). The park is 16km northwest of Enniskillen on the B82, near Lisnarick.
reviewed
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Official Black Taxi Tours
Black-taxi tours of West Belfast's murals - known locally as the 'bombs and bullets' or 'doom and gloom' tours - are being offered by an increasing number of taxi companies and local cabbies. These can vary in quality and content, but in general they're an intimate and entertaining way to see the sights and can be customised to suit your own interests. There are also historical taxi tours of the city centre.
For a one-hour tour expect to pay around £25 total for one or two people, and around £8 per person for three to six. Call and they will pick you up anywhere in the city centre. A recommended company is Official Black Taxi Tours.
reviewed
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Harpers Taxi Tours
Black-taxi tours of West Belfast's murals - known locally as the 'bombs and bullets' or 'doom and gloom' tours - are being offered by an increasing number of taxi companies and local cabbies. These can vary in quality and content, but in general they're an intimate and entertaining way to see the sights and can be customised to suit your own interests. There are also historical taxi tours of the city centre.
For a one-hour tour expect to pay around £25 total for one or two people, and around £8 per person for three to six. Call and they will pick you up anywhere in the city centre. A recommended company is Harpers Taxi Tours.
reviewed
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A
Lagan Boat Company
The excellent Titanic Tour explores the derelict docklands downstream of the weir, taking in the slipways where the liners Titanic and Olympic were launched and the huge dry dock where they could fit with just nine inches to spare; departs from Donegall Quay near the Bigfish sculpture. The Obel Tour (£20/18) combines a Titanic boat tour with a trip to the top of the Obel, Ireland's tallest building.
reviewed
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Kingfisher Trail
The Kingfisher Trail is a waymarked, long-distance cycling trail that starts in Enniskillen and wends its way through the back roads of Counties Fermanagh, Leitrim, Cavan and Monaghan. The full route is around 370km long, but a shorter loop, starting and finishing in Enniskillen, and travelling via Kesh, Belleek, Garrison, Belcoo and the village of Florencecourt, is only 115km – easily done in two days with an overnight stay at Belleek. You can get a trail map from the Enniskillen Tourist Information Centre. There's no bicycle hire available in Enniskillen, though; the nearest is in Castle Archdale Country Park.
You can buy fishing permits and licences from the tourist i…
reviewed
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Erne Tours
Operates 1¾-hour cruises on Lower Lough Erne aboard the 56-seat waterbus MV Kestrel, calling at Devenish Island along the way. It departs from the Round 'O' Quay, just west of the town centre on the A46 to Belleek. There are also Saturday evening cruises that include a three-course dinner at the Killyhevlin Hotel, departing from the hotel jetty.
reviewed
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B
Titanic Tours
A two-hour luxury tour led by the great- granddaughter of one of the Titanic's crew, visiting various Titanic-related sites, for groups of two to five people; includes pick-up and drop-off at your accommodation.
reviewed
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Tyrone Crystal
Today, Tyrone Crystal continues to produce high-quality lead crystal. The factory offers guided tours (11am, noon and 2pm weekdays only) of the manufacturing process, from the furnace where molten glass is prepared, through hand-blowing and moulding, to cutting and polishing. Admission to the showroom is free, and the tour price is reimbursed if you buy something.
reviewed
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Bluelough Mountain & Water Sports Centre
If you fancy a shot at hill walking, rock climbing, canoeing or a range of other outdoor activities, Bluelough Mountain & Water Sports Centre offers one-day, have-a-go sessions for individuals, couples and families (around £60 to £100 per person), as well as Sunday afternoon taster sessions. They also rent canoes for £30/45 per half-day/day.
reviewed
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Royal County Down Golf Course
Stretching north of town is the Royal County Down Golf Course, whose challenging Championship Links – venue for the 2007 Walker Cup – is full of blind tee shots and monster rough, and is regularly voted one of the world's top 10 golf courses. It's open to visitors on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday.
reviewed
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Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge
The main attraction on this stretch of coast is the famous (or notorious, depending on your head for heights) Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge. The 20m-long, 1m-wide bridge of wire rope spans the chasm between the sea cliffs and the little island of Carrick-a-Rede, swaying gently 30m above the rock-strewn water.
reviewed
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C
Belfast City Sightseeing
Runs 1¼-hour open-top bus tours that take in City Hall, the Albert Clock, the Titanic Quarter, the Botanic Gardens, and the Falls Rd and Shankill Rd murals in West Belfast. Departs from Castle Pl; hop-on hop-off tickets valid for 48 hours.
reviewed
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D
Titanic Trail
A state-of-the-art, self-guided trail which allows you to explore the city centre and Titanic Quarter at your own pace. A hand-held media player provides an audio-visual commentary (two people can share one media player), and shows you where to go using GPS technology. On hire from the Belfast Welcome Centre.
reviewed
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Knockninny Marina
Day boats can be hired for fishing or exploring from Knockninny Marina on the west shore of the lough; rates are €50/70 per half-/full-day for a six-seater motor boat with cabin. The marina also rents bikes for €7/12 a half-/full day. It's signposted from the main road just north of Derrylin.
reviewed
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Mount Pleasant Pony Trekking & Horse Riding Centre
Sedate outdoor activities are offered by the Mount Pleasant Pony Trekking & Horse Riding Centre, which caters for both experienced riders and beginners, and offers various guided treks into the park. Short rides, beach rides and pony trekking can also be arranged.
reviewed
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Waterworld
Waterworld, by the harbour, has indoor swimming pools, waterslides and spa baths for children to play in (adult/child under eight years £4.50/2.50, family tickets for three/four/five persons £11.75/15.60/19.50), and ten-pin bowling (from £8 per lane; open till 9pm).
reviewed
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E
Foyle Cruise Line
Operates daily cruises on the Foyle estuary. Trips to Culmore Bay (1¼ hours) cost £6/£4.50 per adult/child and depart at 14:00; four-hour evening cruises to Greencastle with bar and entertainment cost £12/£8 per adult/child, and depart at 20:00.
reviewed
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F
Life Cycles
Offers three-hour guided cycling tours for a minimum of five people of the city centre, South Belfast and the Lagan Towpath. The cost includes bike and helmet rental. Call to arrange a tour at least one day in advance. There are entrances on West St and Winetavern St.
reviewed
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Belfast City Hop-on Hop-off Tour
1 day (Departs Belfast, United Kingdom)
by Viator
With this 24 hour ticket aboard an open-top double-decker bus you can see the Wall Murals in Falls Road and Crumlin Road, and the Botanic Gardens, City Hall, Al…Not LP reviewed
from USD$19.59 -
Hotrock
If the weather is wet, you can still go rock climbing at this indoor climbing wall; you can hire rock boots and harness for £3.50. The entrance is on the B180, 2km west of the Tollymore Forest Park exit gate.
reviewed
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Blue Badge Tours
Offers guided tours of Enniskillen and the Lough Erne area with local historian Breege McCusker, a registered tourist guide. Special interest tours include prehistoric sites, monastic sites, carved stones and Plantation castles.
reviewed
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Troggs Surf Shop
Portrush is the centre of Northern Ireland's surfing scene – the Portrush Open in March is a regular feature on the Irish Surfing Association competition calendar, and the UK Pro Surf Tour held a contest here for the first time in 2007. From April to November the friendly Troggs Surf Shop offers bodyboard/surfboard hire (per day £5/10) and wetsuit hire (per day £7), surf reports and general advice. A two-hour lesson including equipment hire costs £25 per person.
reviewed
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Pickie Family Fun Park
Apart from strolling along the seafront, Bangor's main attraction is this old-fashioned seaside entertainment complex that's famous for its swan-shaped pedal boats, complete with kids adventure playground, karts and miniature steam train.
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