Northern Ireland

Hi,

I have 3 days in Northern Ireland next month. Fly into Belfast at 6am on Saturday morning and fly home 9pm Monday evening. I intend to spend at least one day and night in Belfast (I am aware this isn't a sufficient amount of time to see Belfast properly) and am unsure on my second night and wanted some guidance/opinion.

I love Game of Thrones and will definitely be looking to do the tour of as many of the locations as possible. I am undecided on whether to do a self guided tour or get on a bus and do a guided one. I quite like the idea of doing it ourselves (there's a group of 4 of us and happy to drive, I'm very good with finding my way around from a map and have sat nav). Has anyone done the tour themselves and have any feedback on this? Will we be missing out on much if we are doing it ourselves though? I have seen that you can drive to Castle Ward and do some bike tours (at a cost), do you know if you can just walk around for free (once you have paid the National Trust entry fee)?

I also intend to do the Carrick-a-Rede, Giants Causeway, Bushmills, Ballycastle circle (I've heard you can do this in almost half a day, is that right?). I quite like the idea of having the second night in a town up in the North closer than these. Would anyone have any recommendations as to where would be a good location for this night? As long as it has a pub or two I'm happy. I would quite like the idea of doing a hike nearby or en route if possible.

Or would people advise that I just base myself in Belfast and do these two day trips from there?

Bump

Hello? Have i posted this in the wrong place?

Hi,
Its always a good idea to hire a car in Northern Ireland as public transport is not that great once you leave belfast. If you have two full days i would recommend a day around belfast and a day around North coast and hope for the best weather wise ! A rainy day i would stick around belfast and if there was a better one head up north ! An idea might be to head up tne coast road and back the motorway to save time. Personally like portstewart to stay. Look up National Trust website for Northern Ireland for info.

Thank you very much for your response. I actually went ahead with my plan last night and booked a hire car, a night in a hotel in Belfast and then one night at a B&B up in Portrush. Had planned to do the coast road on way up with a few stops and then motorway on way back so it is good that you also suggested that. Have found some suggested walks on www.walkni.com/walks and the stops on route from www.discovernorthernireland.com.

Thanks again.

Ok great. You can do the dark hedges on route on the way back near ballymoney. Maybe look up belfast dynamos walking group for some interesting walks and you can even go on one one if there is a walk whatever weekend your over

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