Destinations > Northern Ireland > County Antrim

Co Antrim

Northern Ireland's most visited county is home to the capital Belfast and the World Heritage-listed Giant's Causeway.

Portrush (Port Ruis)

This seaside resort is only 6km from Portstewart in County Derry and it is a town that is a popular family resort. Portrush has good transport connections making it a handy base for exploring the surrounding region.

Practical Information

Portrush Tourist Information Centre

Dunluce Centre, Sandhill Drive, Portrush

Tel (028) 7082 3333

Website www.northcoastni.com

Open Jun-Aug 9am-7pm daily

Coming & Going

BUS

Portrush is well served by buses with Ulsterbus (website www.translink.co.uk) buses 140 and 252 going to Coleraine and Portstewart and bus 252 continuing along the coast to Larne, stopping en route at Bushmills, the Giant's Causeway and Ballycastle.

TRAIN

The station on Eglington Street in the town centre has trains to Belfast and Derry.

Accommodation

Macools Portrush Independent Hostel

35 Causeway Street, Portrush

Tel (028) 7082 4845

Bushmills & the Giant's Causeway

This historic village is home to the world's oldest licensed whiskey distillery and it is also the closest town to the Giant's Causeway, Northern Ireland's top visitor attraction, which makes it a popular stop for many backpackers.

Practical Information

Giant's Causeway Tourist Information Centre

44 Causeway Road, Bushmills

Tel (028) 2073 1855

Open Jan-Feb 10am-4.30pm daily; Mar-Jun 10am-5pm daily; Jul-Aug 10am-6pm daily; Sep-Oct 10am-5pm daily; Nov-Dec 10am-4.30pm daily

Coming & Going

Both bus 177 and 252 run to Portrush and the Giant's Causeway although bus 252 (the Antrim Coaster) continues along the coast as far as Larne, where you can transfer to a Belfast-bound train.

Accommodation

Mill Rest Bushmills Youth Hostel

49 Main Street, Bushmills

Bus 177, 252

Tel (028) 2073 1222

Sights

Giant's Causeway

The World Heritage-listed Giant's Causeway is Northern Ireland's top tourist attraction. It consists of around 40,000 basalt columns, each formed in a unique polygon shape, that were created 60 million years ago during a period of volcanic activity. Local folklore states that an Irish giant named Finn MacCool built the causeway so he could walk across the sea to Scotland to challenge a rival giant. Finn MacCool is also credited with creating Lough Neagh and the Isle of Man.

60 Causeway Road, Bushmills

Bus 177, 252

Tel (028) 2073 1582

Website www.ntni.org.uk

Admission free; parking £5

Always open

The Old Bushmills Distillery

This is the world's oldest licensed whiskey distillery, which was granted its licence by King James I in 1608. Tours of the distillery conclude with a sample of Bushmills whiskey.

2 Distillery Road, Bushmills

Tel (028) 2073 1521

Website www.whiskeytours.ie

Tours depart Jan-Mar Mon-Fri 10.30am, 11.30am, 1.30pm, 2.30pm, 3.30pm, Sat-Sun 1.30pm, 2.30pm, 3.30pm; Apr-Oct Mon-Sat 9.30am-4pm, Sun noon-4pm; Nov-Dec Mon-Fri 10.30am, 11.30am, 1.30pm, 2.30pm, 3.30pm, Sat-Sun 1.30pm, 2.30pm, 3.30pm

Ballintoy (Baile an Tuaighe)

This small village between Ballycastle and the Giant's Causeway has lovely coastal scenery and a couple of hostels that are a good base for exploring northern Antrim. Its main attractions are the two islands off the coast – Carrick-a-rede Island and Sheep Island. Sheep Island is a haven for birdlife including cormorants and puffins but the more popular of the two islands is the smaller Carrick-a-rede Island, accessible via a hair-raising rope bridge.

Coming and Going

The Antrim Coaster (bus 252) runs along the coast from Coleraine to Larne, stopping en route at Portstewart, Portrush, Bushmills and Ballycastle.

Accommodation

Sheep Island View Hostel

42A Main Street, Ballintoy

Tel (028) 2076 9391

Whitepark Bay Youth Hostel

157 Whitepark Road, 5km west of Ballintoy

Tel (028) 2073 1745

Sights

Carrick-a-rede Island & Rope Bridge

Fishermen have used a rope bridge to cross the 30m-deep chasm between the mainland and Carrick-a-rede Island for over 300 years. The original bridge consisted of a footrope and a single handrail, but in 2000 a new rope bridge was erected that has been load tested to more than 10 tonnes.

Bus 252

Website www.ntni.org.uk

Admission £3.50

Open 15 Mar-30 Jun 10am-6pm daily; 1 Jul-31 Aug 9.30am-7.30pm daily; 1-30 Sep 10am-6pm daily

Ballycastle (Baile an Chaisil)

This bustling seaside town is a popular base for travellers exploring the Causeway Coast.

Practical Information

Ballycastle Tourist Information Centre

Sheskburn House, 7 Mary Street, Ballycastle

Tel (028) 2076 2024

Website www.moyle-council.org

Open Jan-Jun Mon-Fri 9.30am-5pm; Jul-Aug Mon-Fri 9.30am-7pm, Sat 10am-6pm, Sun 2pm-6pm; Sep-Dec Mon-Fri 9.30am-5pm

Coming & Going

Ulsterbus (website www.translink.co.uk) bus 252 stops at Ballycastle on the coastal route linking Coleraine and Larne, where you can transfer for a train to Belfast. Bus 131 offers a more direct route to Belfast.

Accommodation

Ballycastle Backpackers

4 North Street, Ballycastle, Co. Antrim BT54 6BL

Tel (028) 2076 3612

Castle Hostel

62 Quay Road, Ballycastle

Tel (028) 2076 2337

Cushendun (Bun Abhann Duinne)

This relatively remote village is reached by a breathtaking drive and it boasts a stunning seaside location.

Coming & Going

Cushendun is served by the Antrim Coaster bus (route 252), which runs along the coast between Larne and Coleraine.

Accommodation

Drumkeerin Camping Barn

201A Torr Road, Cushendun

Tel (028) 2176 1554

Belfast (Béal Feirste)

Northern Ireland's largest city is a fascinating destination that is both a thriving cosmopolitan city and a window into Northern Ireland's troubled past.

Although much of the city centre is just like anywhere else in Britain & Ireland, many of Belfast's residential neighbourhoods are divided on sectarian lines with Catholic and Protestant areas displaying murals depicting each side's version of the Troubles that until recently dominated everyday life in Northern Ireland. You can get a taste of the division between Northern Ireland's two main religious groups by staying at the youth hostel in the staunchly Protestant Sandy Row area, although a much better idea is to take one of the highly recommended Black Taxi tours where a local cab driver takes you into the city's most divided areas giving a first-hand account of the Troubles.

Practical Information

Belfast Tourist Information Centre

47 Donegal Place, Belfast

Tel (028) 9024 5829

Website www.gotobelfast.com

Open Jan-May Mon-Sat 9am-5.30pm; Jun-Sep Mon-Sat 9am-7pm, Sun noon-5pm; Oct-Dec Mon-Sat 9am-5.30pm

Coming & Going

AIR

Belfast has two airports, Belfast City and Belfast International.

The busier of the two is Belfast International Airport (tel (028) 9448 4848; website www.bial.co.uk) in Aldergrove, which has flights by Aer Lingus, British Airways, BMI and easyJet while the smaller – but more central – Belfast City Airport (tel (028) 9066 6630; website www.belfastcityairport.com) handles FlyBE.com flights.

The Airbus (tel (028) 9066 6630; website www.translink.co.uk) goes to Belfast International from Europa bus station running every half hour (£6 one-way). Take a train from Central Station to Sydenham Halt to get to Belfast City Airport (£1.50 one-way).

BUS

Bus Éireann (website www.buseireann.ie), Eurolines (website www.eurolines.co.uk) and Ulsterbus (website www.translink.co.uk) bus services depart from the Europa bus station on Great Victoria Street for destinations throughout Great Britain and Ireland.

Buses to the east coast in counties Antrim and Down leave from Laganside Bus Station off Donegall Quay.

FERRY

Seacat Ferries (tel 0870 552 3523; website www.seacat.co.uk) sail from Belfast to Troon near Glasgow in Scotland and Norse Merchant Ferries (tel 0870 242 4777; website www.norsemerchant.com) sail to Birkenhead near Liverpool.

Ferries depart from Donegall Quay, which is a five minute walk from Laganside Bus Station and a 15 minute walk from Central Station.

TRAIN

Belfast has several train stations with all trains terminating at Central Station. Some trains also stop at the more centrally located Botanic and Great Victoria Street stations. Trains go to Derry, Dublin and Larne.

Local Transport

Belfast's comprehensive public transport system is comprised of suburban trains and the Citybus bus network, both run by Translink (website www.translink.co.uk). The Centrelink bus (route 100) connects all the main bus and train stations as well as the Waterfront Hall and major shopping areas. One-way bus tickets cost from 90p to £1.10.

Accommodation

Arnie's Backpackers

63 Fitzwilliam Street, Belfast BT9 6AX

Tel (028) 9024 2867

Belfast International Youth Hostel

22-32 Donegall Road, Belfast BT12 5JN

Tel (028) 9032 4733

Linen House Hostel

18 - 20 Kent Street, Belfast BT1 2JA

Tel (028) 90586400

Paddy's Palace

68 Lisburn Road, Belfast

Tel (028) 9033 3367

The Ark

44 University Street, Belfast BT7 1HB

Tel (028) 9032 9626

Sights

Belfast City Hall

This imposing Classical Renaissance building features an ornate 53m-high dome and an opulent Council Chamber that can be seen by taking a free tour.

Donegall Square, Belfast

Bus Centrelink

Tel (028) 9027 0456

Website www.belfastcity.gov.uk

Admission free

Tours Jan-May Mon-Sat 2.30pm; Jun-Sep Mon-Fri 10.30am, 11.30am, 2.30pm, Sat 2.30pm; Oct-Dec Mon-Sat 2.30pm

Black Taxi Tours

One of the most worthwhile things you can do in Belfast is take a Black Taxi Tour. These tours involve a local cab driver taking you into the areas most affected by the Troubles giving a first-hand account of the conflict. Tours generally include the murals in the Protestant Shankill Road and Catholic Falls Road, fortified police stations and the sites of various terrorist bombs. There are several companies offering these tours including the highly recommended Belfast Black Taxi Tours:

Tel 0800 052 3914 or (028) 9064 2264

Website www.belfasttours.com

Tours cost £25 for one or two passenger tour; £8 per person for larger group

Tours depart 10am, noon, 2pm, 4pm, 6pm

Belfast Cab Tours are another option. They have the advantage of having multilingual tours.

Website www.belfastcabtours.com

Tours cost £30 for one to four passengers; £35 for five passengers; £40 for six passengers; multilingual tours cost an additional £15.

Odyssey

This huge complex by the docks features an IMAX theatre and an excellent science museum.

2 Queen's Quay, Belfast

Tel (028) 9046 7700

Admission £5.50

Open Mon-Sat 10am-6pm, Sun noon-6pm

Ulster Museum

This excellent museum has a varied collection including treasures recovered from the Spanish galleon Girona, which sank off the coast of Northern Ireland in 1588.

Stranmills Road, Belfast

Bus 69

Tel (028) 9038 3000

Admission free

Open Mon-Fri 10am-5pm, Sat 1pm-5pm, Sun 2pm-5pm

Ulster Folk & Transport Museum

This open-air museum is set on 60 acres and features restored buildings depicting life in the early 1900s. It is about 12km from the city centre.

153 Bangor Road, Holywood

Tel (028) 9042 8428

Admission £2-4

Open Jan-Feb Mon-Fri 10am-4pm, Sat 10am-5pm, Sun 11am-5pm; Mar-Jun Mon-Fri 10am-5pm, Sat 10am-6pm, Sun 11am-6pm; Jul-Sep Mon-Sat 10am-6pm, Sun 11am-6pm; Oct-Dec Mon-Fri 10am-4pm, Sat 10am-5pm, Sun 11am-5pm