 |
|
Search Travel Services |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Search Special Travel |
|
|
|
|
| Search Destinations |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Odds n' Ends..! |
|
|
|
|
|
| ADMINISTRATION |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
As Northern Ireland has smaller regions than the south, and if it's great scenery and meeting friendly people you want, its well worth making time
to include Ulster in your trip to Ireland - you won't regret it. Trains run every hour from Dublin-Belfast (or vice versa) and the cost is
approximately 17 Euros (one way on an extremely modern and comfortable train, with the journey taking about 1 ½ - 2 hours). If driving, and
you are heading along the east coast, it's only about a ninety-minute direct drive from Dublin to Belfast or better still, an easy and
rewarding day's drive if you want to potter and stop along the way.
The counties within Northern Ireland are part of the United Kingdom and its people speak English with a slightly different accent to the
people in the Republic of Ireland (the south). The currency of Northern Ireland is British pounds, however using Northern Irish pound notes -
which like Scottish pound notes - are NOT generally accepted back in England - and must be changed at a bank to English pound notes for
use in England. Northern Ireland also uses the Imperial system of measurement, distances being in miles rather than kilometres.
Currency in the south (the Republic of Ireland) is the Euro, as it is part of the European Union with the Euro as the common unit of
currency - 1 Euro equalling approximately 65 British pence, and the measurement system is metric, using kilometres instead of miles.
Despite its turbulent history, relations between Northern Ireland and the Republic are extremely friendly. The Northern Irish go out of their
way to be friendly and helpful to visitors - perhaps to compensate for adverse media coverage. More and more visitors are now heading
to Northern Ireland (Belfast is worth the visit alone) as the peace continues and people decide to explore Ireland more widely. Visiting
Northern Ireland has always been safe. The region is one of the safest in Europe for tourists, with a very low crime rate.
As well as delightful scenery and friendly citizens, Northern Ireland offers a striking and attractive capital, Belfast. This handsome
Victorian-style city boasts a clock tower looking very similar to Big Ben, but listing slightly to one side. Belfast is quite small,
so a walking tour is possible without undue effort. Donegall Square is the city centre and the beginning of the lively entertainment
and dining district known as the Golden Mile, which extends south to Queens University, a 15-minute walk away.
Outside Belfast, the countryside of Northern Ireland is wild and beautiful. It is particularly favoured by coarse fishermen (
or fisherwoman) as it has the best coarse fishing in the UK within its lakes and rivers. The geographical location of Ulster as the
most northern part of Ireland, surrounded by the fierce Atlantic Ocean on three sides with a rugged and beautiful coastline of dramatic
cliffs, lonely beaches and inland, its sweeping unspoilt mountain ranges, is quintessential Ireland. The tranquil farming landscapes of
southern Ulster are framed in the east by Lough Neagh, in the west by Lough Erne, and in the south by the lakelands of Fermanagh, Cavan
and Monaghan.
Each of the six counties in Northern Ireland (Antrim, *Londonderry, (*also known as Derry) Tyrone, Fermanagh, Armagh & Down) offers
distinctive countryside and attractions well worth seeing. There's plenty to see and do, from the mysterious rock formations of
the Giant's Causeway in County Antrim, to the ancient Neolithic site of the Druid's Altar in County Derry.
Mount Stewart House in County Down is one of Northern Ireland's most magnificent country homes, filled with artworks and surrounded
by spacious gardens. County Down's Mountains of Mourne prove that Northern Ireland's vast stretches of untouched countryside are
every bit as dramatic as those in the Republic. This range of granite hills, between Carlingford, Lough and Dundrum Bay, about 35 miles
south of Belfast, offers great views and inspiring walks.
If you are heading north, (from the west coast), cut inland and head through Londonderry to the north coast of Antrim. There are two
natural phenomena here - if you're a brave surfer with a hardy wetsuit, the surfing is amazing. This is not a place for swimming
however, even though there are beautiful sand beaches. Apart from the cold, the rips are formidable. The second phenomena and
the best-known attraction in County Antrim is the Giant's Causeway, a stone freak of nature facing the sea consisting of some 37,500
basalt columns (formed with sudden cooling when lava hit the sea). Blocks are almost perfectly hexagonal, looking like sections of
honeycomb. The folklore here says that there were once two giants, one in Ireland and one in England. They feuded and one giant
picked up a lump of dirt and threw it out over the water, but missed the target and it fell into the sea to become the Isle of Man.
The hole left behind on the mainland filled with water and became Lough Neagh. The giant then decided that if he couldn't throw a
projectile that far, he would have to build a bridge to attack - hence The Giant's Causeway.
Dunluce Castle is a fascinating spot dating from the 14th century. What makes it different is that it was built on a promontory part of
which fell into the sea, taking some of the castle with it (and a banqueting hall full of guests).
Again if you are driving, a good idea for your stay in the Belfast area would be to spend at least a night in Belfast and then head along
the coast towards Bangor (the Antrim coast road is stunning) and stay somewhere there - or even down in Newcastle - and commute back to
Belfast if you needed more time there. Also, near Bangor, The Ulster Folk and Transport Museum is well worth a visit. The roads are
also better in the north also, a great benefit of being part of the United Kingdom economy. The freeway journey from Belfast to
Enniskillen for example, takes only an hour or so.
|
|
|
