In association with: Tourism Ireland
Reawaken your clients’ spirit of adventure this winter with Northern Ireland’s vibrant cities and natural wonders
For adventures close to home, a trip to Northern Ireland is a small step to a land with a giant spirit. With travel from Great Britain both quick and easy either by ferry or a short direct flight, it’s ideal for a memorable, invigorating break to reawaken your clients’ spirit of adventure.
Lively capital Belfast makes a great base for a holiday, giving clients the chance to enjoy a city break with easy access to the wild coast and rugged green countryside for which Northern Ireland is famous. And visitors can be sure of a warm welcome from the locals, who are renowned for their friendly hospitality.
Plenty to explore
Both Derry~Londonderry and Belfast are walkable cities with a wealth of attractions to explore on foot. In Belfast, which has recently been named a Unesco City of Music, explore City Hall and the cobbled streets of the Cathedral Quarter.
The old Victorian covered market of St George’s offers a step‑back‑in‑time shopping experience. Over in Derry~Londonderry, the past is written into the fabric of the city, with brilliant street art and murals just some of the sights to explore on a walking tour. Clients can take a historical walking tour around the island of Ireland’s only completely intact walled city for great views of the River Foyle, before crossing the Peace Bridge that connects the east and west sides of the city.
Fans of popular TV series Derry Girls can join a fun sightseeing tour to see locations featured in filming. Or go behind the scenes on a whiskey distillery tour to see how the spirit is made. But wherever visitors explore in Northern Ireland, they will discover cosy traditional pubs serving hearty home-cooked food, providing the perfect place for some winter warming after a day’s sightseeing.
Land of Legends
Epic landscapes layered with ancient history and legend made Northern Ireland the perfect backdrop for Game of Thrones and fans of the show can experience the iconic Dark Hedges in County Antrim, or visit Castle Ward, which doubled up as Winterfell, on a short guided or self-drive tour from Northern Ireland’s cities.
But above all, clients exploring Northern Ireland won’t want to miss a trip to the spectacular Causeway Coast and the Giant’s Causeway, a Unesco World Heritage Site fabled to have been laid by legendary giants. To experience the natural glory of this coastline, also renowned for its scenic driving routes, clients can join the National Trust’s fully guided five-mile Clifftop Experience hike that sets off from the ruins of Dunseverick Castle along a stretch of the Ulster Way walking route.
For a more modern legend, Titanic Belfast tells the tale of the infamous cruise ship built in Belfast. Designed to resemble the huge super‑liner, the state-of-the-art museum features nine galleries of immersive dark rides and interactive exhibits exploring the story in a fresh and fascinating way.
Christmas markets
Belfast: The city’s Alpine-style festive market is back this year, filling the grounds of Belfast City Hall with twinkling lights, the sound of carollers and the sweet seasonal aromas of eggnog, roasted chestnuts and mulled wine until December 23.
Derry~Londonderry: If your clients are visiting during the first two weekends in December, suggest heading to the Walled City Market in Guildhall Square where they will find chalet stalls stuffed with Christmas treats and handmade crafts to get everyone in the yuletide spirit.
Press the Green Button and book your clients a trip to Northern Ireland now!
PICTURES: Northern Ireland Tourist Board; Tourism Ireland/Tony Pleavin; Market Place Europe
