Giant's Causeway, Antrim Coast

Northern Ireland Road Trip

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Overview

Suggested Itinerary

What's Included?

Accommodation & Prices

Car Hire

Overview

Self-Drive Holidays

8 Nights

Fully customisable itinerary
Prices from: £1165 per person
Best time to go: April - October
Transport: Rental car included (optional)

Highlights

Brilliant Belfast

You’re sure of a warm welcome in Northern Ireland’s capital city, known for its rich history and beautiful Victorian architecture. Attractions include the iconic Titanic Belfast Museum, Belfast City Hall, St. George’s Market and the Cathedral Quarter, Belfast’s lively cultural hub.

Giant's Causeway

Experience a spectacular road trip along the North Antrim coastline and visit breathtaking locations such as the Dark Hedges and the Giant’s Causeway. Enjoy the thrill of crossing Carrick-A-Rede Rope Bridge, or venture along the exhilarating cliff-face path at the Gobbins.

Old Bushmills Distillery

Join a tour of Northern Ireland’s oldest working distillery. Learn about the fascinating history of whiskey making, as well as some hidden secrets of this historic distillery. At the end of the tour, enjoy a little dram or a tutored whiskey tasting.

Rathlin Island

Sail across the Sea of Moyle to Rathlin Island. Visit the fascinating Boathouse Visitor Centre, enjoy a variety of coastal walks, or cycle your way around the island. You might spot some unique wildlife such as seals, puffins and other seabirds.

Fermanagh Lakelands

As Ireland’s only island town, Enniskillen is sandwiched between Lower and Upper Lough Erne and is the perfect base to explore the idyllic Fermanagh Lakelands. Explore one of the 150 islands, or hike the Cuilcagh Boardwalk Trail, also known as the Stairway to Heaven Walk.

Mourne Mountains

Enjoy the dramatic scenery of the Mourne Mountains. Nearby, you will find Tollymore Forest Park, offering a variety of walking trails. In County Antrim, the timber walkway at Glenariff Forest Park also offers an exhilarating forest adventure.

A Spectacular Road Trip Across Northern Ireland

This self-drive tour visits some of Northern Ireland’s most spectacular natural sites, including the famous Giant’s Causeway.

Starting in Belfast, Northern Ireland’s historic capital city, this tour follows the dramatic Causeway Coastal Route before exploring the Lakelands of Fermanagh and finishing in County Down, in the shadow of the majestic Mourne Mountains.

Arrive in Belfast and hop on a City Sightseeing Tour or a Black Cab tour. Learn about the city’s history and admire its unique architecture and striking murals. Discover the fascinating Titanic Belfast museum and stroll down to the Cathedral Quarter, with its cobble-stoned streets packed with street art, artisan shops and lively pubs.

Head north along the famous Causeway Coastal Route and experience some of the most spectacular natural and historic sites in the country, such as the beautiful Glens of Antrim. Explore the Giants Causeway, a striking coastal landscape of thousands of basalt stone columns, or dare to cross the Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge suspended 30 metres over the sea.

Travel south through the Sperrin Mountains and immerse yourself in the breathtaking natural landscape of the Fermanagh Lakelands. Hike the Stairway to Heaven or explore one of the 150 islands on Lough Erne, before travelling to County Down to enjoy the stunning scenery of the Mourne Mountains.

Hike up Slieve Donard, the highest peak in the Mournes, or wander through the lush Tollymore Forest. Visit fascinating historic sites such as Mount Stewart, a splendid Neo-classical country house, or Down Cathedral, the resting place of St Patrick.

Suggested Itinerary

The holiday ideas on our website are just examples of the amazing trips we offer. Think of this itinerary as a starting point which can be tailored into something completely unique to you by our award-winning specialists.

We love the opportunity to use our first-hand knowledge and experience to design and deliver the perfect, bespoke holiday experience for you.

Day 1: Arrive in Belfast

Northern Ireland’s capital city has a rich history and friendly atmosphere. Today, Belfast is a cosmopolitan city with a fascinating industrial heritage and impressive architecture. During your first night in Belfast, visit the Cathedral Quarter, the city’s cultural hub centred around St Anne’s Cathedral. Discover its narrow cobbled streets and enjoy some of the best pubs in the city.
Overnight – Belfast

Day 2: Belfast Sightseeing

A full day to explore Belfast. Get your bearing by joining an included City Sightseeing Bus Tour. Enjoy refreshments in St George’s Market and visit fascinating attractions such as the iconic Titanic Quarter, Belfast City Hall, and the Crumlin Road Gaol.
Overnight – Belfast

Day 3: Belfast to the Causeway Coast

Take the scenic route north along the Causeway Coastal Route past Carrickfergus Castle, or head to the Gobbins to enjoy an exhilarating cliff-side walk.

Arrive in the beautiful Glens of Antrim. Nearby is Glenariff Forest Park with its magnificent waterfall boardwalk.
Overnight – County Antrim Coast

Day 4: Causeway Coast & Glens of Antrim Sightseeing

Rise early and head to the Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge, suspended high above the sea. Then slowly make your way back west and stop at the picturesque Ballintoy harbour before reaching the Giant’s Causeway, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In the afternoon, tour the Old Bushmills Distillery or head to the iconic 16th-century Dunluce Castle, perched on dramatic coastal cliffs.
Overnight – County Antrim Coast

Day 5: Country Antrim to Fermanagh

Today you will head south towards the Fermanagh Lakelands, but not before stopping by the Dark Hedges, a beautiful archway of intertwining beech trees featured in Game of Thrones. As you head into the Sperrin Mountains Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, you may wish to stop for refreshment at the famous Ponderosa, Ireland’s highest pub.
Overnight – Enniskillen

Day 6: Fermanagh Sightseeing

With a full day to explore Enniskillen and the Fermanagh Lakelands, you might choose to immerse yourself in local history at Enniskillen Castle or visit one of Lough Erne’s 150 islands on a boat tour. Alternatively, you could hike the Cuilcagh Boardwalk Trail, just south of Enniskillen. Known as the Stairway to Heaven, this memorable trail takes you over one of Ireland’s largest expanses of blanket bog.
Overnight – Enniskillen

Day 7: Enniskillen to County Down

Swap the endless shores of Lough Erne for the dramatic Mountains of Mourne as you travel east towards County Down. On the way, explore the best of the Orchard County of Armagh. Visit the Navan Centre and Fort, one of Ireland’s most important archaeological sites, before arriving in Newcastle at the foot of Slieve Donard.
Overnight – County Down

Day 8: Mourne Mountains Sightseeing

Enjoy the great outdoors in County Down by exploring the Mourne Mountains, the inspiration for C. S. Lewis’ Narnia. Climb Slieve Donard, Northern Ireland’s highest peak, or choose one of the many walking trails in the area. You might prefer to venture into Tollymore Forest, follow forest trails along the Shimna River, or take in the scenic sea views from Newcastle.
Overnight – County Down

Day 9: Depart County Down

After breakfast, your Northern Irish escape will come to an end. Belfast is located approximately one hour from County Down. If you have time before your departure, you might wish to continue exploring the Mourne Mountains or take the scenic route to Belfast via the Strangford Lough Ferry.

What's Included?

Your holiday includes:

Carefully selected en-suite accommodation for 8 nights including traditional Northern Irish breakfast
Comprehensive information pack and local visitor information
Personalised itinerary with our recommendations for the best places to eat and drink and sightseeing suggestions
Map of Northern Ireland with our recommended driving route
7 days rental of an Economy car (other vehicle categories available) including comprehensive insurance
Tickets for the Belfast City Sightseeing Tour
24-hour emergency contact number
Full financial protection

Your holiday doesn't include:

Travel insurance
Flights
Lunches and evening meals

Accommodation & Prices

Special Places to Stay

Premium

Standard

We know that, after a busy day of sightseeing, an exceptional place to stay makes all the difference. That’s why all of the accommodation we select is hand-picked using our first-hand knowledge of the best places to stay.

Our discerning team has a wealth of experience, and we extensively research and regularly review all of the accommodation we select for our clients.

Please choose from one of our accommodation categories below. If you wish to combine these categories or perhaps upgrade for a special occasion let us know in your enquiry.

Car Hire

Our packages include car rental and comprehensive insurance for the duration of your holiday. Absolute Escapes has an excellent relationship with a number of car hire operators and we are able to offer quality vehicles and great value for money.

If you plan to bring your own vehicle, we are also able to offer this itinerary without a rental car.

All our packages include:

Collision Damage Waiver
Super Damage Excess Waiver
Third Party Insurance
Theft Waiver
Tax

Economy

Vauxhall Corsa or similar

Good for 2 people
Maximum of 4 passengers
2 large suitcases
Manual or automatic transmission

Compact

Ford Focus or similar

Good for 2 – 4 people
Maximum of 5 passengers
2 large suitcases
Manual or automatic transmission

Intermediate

Volkswagen Passat or similar

Good for up to 4 people
Maximum of 5 passengers
3 large suitcases
Manual or automatic transmission

Fullsize

VW Sharan or similar

Good for 5 people
Maximum of 7 passengers
3 – 4 large suitcases
Manual or automatic transmission

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