A Memorable Trip throughout Northern Ireland

Explore the culture and history of Northern Ireland on this unique small-group tour to the Emerald Isle. We’ll also visit gardens, manor homes and generally enjoy nature in this less-visited corner of Ireland.

As our home base for this trip, we will stay in the Blackhead Cutter lighthouse and its lighthouse keeper’s houses. This group of historic buildings lies just 45 minutes from Belfast, perched on a high bluff overlooking the sea. It is an astounding setting and also centrally located for easy access to so much in Ireland.

We’ll drive the Causeway Costal Route, visiting the Giants Causeway, visit a distillery, walk though castles, both rehabilitated and in ruins. A day in Belfast will include the Ulster Museum, the Titanic Museum, and botanic gardens.

In the evening we’ll seek out live, traditional Irish music at some local pubs.

Sample Itinerary

Here is a tentative list of activities for this trip through Northern Ireland:

• The Gobbins walking path on the coast
• Drive the Causeway Costal Route
• Ulster Museum
• Titanic Museum
• Botanic Gardens in Belfast
• Tollymore Forest Park
• Castle Visits
• Giant’s Causeway
• Glenariff Forest Park
• Old Bushmills Distillery
• Portstewart Strand
• Ards Peninsula
• Hillsborough Castle

Where we will stay

We will occupy a lighthouse and its two lighthouse keepers’ houses that sit high up on a bluff overlooking the sea. It is hard to imagine a more breathtaking location.

These historic properties have been painstakingly restored by the Irish Landmark Trust.

Because of the historic nature of these buildings, the room configuration is not what you’d expect from a Hilton or Holiday Inn. There are 8 rooms in total and between them they share 3 bathrooms and 2 separate shower rooms. 

While in theory these lodgings sleep 15, we will not have a large number of people on this trip. This is due to the number who wish to have single rooms. So we expect there to be just 8-10 participants for this visit to Northern Ireland.