Beyond Belfast
Belfast is the Gateway to Northern Ireland and
there is a whole host of exciting and
memorable places of great interest to see. We can assist
you to plan any type of trip outside of Belfast, whether it is just
a couple of hours or a whole or half day; call us and one of the
team will be delighted to assist in the planning. Here we have
created some tasters to whet the appetite for the feast that
awaits:
Lisburn...
...one visit a Lifetime of Experiences itinerary
The City of Lisburn, located 8 miles outside
Belfast, offers a mix of memorable pursuits.
Walk or cycle down the Lagan Towpath,
experience world-class golf,
angling and horse riding or enjoy
a fun-packed day at Lagan Valley LeisurePlex.
Learn about the City on a self-guided trail through the
Historic Quarter, tour the 18th century
Hillsborough Castle and its rose garden or journey
to medieval times at Hillsborough Fort.
Alternatively experience the ancient art of brewing at
Hilden Brewery.
Spend the day browsing for antiques and crafts
in Lisburn’s various shops. “Sup” a pint in a traditional
pub or sample international cuisine in a local
restaurant.
Lisburn features a number of unique meeting venues including,
Lagan Valley Island, which accommodates up to 400
people theatre style, offering planners a modern
venue with a variety of event spaces.
For more information call +44 (0) 28 9266 0038
or visit www.visitlisburn.com
Itinerary
09:00
Depart Belfast.
09.30
Arrive to the Irish Linen Centre and
Museum which depicts the story of Ireland’s world famous
industry.
11:00
Spend time shopping in a city where
international high street names complement
local linen, antique and
craft shops.
12.30
Move on to Hillsborough village and enjoy lunch in
one of the cosy traditional pubs.
14:30
Step back in time at
Hillsborough Castle, an elegant 18th
Century mansion and home to the Secretary of State.
16.00
Move onto Moira, an award winning ‘Britain in
Bloom’ village.
17.00
Finish at Hilden’s
traditional brewery to learn the secrets of making real
ale and sample a glass of authentic brew.
Antrim
‘Jewel of the Lough’
Located 4 miles from Belfast International
Airport and 20 minutes from Belfast city
centre lies the Borough of Antrim. Set in
rolling countryside on the shores of Lough Neagh,
the area is renowned for the variety of leisure pursuits on offer
from superb world-class golf courses through to
cycling the Lough shore Trail, sailing or
fishing on the Lough.
Antrim also offers a diverse shopping
experience incorporating Northern Ireland’s largest outlet
centre, Junction One.
For those interested in the culture and heritage of the area
Antrim Castle’s 17th Century Gardens,
Pogue’s Entry Historical Cottage and
Shane’s Castle are all on the doorstep.
For meetings and conferences Antrim Civic
Centre has excellent facilities with a range of modern,
comfortable rooms. The Borough also boasts a variety of
high quality accommodation to suit all tastes and
budgets.
For Information on the Borough of Antrim
contact: Antrim Borough Council on +44 (0) 28 9446
3113
Itinerary
9.00
Depart Belfast.
9.30
Take a morning stroll around
Antrim Castle’s impressive 17th century Gardens
and enjoy a coffee whilst browsing around Clotworthy Arts
Centre.
11.00
Visit Northern Ireland’s only
owl conservation education centre which houses
owls from around the world.
12.30
Depart from Antrim Lough Shore Park and enjoy
lunch on Lough Neagh aboard the Maid of
Antrim.
14.00
Enjoy a heritage trail visiting
Antrim Round Tower, dating from the 10th Century,
and Pogue’s Entry, the birth place of Alexander
Irvine.
15.30
Browse around through the high
street giants, designer brands and international market leaders at
Junction One international shopping outlet centre,
with discounts of up to 60%.
17.30
Arrive back to Belfast.
Newtownabbey
Beauty beyond Belfast Lough
Newtownabbey borders the shores of Belfast
Lough, reaching north from Belfast and stretching up
towards the Glens of Antrim.
Motorway access to nearby ferry ports and airports makes it a
convenient choice for business visitors who can enjoy the
semi-rural location while being handy to the buzz
of Belfast city centre.
Many of Northern Ireland’s top tourist
attractions are within easy reach of the town which is
also perfectly placed to start off a trip through the Glens
of Antrim to the Giant’s Causeway.
Newtownabbey’s natural landscape makes it an ideal location for
all sorts of sporting activities and
outdoor pursuits: golfing, fishing, horse riding
or walking in many of the area’s open spaces and parks. You can
also enjoy the unique birdlife along the shores of
Belfast Lough.
For information on Newtownabbey Borough Council
+44 (0) 28 9034 0000 or visit www.visitnewtownabbey.com
Itinerary
09:00
Depart Belfast.
09:30
Arrive at Sentry Hill, a beautiful 19th century
farmhouse steeped in history.
11:00
Move on to Patterson’s Spademill and watch the age
old process of spade making being demonstrated.
14:00
After lunch spend the afternoon
enjoying some outdoor pursuits. Golf, fish, horse
ride, take a walk along the shore or visit one of our splendid
parks.
16:00
Finish off the day with a little
retail therapy. Choose from the lively town of
Ballyclare or the village of
Glengormley or why not visit
Abbeycentre or Northcott shopping
centres with everything from small interesting stores to
large retail chains.
18:00
Arrive back to Belfast.
Carrickfergus
Be part of something special
Carrickfergus lies 10 miles north of Belfast between
Belfast Lough and the City’s hills. With its
established and vibrant Marina, the town dates
back over 1,000 years and is one of the first stops on the
Causeway Coastal route.
The historic 12th century Carrickfergus Castle
is renowned throughout Northern Ireland and is available to
conference and incentive planners for private hire. The
Museum & Civic Centre, Andrew Jackson
Cottage, US Rangers Centre and Flame, The
Gasworks Museum of Ireland are just a sample of
the attractions on offer within the area.
For the business tourist, Carrickfergus boasts a number of
established hotels, restaurants
and attractions all within walking distance of the
historic town centre and is within close reach of a number of
rural retreats.
For more information contact Carrickfergus Tourist
Information Centre on +44 (0) 28 9335 8041 or visit
www.carrickfergus.org
Itinerary
13:00 – 14:00
Carrickfergus Castle greets all visitors to the town and
represents over 800 years of military might. Besieged in turn by
the Scots, Irish, English and French, the Castle saw action right
up until World War II.
14:15 – 14:45
On to the Andrew
Jackson Cottage highlighting Carrickfergus’ strong
American and Ulster-Scots connections. Beside the Cottage is an
exhibition dedicated to the US Rangers who were
based in Carrickfergus during World War II.
15:00 – 15:45
Flame, The Gasworks Museum of
Ireland, is Ireland’s sole surviving coal gasworks and is
one of only three left in the British Isles.
16:00 – 17:00
Arrive to
Carrickfergus for a tour of the
Museum depicting the long and distinguished
history of the town and surrounding district.
Armagh & Down
Indulge your passion for life!
Located on Northern Ireland’s scenic south east, the counties of
Armagh and Down offer a blend of history, culture,
shopping, scenery, attractions and activities. The regions’ natural
features, which are amongst some of the most reputable in Europe,
include the statuesque “Mountains of Mourne” which
were celebrated by Irish musician Percy French in
his famous 19th century song.
The historical areas are also known for their link to the story
of Ireland’s Patron Saint. It is in the cathedral City of
Armagh, within the “Orchard County”, where Saint
Patrick chose a hilltop site as a base from which to
spread Christianity in Ireland. In County Down
visitors can learn more about his life and legacy and visit his
grave. The area also benefits from a variety of conference and
meeting venues, stunning National Trust properties
as well as first class hotels, all catering for a variety of
capacities and event formats.
For more information contact Armagh and Down Tourism
Partnership on +44 (0) 28 9182 2881 or visit www.armaghanddown.com
Itinerary
09:00
Depart Belfast.
09:30
Arrive to the award-winning Ulster Folk and Transport
Museum.
10:30
Travelling towards
Newtownards watch out for one of Northern
Ireland’s best-known landmarks, Scrabo Tower.
11:00
Stop off at the National
Trust property of Mount Stewart and
admire the beautiful garden.
12:30
Enjoy a coastal drive and travel
down Strangford Lough through
Greyabbey towards Portaferry.
13:00
Catch the ferry to Strangford and enjoy locally caught fish for
lunch in Strangford Village.
15:30
In Downpatrick visit the Saint Patrick’s
Centre to hear the story of Ireland’s Patron Saint and
visit Down Cathedral and St Patrick’s
Grave nearby.
17:00
Return to Belfast or take a scenic drive through the Mourne
Mountains to admire the beautiful scenery and wonderful
views all around you.
Derry
The Walled City
The only completely walled city in the British
Isles, Derry, also known as Londonderry, is located on the
North West tip of Northern Ireland, 70 miles from Belfast. Dating
back over 1450 years, the city is steeped in centuries of
history and offers visitors a unique insight into the
region’s culture and heritage.
The city’s conference and meeting venues and hotels are
complemented by the best in social and cultural
activities. Enjoy a tour of the ancient city walls, visit
the 17th Century cathedral, spend the afternoon
shopping for handcrafted souvenirs or enjoy a
pint and a traditional music session in one of
Derry’s historical pubs.
For more information contact Derry Visitor &
Convention Bureau on +44 (0) 28 7137 7577 or visit
www.derryvisitor.com
Itinerary
09:00
Depart Belfast.
11:00
Arrive in Derry and embark on a walking tour of the 17th Century
walls. Visit some of the city’s landmarks including the
Guildhall, St. Columb’s Cathedral
and the unique Craft Village.
12:15
Visit the newly opened Museum of Free Derry
situated amongst the Bogside Murals and experience
the dramatic events of the Troubles and
Bloody Sunday
13:00
Enjoy a pub lunch in one of the many
traditional bars.
14:00
Take a boat trip on the majestic River Foyle from
Derry Quay to Culmore Bay.
16:00
Tour the award-winning Tower Museum which recounts
the history of the city and houses a Spanish
Armanda exhibition with original artifacts unearthed from
the wreck off the nearby Donegal coast.
17.00
Take an open top bus tour – a
perfect way to view the fantastic architecture,
culture and scenery of the City.
18.00
Return to Belfast.
Fermanagh
Tell your own story
Often referred to as Ireland’s Lake District,
over one third of Fermanagh is covered in
fish-filled pure water making fishing, cruising
and an array of water sports some of the major activities on
offer.
The area is also developing as a golfing region
with the new Lough Erne Golf Resort and its Nick
Faldo designed course which is opening in 2009.
Other attractions include the world famous Belleek
Pottery Visitor Centre and the Marble Arch Caves
European Geopark, the only cave system in Northern Ireland
open to the public. An array of attractions including a number of
superb stately homes, museums and craft centres ensure every taste
is catered for.
The main town of Enniskillen has a character
all of its own and incorporates much of Fermanagh’s history and
heritage.
As a conference and meeting destination the region offers
numerous luxury and unique conference venues –
from recently renovated and purpose built facilities to an
ancestral stately home and even a venue on an island in the heart
of the lakeland.
For more information contact Fermanagh Lakeland Tourism
on +44 (0) 28 6638 6736 or visit www.fermanaghlakelands.com
Itinerary
08:30
Depart Belfast.
10.00
Arrive to the award winning Sheelin Irish Lace
Museum in the village of Bellanaleck.
11.30
Built in the mid 18th century by John Cole, Florence
Court features some fine Roccoco plasterwork and many
original items of furniture.
13.00
Stop off for lunch in the beautiful
family-run Customs House Country Inn.
14.30
The award-winning Marble Arch Caves offers guided
boat tours of the fascinating underground world of
stalagmites and stalactites.
16.30
End your day with some afternoon tea at the Killyhevlin
Hotel on the banks of Lough Erne.
19:00
Arrive back to Belfast.
Causeway Coast & Glens
An area of immense beauty and breathtaking scenery, the magical
Causeway Coast and Glens has been the inspiration
for artists, poets and musicians for hundreds of years.
Incorporating one of the most unspoilt coastal drives in Europe,
the region, which is spread across two counties, offers a unique
mix of attractions to the business traveller.
The Causeway Coast and Glens is home to a host of attractions
including the Old Bushmills Distillery,
Carrickfergus Castle, the Glens of
Antrim, Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge and
the famous World Heritage site at the
Giant’s Causeway.
Contemporary coastal hotels can be found
throughout offering 3 and 4 star accommodation and a variety of
conference and meeting facilities. These venues, which are often
situated in secluded, beautiful countryside, offer intimate
settings complemented by a unique
charm.
For more information contact Causeway Coast &
Glens Tourism on +44 (0) 28 7032 7720 or
visit www.causewaycoastandglens.com
Itinerary
09:00
Depart Belfast and follow the
Causeway Coastal route north.
9:30
Arrive Carrickfergus
Castle, Ireland’s oldest Norman
Castle.
10:15
The route continues via the Glens of Antrim and
through the charming villages of Carnlough,
Cushendall, Cushendun and
Ballycastle.
12:30
Arrive to the Giant’s Causeway – one of Ireland’s
most famous sights. Visit the astonishing complex of basalt
columns, which according to folklore were built by the legendary
giant Finn McCool.
15:00
Visit and sample one of Ireland’s
best loved products at the world’s oldest licensed whiskey
distillery in Bushmills.
16:30
Continue your tour via the pretty
seaside resorts of Portrush,
Portstewart and the bustling shopping town of
Coleraine and return across the Antrim
plateau.
18:30
Arrive back to Belfast.