NI Attractions | Top Things to do in Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland Attractions

The Northern Ireland border a little over 14km (9m) from Redcastle Hotel & Spa, just beyond the town of Muff, it is within easy reach, via Derry/Londonderry or ferry from Greencastle, across Lough Foyle, to Magilligan Point with lots to explore.

Derry/Londonderry

Less than 30 minutes drive from the Redcastle Hotel & Spa is the city of Derry, the second largest city in Northern Ireland and the fifth-largest on the island of Ireland. A vibrant modern city with history, a cutting-edge food scene and an exciting cultural life – here is where the Wild Atlantic Way meets the Causeway Coastal Route.

We have chosen just a few of the amazing things to do and see in Derry/Londonderry.

Top Derry Activities

Derry Girls Tour

UK Chanel4 television program, Derry Girls, a candid, family-centred comedy written by Lisa McGee, has expanded Derry’s fame and even spawned a Derry Girls mural on Orchard Street.

The success of the show has led to the creation of Derry Girls Tours, where visitors can walk in the footsteps of the Derry Girls (not forgetting the wee English fella of course!) and learn interesting facts about the show, visiting filming locations. A number of tours are available including group, private and taxi tours – all offer plenty of ‘craic’

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Tower Museum

Telling the story of Derry, the Tower Museum is in fact home to two exhibitions. The first tells the story of Derry, starting with the geological formation and running right up to the present day. Exploring a diverse range of subjects including monasticism, plantation, sieges and the Troubles.

The second exhibition is the ‘Armada Shipwreck: La Trinidad Valencera,’ which tells the story of the famous Spanish warship that sank off the Donegal coast in 1588.

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Antrim Coast

The Giants Causeway, Bushmills Distillery and Carrick-a-Rede, are all located on Antrim Coast, just over an hour’s drive from the Redcastle Hotel & Spa. Together they make a perfect itinerary for a full day, with the Bushmills also offering some fine places for lunch or dinner, including The Bushmills Inn and the Distillers Arms.

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Bushmills Distillery

One of the oldest licensed distilleries in the world, the Old Bushmills Distillery can trace its history back to 1608 and they still make whiskey the same way now as they did over 400 years ago. The visitor centre takes you behind the scenes to discover the secrets to creating the finest Irish whiskey with options to include Whisky tasting as part of the tour.

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Giants Causeway

A UNESCO World Heritage site, the Giants Causeway is made up of 40,000 massive black basalt columns sticking out of the sea, at the foot of cliffs along the edge of the Antrim plateau. The world famous polygonal columns of basalt are the result of a volcanic eruption 60 million years ago and have inspired legends of giants striding over the sea to Scotland.

The National Trust, who manage the site, have just completed a new visitors centre, which includes café, shop, audio guide and carpark.

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Carrick-a-Rede

The Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge is just a short drive from the Giants Causeway. If you have time, the 18km (11m) walk along the Antrim cliffs affords stunning views and an amazing opportunity for bird spotting.

Located near Ballintoy, it links the mainland to the tiny island of Carrick-a-rede and was initially constructed in 1755. Spanning 20 metres (65 ft) at a height of 30 metres (98 ft) above the rocks below, it was originally just two ropes strung across the chasm to reach the salmon fishery on the rocky island. The initial two ropes have been replaced with a sturdier bridge, but it is still an exhilarating crossing with waves crashing on the rocks below.

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Belfast- The Titanic Quarter

One of Northern Ireland’s largest regeneration projects, home to the shipyards that built perhaps the most famous ship in the world, RMS Titanic, and now home to the world-leading Titanic Experience.

Belfast is approximately a two hour drive from the Redcastle Hotel & Spa, but if you have the time it is definitely worth planning a day visit, or making it part of your itinerary with an overnight stay at our sister property, the Titanic Hotel Belfast. Created from the restored historic Harland and Wolff offices the hotel also offer historical tours of the building and is a fantastic venue for lunch, dinner, afternoon tea or just a drink in the beautiful Drawing Office Two.

The Titanic Experience is Northern Ireland’s number one attraction and second in Ireland overall. Housed in a landmark building designed by Eric Kuhne, it stands proud at the top of the very slipways where RMS Titanic and Olympic were launched, not only telling the story of Titanic, but also the history of Belfast and the people that made her.

Also located in the Titanic Quarter:

•RMS Nomadic, the last remining ship of the White Star Line which served as a tender for Titanic.

•Titanic Distillers, who are binging whisky back to Belfast, along with vodka and gin.

•HMS Caroline, a decommissioned C-class light cruiser of the Royal Navy that was the lead ship of her sub-class and saw combat service during the First World War and served as an administrative centre in the Second World War.

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