Less than 30 minutes drive from us is the city of Derry. During the Plantation of Ulster the name was changed to Londonderry and the famous walls erected shortly after. The encircling walls have withstood several sieges, the most famous of which lasted 105 days. Daily tours are available.

Ulster’s most iconic attraction, the Giants Causeway is about 50km drive (just over an hour) from the Redcastle Hotel. The world famous polygonal columns of basalt are the result of a volcanic eruption 60 million years ago. Now the focus of an area of designated natural beauty it is a short walk from the car park to the beach and sensible shoes are essential. The National Trust have just completed a new visitors centre.

Consisting of two main exhibitions. ‘The story of Derry’ begins with the geological formation to the present day exploring a diverse range of subjects including monasticism, plantation, sieges, right up to the Troubles. The second exhibition at the Tower Museum is the ‘Armada Shipwreck: La Trinidad Valencera,’ which tells the story of this famous Spanish warship that sank off the Donegal coast in 1588.

We recommend making a day of it and visiting the Giants Causeway, Bushmills Distillery and Carrick-a-Rede. The town of Bushmills has some nice pubs to stop for lunch or a quick snack.

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 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.

The Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge is just a short drive from the Giants Causeway. If you have time, the 18km walk along the Antrim cliffs affords stunning views and an amazing opportunity for bird spotting. Originally the bridge was just two ropes strung across the 20m chasm to reach the salmon fishery on the rocky island. The ropes have been replaced with a sturdier bridge but it is still an exhilarating crossing with waves crashing on the rocks 30 metres below. Bring sensible shoes and a head for heights!