Holidays in the North

[bennydorano]

Anyone here actually been on a a proper holiday in Northern Ireland?  If there's no let up with the Euro I'll be giving down south a miss for the Isle of Man/Britain/NI.  Any recommendations?

[The Real Laoislad]

Went on a weekend to Antrim a few years back with the woman,stayed in Portrush.
We had a great time,we drove all around Antrim and the Giants causeway etc and had some great grub and drink along the way

[Croí na hÉireann]

Went on a weekend to Antrim a few years back with the woman,stayed in Portrush.
We had a great time,we drove all around Antrim and the Giants causeway etc and had some great grub and drink along the way

Same as that a couple of years ago for a Derry league game. Grub and pints in Cushendall on the Friday night, never got such a feed in all my life. Drove the coast road on the Sat, grub and pints in Portstewart on the Sat and then on to Celtic Park and home on the Sun. Result sure shortened the drive home... 

[leenie]

even thou these places are technically in the south they're cheap as chips and up up north!


lough derg..... it will only cost you 50 euro

bundoran... or as me and the girls like to call it fundoran!!!! accommadation is dirt cheap!

you can make your own craic!

for a northern place glens of antrim/giants causeway/ballycastle ..... i think its beautiful up there just as nice if not better than kerry/west cork

[5 Sams]

Did it once...the whole Glens of Antrim, Causeway coast thing.

Great scenery esp around the Glens but the thing that got to me was the wee villages you came across with the Union Jacks and the red, white and blue kerbstones....you just cant relax in the same as you can in Kerry or Connemara.


Just me.. is it?

[The squinted eye]

Would agree with above posters, stayed in Ballintoy a few years back on the Antrim coast, Antrim is the most scenic county in Ireland in my opinion.Didnt come across any hassle 5 Sams and I have the most gutteral thick accent you will ever come across

[illdecide]

Garvaghy Road, Portadown couldn't beat it.

[5 Sams]

Would agree with above posters, stayed in Ballintoy a few years back on the Antrim coast, Antrim is the most scenic county in Ireland in my opinion.Didnt come across any hassle 5 Sams and I have the most gutteral thick accent you will ever come across

Don't get me wrong ....I'm not talking about getting hassle....you just dont feel as comfortable in some places in the 6 counties as you would any where in the south....

[ziggysego]

bundoran... or as me and the girls like to call it fundoran!!!! accommadation is dirt cheap!

Bundoran's a dirty kip leenie. Donegal's a beauty county, so there's better places to visit.

[The Real Laoislad]

Bundoran is a hole

[D4S]

You may laugh at me but I think Newry is a good spot, very easy to get to as well for anyone coming from the south.  The Canal Court Hotel is first class, there's great shopping with Buttercrane and the quays within 2minutes walk.  Nightlife is good, the canal court itself, the Bank is also a great spot.  Ideal base to travel around the mournes.  If you fancied a day driving to sightsee you could drive from Newry into Mayobridge then Hilltown where you're in the heart of the mournes.  From Hilltown you can drive on to Newcastle driving right through the mournes and then from Newcastle drive up the coast again back through rostrevor and warrenpoint back to Newry.  This drive without stopping would probably take around 2 hours but you could also take in Castlewellan just outside Newcastle as well, nice wee town with beautiful forest park, as had Newcastle (Tollymore Forest Park).  By the time you stop of at the scenic spots and eat and have a few drinks along the way it would be a good day out.  On another day you could head for south armagh direction but you wwould need an armagh man to tell you the best places to visit.

[nrico2006]

You can't beat Fundoran.

[brokencrossbar1]

Do the Glens of Antrim Benny, but start at Glenarrife and work northwards Mrs BC is a Glenswoman and any chance we get we head up to Cushendun for a bit of R & R.  Good pubs, good food around the Glens and plenty to see. 

[Leo]

You may laugh at me but I think Newry is a good spot, very easy to get to as well for anyone coming from the south.  The Canal Court Hotel is first class, there's great shopping with Buttercrane and the quays within 2minutes walk.  Nightlife is good, the canal court itself, the Bank is also a great spot.  Ideal base to travel around the mournes.  If you fancied a day driving to sightsee you could drive from Newry into Mayobridge then Hilltown where you're in the heart of the mournes.  From Hilltown you can drive on to Newcastle driving right through the mournes and then from Newcastle drive up the coast again back through rostrevor and warrenpoint back to Newry.  This drive without stopping would probably take around 2 hours but you could also take in Castlewellan just outside Newcastle as well, nice wee town with beautiful forest park, as had Newcastle (Tollymore Forest Park).  By the time you stop of at the scenic spots and eat and have a few drinks along the way it would be a good day out.  On another day you could head for south armagh direction but you wwould need an armagh man to tell you the best places to visit.

Not a bad intinerary but I would recommend staying in the Slieve Donard in Newcastle, the best hotel in N. I by a dozen country miles - amazing setting, plush interiors, massive bedrooms, top-line leisure & spa. (Newry is only for shoppers). There are two grest restaurants just out the road from Newcastle  in Dundrum , and the best rural pub I have seen lately is the Village in Magehera village  a few minutes away (good grub and great Saturday night music) while Maginns in Castlewellan and Quinns in Newcastle are great music pubs for the younger  crowd. Taxis dead cheap - Mourne scenery outstanding. Tollymore & Castlewellan Forest Parks and the Mourne Cost road - breathtaking. Just stay clear of Kilkeel. Take the mountain road via the Silent Valley & village of Attical to skirt round this hole and head on into Rostrevor - fabulous parks & walks - couple of good pubs.
Restaurant at Bennets pub in Warrenpoint has superb fine dining at reasonable price (Michelin awards - exceptional fresh food standard and best value around) and First and Last in same town is a real GAA pub with fantastice display of Down & Ulster memorabilia. Great choice of other eating houses & pubs in this town.
Definitley the hidden holiday area of Ireland.

[Canalman]

You have to visit the Giants Causeway so that you can grouse forever more how underwhelming it is. A most disappointing place to visit.