Northern Ireland trip - May 2021

[wendysloper]

PORSCHE CLUB GB, Region 13 – Region of the Year 2019
Northern Ireland Trip, May - cancelled due to COVID - 19
Note: this itinerary is for Lesley and Ian Crosskell; other participants may choose different beginnings and endings.

Now cancelled due to Coronavirus

PORSCHE CLUB GB, REGION 13 – NORTHERN IRELAND TRIP, 2021

The trip to the Isle of Man and Northern Ireland proposed for 2020 was first amended, as the infrequency of ferries from IoM to NI meant both could not be usefully combined with the timeframe, so it became a trip to Northern Ireland only.
This trip in 2020 has been postponed because of the Corvid-19 pandemic.

So, the trip now proposed for 2021 is, briefly, as follows :

14th May – travel to Northern Ireland and stay two nights in Newry.
Visit the Mountains of Mourne ?

16th May – travel to Carrickfergus and stay four nights.
Suggested activities: Visit the Titanic Exhibition and Carrickfergus Castle.
Explore the eastern section of the Causeway Coastal Route.

20th May – Travel to Bushmills and stay three nights.
Suggested activities: Visit the Giants Causeway and Bushmills distillery.
Explore the northern section of the Causeway Coastal Route.

23rd May – return home via Belfast or Dublin, or, optionally travel to the west coast for the Wild Atlantic Way. Stay one night on the atlantic coast.

Option: travel to the west coast for the Wild Atlantic Way.

Travel along the coast then head for Enniskillen.

Stay two nights in Enniskillen in a Spa hotel.

Have one day sans car to enjoy a walk, swim, sauna or even have a pamper in the hotel.
26th May – return to England via Dublin and home.

If that appeals to you, let me know at ian.crosskell@lineone.net asap and I can consolidate arrangements.
Over to you !

 

[wendysloper]

Revised 17th January 2021

Now cancelled due to Coronavirus

Thursday 13th May - Travel to Holyhead – overnight at the Premier Inn, Holyhead.

Friday 14th May - Catch Stena Line ferry to Dublin, early morning.
Travel directly to Newry – taking in the Newgrange burial site en route.
Stay two nights at the:
Mourne Country Hotel
52 Belfast Road
Newry, County Down
BT34 1TR
Tel: 02830267922
NB evenng meal arranged for all staying at the hotel on 14th.

Saturday 15th May – Explore the Mountains of Mourne by car.

Sunday 16th May - Travel via Warrenpoint, Kilkeel, Newcastle, Downpatrick and Portaferry (with a ferry crossing), Newtownards to Belfast
Potential lunch stop (if arriving in time):
Balloo House, 1 Comber Road, Killinchy, Newtownards
(I quote: a picturesque pub serving delicious, hearty fare, with local fish a speciality)
Then -
Stay four nights at the:
Stormont Hotel
Upper Newtownards Road
Belfast
BT4 3LP
Tel: 02890651066
NB Don’t overeat if stopping at the Balloo, I have arranged for an evening meal for the first evening at each hotel. The second night here I suggest Olivers restaurant, 405 Upper Newtownards road, Belfast; a 15 minute walk away.

Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday, 17th, 18^th & 19th May – Explore coastal road as far as Red Bay or so and the many sites, sights, beaches, coves and views along the way.
See "discoverNIreland - the causeway coastal route” website for information on what to see and do.
Visit the Titanic Exhibition in Belfast
Visit the Carrickfergus Castle (before or after the Titanic, if interested)

Thursday 20th May – Travel to Bushmills, either by the coastal road again or via the A26 to Coleraine – stay for three nights at the:
Smugglers Inn
306 Whitepark Road
Bushmills, BT57 8SL
Tel: 02820731577


Friday, Saturday 21st & 22nd May – explore the coastal road to the east as far as Red Bay.
Visit the Bushmills distillery.
Visit the Giants Causeway (before or after the distillery).

Sunday 23rd May – depart directly for home via Belfast or Dublin, or take the wild Atlantic way to Dublin .

Note: no hotels are to be booked by me for others after leaving the Smugglers Inn on 23rd;the following is an optional extension.

Sunday 23rd May – travel via Londonderry/Derry and Letterkenny to join the wild Atlantic way.
Stay one night at:
Careys Viking House Hotel
Kincasslagh, Donagal
Tel: 353249543295
Enjoy the beach and perhaps paddle in the Atlantic (Lesley, not me!)

Monday 24^th May – travel wild Atlantic way to Ballyshannon then on to Enniskillen.
Stay two nights at the:
Manor House Country Hotel
Killadeas
Enniskillen
BT94 1NY
Tel: 02868622200

Tuesday 25^th May – forsake the car in favour of walks, swims, saunas and perhaps a pamper (Lesley, not me).

Wednesday 26th May – travel to Dublin to catch the Stena Line ferry to Holyhead in the afternoon.
Travel from Holyhead to home.