Individual Guided Tours of London and the UK by Private Car Driven by Blue Badge Guides
Tour Suggestions - Northern Ireland
From the great mountains to one of the finest costal roads in the world, the countryside of Northern Ireland is one of the UK’s hidden secrets. And nobody should miss the Giant’s Causeway – which has inspired musicians and writers though the centuries.
Antrim Glens and the Giant’s Causeway
The Antrim Coast Road is considered one of the finest marine drives in Europe. The road up Glenariff provides a perfect route up a magnificent arable glen, while Glenaan has more rugged scenery. There are actually nine Glens of Antrim. Take time to explore the charming villages like Glenarm, Cushendun and Cushendall, the ‘Capital of the Glens’.
Providing access to the salmon fishery on a tiny island is the Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge. This hangs 80ft (25mt) above the sea and wobbles and twists as soon as you step on it. It is definitely not for people who suffer from vertigo!
The Giant’s Causeway is the only World Heritage Site in Northern Ireland. It resulted from a volcanic eruption 60 million years ago, which left an interesting geological formation of polygonal basalt columns. Good coastal walks in the area to view the ruins of Dunluce or Rathlin Island.
Old Bushmills Distillery, the oldest licensed whiskey distillery in the world, has been in operation since 1608 and exporting to America since 1784. Take a tour to see how they make whiskey.
The Antrim Coast Road is considered one of the finest marine drives in Europe. The road up Glenariff provides a perfect route up a magnificent arable glen, while Glenaan has more rugged scenery. There are actually nine Glens of Antrim. Take time to explore the charming villages like Glenarm, Cushendun and Cushendall, the ‘Capital of the Glens’.
Providing access to the salmon fishery on a tiny island is the Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge. This hangs 80ft (25mt) above the sea and wobbles and twists as soon as you step on it. It is definitely not for people who suffer from vertigo!
The Giant’s Causeway is the only World Heritage Site in Northern Ireland. It resulted from a volcanic eruption 60 million years ago, which left an interesting geological formation of polygonal basalt columns. Good coastal walks in the area to view the ruins of Dunluce or Rathlin Island.
Old Bushmills Distillery, the oldest licensed whiskey distillery in the world, has been in operation since 1608 and exporting to America since 1784. Take a tour to see how they make whiskey.
Enniskillen and surrounding area
Enniskillen is an island town on the River Erne between Upper and Lower Lough Erne. It has always been of great military importance, so has been the site of several castles and battles. The medieval castle was the stronghold of the Maguires and houses two museums.
Florence Court is an outstanding Palladian style mansion of mid 1700s built for the Cole family, later the Earls of Enniskillen. The house tour includes the backstairs area, which is popular with all ages. The garden contains the original yew tree from which all Irish yews are descended.
Lough Erne is an area of outstanding natural beauty and popular for fishing and water-based activities. The lake is divided in two by the narrows around Enniskillen. Devenish Island boasts one of the most complete monastic settlements in Ireland and a fine example of a 12thc round tower.
Belleek is known throughout the world for its delicate pottery, particularly the basketwork designs.
Enniskillen is an island town on the River Erne between Upper and Lower Lough Erne. It has always been of great military importance, so has been the site of several castles and battles. The medieval castle was the stronghold of the Maguires and houses two museums.
Florence Court is an outstanding Palladian style mansion of mid 1700s built for the Cole family, later the Earls of Enniskillen. The house tour includes the backstairs area, which is popular with all ages. The garden contains the original yew tree from which all Irish yews are descended.
Lough Erne is an area of outstanding natural beauty and popular for fishing and water-based activities. The lake is divided in two by the narrows around Enniskillen. Devenish Island boasts one of the most complete monastic settlements in Ireland and a fine example of a 12thc round tower.
Belleek is known throughout the world for its delicate pottery, particularly the basketwork designs.
County Tyrone
An obvious starting point for Americans interested in the migrations from Ireland to America is the Ulster-American Folk Park. Several famous Americans are descended from Irish forebears: US President Woodrow Wilson’s grandfather emigrated in 1807; John Simpson, maternal great-grandfather of Ulysses Simpson Grant was born in Ballygawley in 1738; Cullybackey is the ancestral home of US President Chester Alan Arthur; Stonewall Jackson’s ancestors came from Armagh and US President Andrew Jackson’s parents left Carrickfergus in 1765.
Connections with other countries include: Ned Kelly’s mother who came from Portadown; Glenavy was the birthplace of ‘Rainmaker’ John Balance, Prime Minister of New Zealand; Ballyclare was the birthplace of Tasmanian premier Sir James Wilson Agnew in 1815; Banbridge was the birthplace in 1819 of the Rev. Joseph Scriven, who wrote the hymn ‘What a friend we have in Jesus’ in Port Hope, Ontario.
The Ulster History Park traces the human history of Ulster from the earliest settlement. The open-air park contains full-scale reconstructions of various types of habitat including Stone Age houses, monastic dwellings, a crannog and an Irish round tower.
An obvious starting point for Americans interested in the migrations from Ireland to America is the Ulster-American Folk Park. Several famous Americans are descended from Irish forebears: US President Woodrow Wilson’s grandfather emigrated in 1807; John Simpson, maternal great-grandfather of Ulysses Simpson Grant was born in Ballygawley in 1738; Cullybackey is the ancestral home of US President Chester Alan Arthur; Stonewall Jackson’s ancestors came from Armagh and US President Andrew Jackson’s parents left Carrickfergus in 1765.
Connections with other countries include: Ned Kelly’s mother who came from Portadown; Glenavy was the birthplace of ‘Rainmaker’ John Balance, Prime Minister of New Zealand; Ballyclare was the birthplace of Tasmanian premier Sir James Wilson Agnew in 1815; Banbridge was the birthplace in 1819 of the Rev. Joseph Scriven, who wrote the hymn ‘What a friend we have in Jesus’ in Port Hope, Ontario.
The Ulster History Park traces the human history of Ulster from the earliest settlement. The open-air park contains full-scale reconstructions of various types of habitat including Stone Age houses, monastic dwellings, a crannog and an Irish round tower.
County Down
Mount Stewart has been home to the Londonderry family since 18thc. Lord Castlereagh hosted many prominent political figures here. He was the British foreign secretary during the 1812 war with America. The house is situated in a stunning location within an 820 acre walled park overlooking Strangford Lough. The magnificent gardens were planted in 1920s.
Castle Ward is a unique 18thc Classical house, with a Gothic façade, overlooking Strangford Lough. It gives a full flavour of how a house and estate worked with its upstairs downstairs tales. See the Victorian laundry and water-driven cornmill. Explore the 750 acre estate to find the exotic, sunken garden.
The present Down Cathedral stands on a hill above Downpatrick. It mainly dates from 19thc, but sits on the site of the earliest church dating back to 520AD. Ireland’s patron saint, St Patrick, is reputed to be buried in the churchyard with the bones of St Brigid and St Columba.
The granite Mountains of Mourne are known for their outstanding natural beauty. Slieve Donard is Northern Ireland’s highest mountain at 2,796ft (852mts). The area is popular with hill walkers and climbers.
Mount Stewart has been home to the Londonderry family since 18thc. Lord Castlereagh hosted many prominent political figures here. He was the British foreign secretary during the 1812 war with America. The house is situated in a stunning location within an 820 acre walled park overlooking Strangford Lough. The magnificent gardens were planted in 1920s.
Castle Ward is a unique 18thc Classical house, with a Gothic façade, overlooking Strangford Lough. It gives a full flavour of how a house and estate worked with its upstairs downstairs tales. See the Victorian laundry and water-driven cornmill. Explore the 750 acre estate to find the exotic, sunken garden.
The present Down Cathedral stands on a hill above Downpatrick. It mainly dates from 19thc, but sits on the site of the earliest church dating back to 520AD. Ireland’s patron saint, St Patrick, is reputed to be buried in the churchyard with the bones of St Brigid and St Columba.
The granite Mountains of Mourne are known for their outstanding natural beauty. Slieve Donard is Northern Ireland’s highest mountain at 2,796ft (852mts). The area is popular with hill walkers and climbers.
