Northern Ireland

[anti-pacer]

My experience of NI has been a day trip to Belfast just after Christmas 2004 whilst staying in Stranraer. We did a taxi tour of the city which was... errr... "enlightening" shall we say, albeit enjoyable.

I'd like to visit the Giants Causeway, the Antrim Coast, Strangford Lough, Loch Earne, Lough Neagh, and of course the Mountains of Mourne.

Has anybody much experience of NI? If so, what's it like? Also, what reception can we expect in small town being English?

Many thanks in advance.

 

[fowler9]

Hey mate, I honestly don't think you will get anything other than a warm welcome if you are friendly and don't start chatting about whatever political views you may have, pretty much in the way any sensible person wouldn't anywhere in the world.

 

[ScottishIain]

Been a number of times and have never found the people anything but friendly & welcoming.

Having been to the Giants Causeway & driven down the Antrim Coast, they are both extremely picturesque. Definitely worth seeing.

 

[anti-pacer]

Hey mate, I honestly don't think you will get anything other than a warm welcome if you are friendly and don't start chatting about whatever political views you may have, pretty much in the way any sensible person wouldn't anywhere in the world.

The taxi driver we had was fantastic! We cooked it through the Welcome Centre (tourist info) on Donegall Place and he took us all around the troubled areas so to speak. I got out to take pictures, worried for my life, but he reassured me I'd be fine (and obviously I was). He even gave us a big discount, which I compensated to him in way of a big tip, which he well and truly deserved.

Belfast though isn't a true picture of the province, so want to explore it more. Where's the "must see" on a time limited trip?

 

[fowler9]

The taxi driver we had was fantastic! We cooked it through the Welcome Centre (tourist info) on Donegall Place and he took us all around the troubled areas so to speak. I got out to take pictures, worried for my life, but he reassured me I'd be fine (and obviously I was). He even gave us a big discount, which I compensated to him in way of a big tip, which he well and truly deserved.

Belfast though isn't a true picture of the province, so want to explore it more. Where's the "must see" on a time limited trip?

Well it depends what you are in to of course and to add to that I am not a native of the place but the coast is spectacular and Derry is really worth a visit. Not exactly a hidden gem but well worth it.

 

[anti-pacer]

Well it depends what you are in to of course and to add to that I am not a native of the place but the coast is spectacular and Derry is really worth a visit. Not exactly a hidden gem but well worth it.

Stunning coastline, mountains, nice little harbour villages with decent pubs.

 

[fowler9]

Stunning coastline, mountains, nice little harbour villages with decent pubs.

Well Ballintoy is really nice. There is a really nice little island you can get a boat to off the coast from Ballycastle as well. Can't remember the name off the top of my head.

 

[anti-pacer]

Well Ballintoy is really nice. There is a really nice little island you can get a boat to off the coast from Ballycastle as well. Can't remember the name off the top of my head.

Rathlin Island?

 

[fowler9]

Rathlin Island?

Rings a bell.

 

[MidnightFlyer]

You've nothing to fear re: hostility, I visit the place every year (with my English accent :P) and the people are nothing but warm and friendly, some of them are the nicest people I have ever met. The Antrim Coast is an absolutely stunning place, Ballintoy and round towards Dunluce Castle and Portrush in particular. You might also want to check out the Ballymoney Dark Hedges (it's quite something to see) and the Glenshane Pass if heading over towards Londonderry or Donegal. I can't write all this without plugging Co. Tyrone either, so if you are heading west of the Lough don't forget the Ulster American Folk Park at Omagh, and the Beaghmore Stone Circles and Lissan House at Cookstown. Not the biggest of attractions, granted, but little gems amongst the beautiful Sperrins. The Sperrins are worth a drive through too.

Honestly, it's a fine country. Keep schtum on politics and religion if you can, and just enjoy it for what it is. I really can't speak highly enough of the place.

 

[TUC]

As someone who's English and lived in NI for two and a half years, there's nothing to worry about-really welcoming place, as the thousands of other tourists prove.

 

[Arglwydd Golau]

My experience of NI has been a day trip to Belfast just after Christmas 2004 whilst staying in Stranraer. We did a taxi tour of the city which was... errr... "enlightening" shall we say, albeit enjoyable.

I'd like to visit the Giants Causeway, the Antrim Coast, Strangford Lough, Loch Earne, Lough Neagh, and of course the Mountains of Mourne.

Has anybody much experience of NI? If so, what's it like? Also, what reception can we expect in small town being English?

Many thanks in advance.

Do it! I started going in 2005 ( will always remember that, the day England won the Ashes at the Oval and demonstrators blocked the motorway to Belfast City Centre - that was an inauspicious start), Since then have been a few times for work and subsequently my daughter went to Queens University Belfast and had a great three years...we went to visit a few times and stayed in Ballycastle and Armagh. Been by train and car, the reception from the Irish has been great, so don't worry about that. Oh, and my partner had a wonderful five day walking holiday with friends this year.

(Mind you, we're Welsh!)