The stunning north coast of Northern Ireland (Picture: Abigail Chandler)

When you’re daydreaming about weekend getaways, you’re probably imagining romantic trips to Paris or Rome, or a weekend partying in Berlin or Prague.

You’re least likely to think about rainy, chilly Northern Ireland – but you should be.

Northern Ireland is a land of breathtaking scenery, amazing night life, great food and a whole lot of craic.

If you’ve never been before then here are the reasons why you should hop on the next Ryanair flight and get yourself down there immediately.


The size

The vistas, like this one in Newcastle, County Down, are huge, but the country isn’t (Picture: Abigail Chandler)

Northern Ireland is small enough that you can rent a car and see a fair chunk of it over a weekend.



If you’d rather just stay put in one place you’ll be able to find plenty to do, but with a car you could be on a windswept, rocky coastline in the afternoon and out on the town in Belfast in the evening.

The scenery

There’s a reason HBO films Game Of Thrones in Northern Ireland, and it’s not just the tax breaks. Northern Ireland looks like a mythical land come to life, from rolling green hills to stark rocky wastes.

The Giant’s Causeway is, of course, Northern Ireland’s most well-known sights, but frankly that’s the least of it.

The Dark Hedges (Picture: Getty)

The brilliantly-named Dark Hedges are one of the many spots to feature on Game Of Thrones, and the eerily twisted trees are enormously atmospheric, even when filled with tourists wandering through them taking photos.

The Dark Hedges can be found in County Antrim, home to more stunning scenery than you can shake a hiking stick at.

On the north coast you can see Scotland – only 17 miles away – from Torr Head, and if you’ve got the stomach for it I’d recommend driving along the narrow, winding road from Torr Head to Cushendun, for some of the most breathtaking views you can imagine.

The beaches

Yes, Northern Ireland has beaches.

And no, they’re not long stretches of white sand with umbrellas, sun loungers and a beach bar.

Not too shabby (Picture: Abigail Chandler)

That said, the beach at Ballycastle doesn’t fall far short of the description.

Even in October it was a beautiful, sunny (but windy) sight to behold, with views of Fair Head.

You might even mistake the clear blue waters for the Mediterranean.

Further south in County Down, Newcastle beach is an unending marvel when the tide is out, with glass-like pools of water caught between shifting clusters of rock.

It’s the sort of scenery that looks especially magnificent under a thundery sky – especially if you brought the right waterproofs.

The view from Newcastle beach, facing the Slieve Donard Resort and Spa (Picture: Abigail Chandler)

The Causeway Coast

I spent a sunny afternoon in Ballycastle on the north coast and could have happily spent the whole weekend there.

The gorgeous view across Ballycastle harbour (Picture: Abigail Chandler)

I was taken on the Ballycastle Food Tour by the wonderful Caroline Redmond, who gave me an insight into the history of the area as well as the food (they have a slightly Scottish accent up there because it was once easier to trade by boat with Scotland than it was to trade with the rest of Ireland by road).



Caroline took us for a traditional Irish breakfast at The Bay Cafe, let us sample some wonderful seafood at The Central Bar and O’Connor’s Bar, and introduced us to the simply divine Thyme and Co.

I’d live on nothing but their pistachio cake and amazing bread if I could.

Next up on the #Ballycastlefoodtour was the sexiest plate of cake I've ever eaten at @ThymeandCo #discoverni pic.twitter.com/4Zfi2e0MED — Abigail Chandler (@Abby_Chandler) October 14, 2016

Visiting Ballycastle felt like being part of an old-fashioned community, where everyone knows each other and the fudge at the sweetie shop is made by the sister of the barman who just served you.

Ballycastle would be an ideal base if you wanted to explore the famous Causeway Coastal Route.

Belfast culture

Belfast City Hall, Northern Ireland.

Belfast is a mini-break in itself, with enough to keep you busy without ever having to leave.

A hop-on, hop-off bus ride will give you the lay of the land and the history of the area, and tours of the stunning City Hall are free.

The Cathedral Quarter is packed full of cool narrow streets to explore, as well as being the home of St Anne’s Cathedral.

The area is also full of amazing street art, so walking down the road feels like browsing an especially cool art gallery.

Some of the amazing art to be found on the streets of Belfast (Picture: Abigail Chandler)

If you’ve got a rainy day on your hands, you could explore St George’s (covered) Market, a feast for the senses (mostly taste), or visit the Titanic Museum, recently named Europe’s Leading Tourist Attraction at the World Travel Awards.

The massive new museum is an interactive treat, with everything from immersive video exhibits to a ride that takes you right into the bowels of the ship while you watch it get made.


Kids will love the ride, and adults will feel a serious lump in their throat once they get to the first-hand accounts of the legendary ship’s sinking.

Titanic Belfast, a museum for all ages (Picture: Getty)

The food

With Northern Ireland currently celebrating their Year Of Food And Drink, there’s no better time to check out the country’s culinary delights.

As well as the food tour of Ballycastle I also took a food tour of Belfast.

Our enthusiastic tour guide Sarah, of Little Pink Kitchen, stuffed our faces full of everything from Dulse (it’s seaweed, and I’m not sold on it) to The Fifteen tray bake as made by Ann’s Pantry, which I want to marry, please.

Found my new favourite dessert on the #BelfastFoodTour – the fifteen tray bake. Digestives, marshmallows, cherries, coconut. #DiscoverNI pic.twitter.com/nLcq5RguQ0 — Abigail Chandler (@Abby_Chandler) October 15, 2016

Just make sure not to eat anything before the tour – it’s basically four amazing hours of eating.

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Northern Ireland is a country rich in food produce, from meat and fish to its apple orchards and vegetables.

While it used to export more than half of its food produce, it’s now in the midst of a movement to put that amazing local food on Northern Irish plates.

Belfast has hosts of great restaurants, including the Deane’s group of restaurants which includes the Michelin-starred Eipic, all of which use local food.

Their Meat Locker restaurant even has portraits of their local suppliers on the wall.

Hastings Hotels can tell you exactly where all the elements of your (amazing) Full Irish Breakfast came from and Belfast even has its very own chocolatiers.

How to taste chocolate with @CoCoutureChoc:

1. Rub choc to release aroma

2. Chew lightly

3. Let it melt on your tongue#BelfastFoodTour pic.twitter.com/c6V4z3CLBL — Abigail Chandler (@Abby_Chandler) October 15, 2016

But, despite all the incredible food I ate in Northern Ireland, I came away obsessed with potato bread. Sometimes the simple things in life are the best.


The hotels

The stunning Culloden Estate and Spa (Picture: Hastings Hotels)

I stayed for two nights at the five-star Culloden Estate and Spa just outside of Belfast, with a convenient train line from the bottom of the hotel grounds right into the city centre.

With great food and cocktails to die for in their newly renovated bar, it’s a beautiful city escape and the height of luxury. I even had the pool in the spa all to myself.

The Slieve Donard Resort and Spa (Picture: Hastings Hotels)

For the third night I headed to County Down’s four-star Slieve Donard Resort and Spa, home of the number one golf course in the world, the Royal County Down golf course.

Busier than the Culloden and enormously popular with golfers, even on a rainy weekend in October, the Slieve Donard has a two-storey spa, where the hottest Jacuzzi I’ve ever sat in overlooks the Irish Sea. Bliss.

The pool at the Slieve Donard Hotel (Picture: Hastings Hotels)

The drinks and the craic

Belfast’s nightlife puts the rest of the UK to shame.

From the Victorian splendour of The Crown Liquor Saloon to the trendy Muriel’s Cafe and Bar, with women’s underwear hanging from the ceiling like bunting, Belfast has something for everyone.

The Cathedral Quarter is home to classic Belfast bars The Duke of York and The Dirty Onion.

The former is a traditional, friendly bar with the ceiling and walls decked in fairy lights and vintage booze adverts.

The Duke of York (Picture: Abigail Chandler)

The Dirty Onion is in one of Belfast’s oldest buildings, and is made up of a huge beer garden, a semi-sheltered area in the bowels of an old building frame, and a traditional indoor pub.

This being Belfast, the crowd don’t let the drizzle keep them away from the beer garden, and bands play traditional and modern music both indoors and out.

Belfast can even boast its own local gin, Jawbox, brewed by the not-for-profit pub The John Hewitt and served the traditional way – with ginger ale. I’m a convert.

How to get there

Flights from London Gatwick to Belfast International can cost as little as £20, so it’s certainly cheaper than your average European break.

Where to stay

Hastings Hotels (02890471066) offers rooms at The Slieve Donard Resort and Spa from £125 per night and The Culloden Estate and Spa from £140 per night.

If you want a cheaper option, the Ibis Belfast City Centre starts from £63 a night, Carnately Lodge in Ballycastle starts from £70 per night and in Newcastle you can stay in Oakleigh House from £60 a night.

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