Belfast for the weekend

[ArsE82]

Hi All

We're going to Belfast this weekend - flying out Friday night and coming back Sunday night.

We have plans for Saturday morning (Titanic museum), then going to a gig on Saturday night at the Waterfront Hall.

Sunday morning we're heading up to Giant's Causeway but don't need to be back at the airport (BFS - International) until 19:00.

Any recommendations to fill the Saturday afternoon gap and the Sunday after Giant's Causeway? We were thinking of going up to Holywood on Saturday afternoon as we can't go too far. Is that worth doing? Or maybe do something in the City?

What about the Sunday? We've got a car so are happy to travel as long as we're not too far from BFS. Portrush? Or is that just as it looks on Derry Girls?


Cheers!

Edited by ArsE82 on Thursday 19th May 13:29

[MiniMan64]

Which airport for starters, Aldergrove or City? Aldergrove is in Antrim north of Belfast.

If you’re up on the north coast stay there for the day before heading back to the airport. If you want to be touristy you could try the Distillery in Bushmills or for scenery follow the coast road east to Ballycastle or west to Portstewart for a good beach (I’d avoid Portrush). If you’re feeling brave cross the Bann in Coleraine and keep heading west passed Castlerock and drive onto the beach at Downhill. Stunning bit of sand and often empty.

[clarkmagpie]

Do a taxi tour of the troubles.
Really is an eye opener.

also - https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/carrick-a-rede

[MOBB]

clarkmagpie said:

Do a taxi tour of the troubles.
Really is an eye opener.

+1 I did the open top bus tour

[ArsE82]

MiniMan64 said:

Which airport for starters, Aldergrove or City? Aldergrove is in Antrim north of Belfast.

If you’re up on the north coast stay there for the day before heading back to the airport. If you want to be touristy you could try the Distillery in Bushmills or for scenery follow the coast road east to Ballycastle or west to Portstewart for a good beach (I’d avoid Portrush). If you’re feeling brave cross the Bann in Coleraine and keep heading west passed Castlerock and drive onto the beach at Downhill. Stunning bit of sand and often empty.

We're flying in and out of Aldergrove - I put BFS in the original post but have just edited to clarify.

Thanks for the tips! We'll likely head west I think towards Portstewart and if time allows it try and get over to Downhill!

[ArsE82]

clarkmagpie said:

Do a taxi tour of the troubles.
Really is an eye opener.

also - https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/carrick-a-rede

I'd love to do both of those, but I can see our 8-year-old having a meltdown on that bridge!

I've just looked at one of the city tour buses, and it picks up near the Titanic Hotel where we're staying. I'll see if we can get on that on the Saturday

[InitialDave]

If you're going to the Titanic museum, the dry dock and pumphouse is only a short walk away as well.

[ArsE82]

InitialDave said:

If you're going to the Titanic museum, the dry dock and pumphouse is only a short walk away as well.

That looks great - added to the list thanks.

[MiniMan64]

ArsE82 said:

MiniMan64 said:

Which airport for starters, Aldergrove or City? Aldergrove is in Antrim north of Belfast.

If you’re up on the north coast stay there for the day before heading back to the airport. If you want to be touristy you could try the Distillery in Bushmills or for scenery follow the coast road east to Ballycastle or west to Portstewart for a good beach (I’d avoid Portrush). If you’re feeling brave cross the Bann in Coleraine and keep heading west passed Castlerock and drive onto the beach at Downhill. Stunning bit of sand and often empty.

We're flying in and out of Aldergrove - I put BFS in the original post but have just edited to clarify.

Thanks for the tips! We'll likely head west I think towards Portstewart and if time allows it try and get over to Downhill!

Yeah if you’re heading in and out of the International I’d stay on the North coast on Sunday. Plenty of good spots to stop for a bite to eat and a pint.





Not so sunny but this was October!

Edited by MiniMan64 on Thursday 19th May 18:29

[MarkJS]

MOBB said:

clarkmagpie said:

Do a taxi tour of the troubles.
Really is an eye opener.

+1 I did the open top bus tour

Definitely do the hop on hop off bus - it’s fascinating.

We were there in October and Belfast is a great city. The Crown Liquor Saloon is a good place for a drink.

[Sgt Joe Roberts]

How about doing something for the wee man. Have a look at We Are Vertigo, ( indoor skydiving and inflatable play park ) it's across the street from the Titanic hotel. Or have a look at W5 which is in the Odyessey Arena a couple of minutes walk from the hotel. There's also ten pin bowling in the Odyessey.

https://wearevertigo.com/activities/titanic-quarte...

https://w5online.co.uk/

[ArsE82]

MarkJS said:

Definitely do the hop on hop off bus - it’s fascinating.

Definitely doing this. Cheers.

MiniMan64 said:

Yeah if you’re heading in and out of the International I’d stay on the North coast on Sunday. Plenty of good spots to stop for a bite to eat and a pint.





Not so sunny but this was October!

Edited by MiniMan64 on Thursday 19th May 18:29

I'm hopefully taking my drone. That looks like a good spot to get some decent pics!

Sgt Joe Roberts said:

How about doing something for the wee man. Have a look at We Are Vertigo, ( indoor skydiving and inflatable play park ) it's across the street from the Titanic hotel. Or have a look at W5 which is in the Odyessey Arena a couple of minutes walk from the hotel. There's also ten pin bowling in the Odyessey.

https://wearevertigo.com/activities/titanic-quarte...

https://w5online.co.uk/

He continues to surprise me. I showed him the We Are Vertigo and he's well up for it! Thanks

[StevieBee]

MOBB said:

clarkmagpie said:

Do a taxi tour of the troubles.
Really is an eye opener.

+1 I did the open top bus tour

That's something I think I would find both fascinating and highly uncomfortable doing, in equal measures.

What do the locals think of their misery now being the subject of an open-top bus tour?

[jonsp]

ArsE82 said:

We'll likely head west I think towards Portstewart and if time allows it try and get over to Downhill!

As you're driving along the coast road you'll go through a little village called Ballintoy, blink and you'll miss it. Look for the signs to the harbour it's only 5 minutes down the hill. Lovely spot and well worth a look - there's a little cafe which should be open this time of year.

[clarkmagpie]

StevieBee said:

MOBB said:

clarkmagpie said:

Do a taxi tour of the troubles.
Really is an eye opener.

+1 I did the open top bus tour

That's something I think I would find both fascinating and highly uncomfortable doing, in equal measures.

What do the locals think of their misery now being the subject of an open-top bus tour?

We did it in a proper taxi so didn't look like gawping tourists.
Got some great photos of the murals on the houses.

[ooo000ooo]

if you're going to the giants causeway, park for free at the train station in bushmills and you can either get the little train to the causeway or walk along the side of the line across the golf course. You can also park at the train station car park at the causeway end and walk to the causeway for a fiver or so rather than give the money to the wkers in the national trust.
Hopefully you're aware that you don't have to pay to get to the actual causeway, just walk over the roof and on down the road to it,

[ooo000ooo]

have a wander round st georges market on saturday or sunday.
if you're going to portrush from belfast, do the causeway coastal route, set your sat nav for carrickfergus (visit the castle) head towards Larne then along the coastal route to cushendall.
At cushendall you turn left and head up into the hills where you can turn right to go to cushendun and follow the coast or keep going straight up through the glens. If you go cushendun route you can then do Torr Head - was a circuit of ireland stage many years ago, imagine doing it flat out in a rothmans porsche.
Past the vanishing lake into ballycastle.
Follow the coastal route to portrush, quick lap of the NW200, go to Barrys/Currys.
Head to Benone beach, while you are there might as well call into magilligan then back home via the motorway if you've done enough.

[MiniMan64]

Actually that’s a great shout I forgot to mention ^^^ if you do go West and find your way to Downhill keep going to Benone and Magilligan (avoid the firing range) and grab a pint at the Point Bar. Lovey place.

[ArsE82]

Thanks everyone for the advice. Had a great weekend! Only got back at 22:00 last night so we're all a bit knackered.

I'll note down what we did below for the benefit of others:

Easyjet flight over on Friday evening was fantastic. We arrived at Manchester airport in good time, got through security in about 20 minutes. Flight took off on time and we landed in Belfast International at 19:30 on time.

We had a car pre-booked with Easirent. I called the number on arrival which was supposed to arrange a courtesy vehicle to the off-site collection point, and there was no answer. I tried about 5 times to get through but no luck, so Easirent effectively left me with my family (including young son) abandoned at the airport. [I've since spoken to Easirent and apparently they make it clear there's nobody there after 18:00, so the travel company we use should have told us that]

Luckily we managed to get something sorted with Europcar who were expensive but excellent. 5-door Focus 1.5 diesel automatic. Handled really well to be fair, just had no power!

We stayed at the Titanic Hotel which was ok. The room was nice (Family 'Suite' (two king-size beds and a lounge area, plus en-suite shower)) but the hotel was a bit impersonal. The staff seemed a bit disengaged but as a clean 'base' it was ideal.


Saturday
Breakfast at Coffee Yard in Holywood was really good. Staff really nice. Place was busy but we got a decent table at the back.

Then off to the Titanic Experience (museum). This was brilliant. Really well put together and the whole 'journey' through it was really good. Our son (8) loved it.

Then we did the indoor Skydiving at wearevertigo which was fantastic. Our son is a little bit risk-averse sometimes, but he had loved every minute of it. As did I and my wife.

Quick freshen-up back at the hotel (skydiving can be sweaty) when we went out for dinner at Stock at St George's Market. This was a last-minute booking so they could only fit us in on the terrace overlooking the market. Food was mostly really good, but unfortunately we had a small issue!

We'd ordered soup to start (which was gorgeous) but they brought out two of the mains first (pizza). They took them back, then brought them back 15 minutes later once we'd finished the starters. The waitress assured us they were fresh and hadn't been under a lamp, but the shrivelled rocket and sprinkled parmesan (which wasn't on them originally, so probably thrown on to disguise the dryness of the pizza) would suggest otherwise. A senior member of staff confirmed they'd indeed been under a lamp. My chicken supreme was beautiful though!

Then off to the Diving Comedy gig at Waterfront Hall.

Really good venue, amazing performance obviously. Only bad point was an older guy coming and standing right in front of me blocking my view of the encore, then making threats to me when I asked him politely to move across to the next seat so I could see properly. Staff asked him to move but he refused. Dick.

Sunday
Breakfast at 81 in Holywood. Went for a Full Ulster which was delicious. Soda Farls.

After being so busy on the Saturday (and being mildly hungover) we went for a more relaxing day. We took the quick route to Cushendun, then the coast road up to Torr Head (great fun road!). From there we went to Ballycastle for a coffee and ice-cream (and a play on the park for my son), before heading across to Giant's Causeway.

When we first went, 13 years ago, GC was a lot more open! We actually got engaged atop Great Stookan, which you're not allowed to climb any longer. Still worth a visit though, especially as we're already National Trust members.

Drive back down the airport was easy enough. Security was a bit of a slog but once on-board we were back home in good time.

Thanks again - still one of my favourite places to visit. We found some nice paintings in a gallery that we'd like to buy for our new house, so I might come back over on the ferry to collect them (in my RS Megane) and enjoy the roads again on my own!

Edited by ArsE82 on Monday 23 May 13:58

Edited by ArsE82 on Monday 23 May 14:24

[ooo000ooo]

ArsE82 said:

Sunday
Went for a Full Irish which was delicious. Soda Farls.

Full Ulster fry you mean, we've started wars for less than that (that and which is better Taytos or FreesTaytos)