Where I'd Recommend To Visit
Titanic Belfast
I'm not the biggest Titanic fan (i.e. the film) and I was kind of worried the museum was going to be based around it. I only went in the end because I had read so frequently that it was a great place to visit. Honestly, that was true. I wasn't so keen to begin with, although I was mildly interested in a short ride that took you around the engineering of the shipyards. Later, however, you heard the real accounts from people on Titanic at the time and it really struck a chord with me. One lady recounted, as a child, throwing snowballs from chunks of the iceberg they hit, while crew told her everything was fine, as the ship began to fill. I really enjoyed their stories.
There was also a section of diving the wreckage of the Titanic which I was very interested in, as a diver, and it was completely unexpected for me.
Overall a great visit and a beautiful building even if you're not going in.
SS Nomadic
There is a ship docked in front of the Titanic Belfast. Entry for it was included in my fare for Titanic Belfast for free. I found there wasn't much to see on the boat but there were some nice views of the museum from it.
Glass of Thrones
For a Game of Thrones fan, this was an unexpected must-do. There are several beautiful stained glass windows celebrating Game of Thrones dotted around Belfast. Totally free to visit, you just have to search for them. Find the most recent locations on the Visit Belfast website.
Umbrella Alley
A great place to visit for a photo, the Umbrella Alley near the Duke of York pub.
City Hall
Definitely worth the view from the outside if you're passing. Majestic. I didn't go on the tour but I did nip in to use the toilet and I was impressed!
Giant's Causeway
The more I looked into Northern Ireland, the more I wanted to go and explore the actual North a bit more, outside of Belfast itself. In the end, I booked onto a Game of Thrones Tour with McCombs Coaches because I was especially interested in seeing Giant's Causeway, Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge and Dark Hedges, and this company offered all three and, as it turned out, it was an excellent tour.
At Giant's Causeway there's no real need to buy a ticket to the visitor centre, making it free. I wanted to spend all the time the coach trip allowed visiting the stones instead.
Firstly, instead of entering the tunnel that takes you straight to the stones, walk on the grassy roof of the visitor centre and follow the signs to the red trail. This route gives you stunning views of the whole area. Follow the path until you reach a set of steep stairs, you can either continue straight forwards at the fork at the bottom of the stairs to take you to an amphitheatre or turn left to take you to the stones.
I've got to say, there were fewer stones than I had imagined- just a very small patch. There were quite a few visitors, despite it being a highly windy rather cold day in January. A woman also fell over on the stones so please be careful!
After the stones you can take the main path back to the visitor centre so you get to see the views from two different angles.
Overall the whole route took me just over an hour, and that's including stopping for photos. I tried to map it at the time but I had no signal or GPS.
A great visit.
Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge
One thing I was really looking to was the Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge. It was terrifying! A rope bridge spanning 20 metres, suspended 30 metres above the rocks below, rocking violently in the wind. I was actually very lucky because some people on my coach were unable to cross the bridge as it was closed due to the high winds.
If you're expecting to Insta the bridge, maybe think again. Firstly the staff tell you to hold on, don't stall and cross quickly. They are really serious about it. When you first get on the bridge you don't understand at all, but in the middle of it you totally get where they're coming from! I am not scared of heights and I was fine to cross but I was certainly using two hands and quickly abandoned my idea of videoing the cross on my phone.
You have to pay for entry onto the actual bridge itself and you are given a time slot. It's recommended you book in advance but I paid at the booth in the car park.
While you're there and if you are stood in the car park, turn the opposite way to the bridge and there are some great views down in the old quarry, Larrybane. Here there is also a Game of Thrones filming plaque.
Causeway Coastal Road
There are stunning views along the coastal road. I would be really interested in cycling along it in future. This wasn't possible on this trip though but I would definitely research doing this is future.
Where Else I'd Go In Future
Crumlin Road Gaol
A lot of people recommended the jail to me. I passed by it on the way to my work meeting but never entered. I am particularly interested in "The Troubles" after watching Derry Girls (!) and would have loved to have visited if I had extra time.
Where I'd Recommend To Skip
Dark Hedges
I found the Dark Hedges a little underwhelming compared to the photos I had seen. It was genuinely some trees that had grown close together on a small lane. There were no facilities or anything like that. Despite our other stops being very quiet, it was very difficult to get a photo without people in the background. Not worth a second visit, despite my excitement to see it.
Fullerton Arms
I wouldn't make a special visit to visit this pub. The pub is home to one of the "Door of Thrones", the doors made from wood from Dark Hedges to celebrate the programme. And when you walk in and go through this door, immediately on the right is a throne you can sit in for photos, which is good but I wouldn't go out of my way for this.
Cushendun
Another stop on the tour was the Cushendun Cave, the location where Melisandre gave birth to the shadow assassin. In all honesty it was a small cave and not worth a special visit, although there was a Game of Thrones filming plaque.
Ballintoy Harbour
A small harbour on the seafront. In Game of Thrones it was used for exterior Pyke shots and as the Iron Islands. Not worth the visit unless you want to see the two Game of Thrones filming plaques.
Carnlough
A further stop on the tour. A small harbour with a Spar. This is the location where Theon Greyjoy comes back to Pyke Harbour. It is a very small harbour on the sea front and again not worth the visit unless you want to see the Game of Thrones filming plaque.
Big Fish
I wouldn't made a special visit to see Big Fish in Belfast but it is a nice piece of artwork if you are passing by.
Costs
- Flights with easyJet from London Stansted to Belfast International (there is a city airport too which is more convenient) £38.98
- Hotel £45.41 one night, £41.24 the next at the ibis Belfast City Centre. Not bad considering it was a great location, right in the city centre and included free WiFi, breakfast and tea and coffee in the room.
- Titanic Belfast £15.50 student ticket Mon-Fri
- Game of Thrones Tour £35 adult
- Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge £9 adult
- Groceries/Other £4.89
- Food £44.78 (Burger King at Belfast Airport £8.14, dinner at House of Zen £24, tea at the Fullerton Arms £2, dinner at Boojum £8.14, scone at the Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge tea shop £2.50)
Total £234.80
