Experience the story of the world’s most famous ocean liner, explore Belfast one of Europe’s fastest changing cities and discover some of the British Isles’ most scenic coastal scenery including the breathtaking Giant’s Causeway. This holiday has an overnight stay in Dumfries on the outward journey and in Preston on the return and uses the Cairnryan-Belfast ferry crossing so there is NO need for an early start on the day of departure or to restrict the number of pick-up points.

Your holiday itinerary:
SUNDAY: Leaving Essex, we travel north to Dumfries and our overnight hotel.
MONDAY: After breakfast take a stroll into the centre of Dumfries. Set along the banks of the River Nith, it is best known for its association with Robert Burns. Take time to visit The Robert Burns Centre and learn about his time in the town before we leave Dumfries and make our way to Cairnryan for the mid-afternoon ferry to Belfast. Once in Northern Ireland it is a short drive to the Corrs Hotel, our base for the next 4 nights.
TUESDAY: Enjoy a full day in Belfast. We begin the day with a visit to the excellent Titanic Belfast, a state-of-the-art visitor centre built on the site where the world’s most famous liner was created. The afternoon is free to explore the capital city of Northern Ireland. Set on the shores of Belfast Lough and framed by the towering Cave Hill, Belfast has history and charm. Explore the restaurants of the Cathedral Quarter, take a wander around St. George’s Market, take a tour of Belfast City Hall, an architectural masterpiece known for its grand interior and beautiful gardens and visit the historic Crumlin Road Gaol, a former prison that offers a fascinating look into Belfast’s troubled past.
WEDNESDAY: This morning, we travel along the Antrim Coast Road to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Giant’s Causeway. Centred around the Nine Glens of Antrim, the Antrim Coast Road is one of the most dramatic coastal routes in the world. Some 80 miles of stunning coastline, with rugged and windswept cliffs, spectacular scenery, fabulous unspoilt beaches. A coastline sprinkled with castles, churches and forts, many now just ruins. The Giants Causeway, a collection of neatly packed columns of hexagonal basalt rocks was created by volcanic eruptions some 60 million years ago and today forms Northern Ireland’s only UNESCO World Heritage Site. With an interactive exhibition and audio guides, the award-wining Visitor Centre reveals the stor Venture out and walk the mile or so to the rocks or take the shuttle bus (charge of approximately £1.50 not included).
THURSDAY: Today we travel south and visit the elegant Hillsborough Castle and Gardens, a working royal palace functioning as the official residence of the Royal Family when they are in Northern Ireland. Follow in the footsteps of royalty and politicians as you make your way through the elegant State Rooms. Each room is unique and full of paintings, furnishings and curiosities. Some have also been host to historic meetings between British and Irish politicians, resulting in the Castle playing an important role in the Northern Ireland Peace Process. After admiring the Castle, take a look outside at the stunning gardens and grounds and explore Hillsborough town before we return to our hotel.
FRIDAY: Sadly, we must leave the Corrs Corner Hotel and begin our journey home. Catching the ferry to Cairnryan we then drive to the outskirts of Preston and our overnight hotel.
SATURDAY: After a leisurely breakfast we continue our homeward journey arriving back in Essex late afternoon.

Important Information:

Please read the itinerary and following information carefully before deciding if this holiday will be suitable for you:
1) British citizens do not strictly require a passport to travel to the island of Ireland, though ferry companies require some form of photo identification. If you are not a British citizen, please check with the relevant authorities which form of identification you will require.
2) Sensible footwear and clothing are advised for the trip to the Giant’s Causeway. If you venture of the footpath the rocks at the Causeway are slippery and uneven.
3) To comply with drivers’ hours regulations, we will be using a local coach for the day in Belfast, which may not have the same features or seating layout as ours.
4) If Hillsborough Castle is unavailable for whatever reason, we will try and change the day in question or offer a different excursion.