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Northern Ireland
vital statistics
- Belfast
- 1.8 million
- English
- Pound Sterling
Did you know parts of Game of Thrones were filmed in Northern Ireland? You do now. And there’s a good reason! Bordering the Republic of Ireland and surrounded by sea on its eastern side, the country has an endless array of beautiful sights that could keep a film crew happy for decades.
Be guided by a history rich with ancient castles, pre-Christian monuments and a museum dedicated to the Titanic, which was built in Belfast before meeting its fate. Eco-tourism may be a buzz word, but nothing says ‘green’ like being in a country with a 150 days of rainfall a year. Rolling pastures wind up and down mountains and meet the stunning coastline where waves almost lick the foundations of sites like the haunted seventeenth-century Ballygally Castle in County Antrim. Scared? Don’t be. It’s now a wonderful hotel that typifies the adventure that awaits – just with a ghost or two thrown in.
Whichever direction you take, from the Causeway Coastal Route to country lanes linking charming villages, you’ll discover a place where laughter reigns and hospitality welcomes. As you tour the countryside, don’t forget to stop a while at Bushmills – King James I granted it a licence to produce whiskey in 1608, making it the oldest distillery in the world.
