Exploring Dublin and the Northern Coastline - 10 Days

Day 1: Exploring Dublin

Welcome to Ireland! Dublin offers the urban explorer plenty to discover, with private walking tours, historical sites, restaurants, and shops for all tastes. Get away from the city to kayak on the River Liffey, the waterway which forms the city’s main artery. On the right tide, you can explore as far as Guinness Brewery and the incredible green spaces of Phoenix Park.

Day 2: Exploring Belfast

In the morning, a guide will take you to begin your journey north to Belfast, stopping along the way to take in some interesting historic sites. Depending on what time you get into Belfast, you may choose to go straight to your hotel and freshen up, or visit the Titanic Museum in the late afternoon or early evening.

For a panoramic view of Belfast city, visit Cave Hill Country Park. Cave Hill has become synonymous with Belfast, with its imposing outline visible throughout the city. The landmark, named for the five caves located on the sides of the cliffs, contains a wealth of natural, archaeological, and historical features, including Belfast Castle. This evening, be sure to check out Belfast's famous Crown Liquor Saloon, a perfectly preserved Victorian pub.

Day 3: Antrim's highlights

A black cab tour of Greater Belfast's historical sites in the morning is a must. This tour includes the political murals and the peace line, a series of historically important sites in Ireland's history. In the afternoon, you will leave Belfast and begin traveling towards the Glens of Antrim. Along the way, stop in to visit Glenarm Castle for tea and scones before continuing on to explore the Dark Hedges, as featured in Game of Thrones, and coastal Gobbins Path. Tonight, you'll stay in a hotel overlooking the Giant’s Causeway.

Day 4: The Giant's Causeway

The iconic Giant’s Causeway is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, ranked alongside Mount Everest and the Giant Redwoods of California for its importance to humankind. Steeped in history and mythology, this site is best visited either early in the morning or later in the evening after the crowds have gone.

A visit to Dunluce Castle is a must here. This 14th-century castle is built on a clifftop with ocean waves crashing at its base. Then stop in Old Bushmills Distillery, Ireland's oldest working distillery, to discover the traditional way of making whiskey. Take a brisk walk along the beach on Port Stewart to clear the head and work up an appetite before dining in any of the fantastic local eateries this evening.

Day 5: Rathlin Island

Many tales of myth and mystery surround Rathlin Island, though the most famous tells of Robert the Bruce. In 1306, Edward I of England drove the Scottish King, Robert the Bruce, from Scotland. He took refuge on Rathlin, where he came upon a spider persevering again and again to bridge a gap with its web. On the seventh try, it succeeded. Taking heart from the spider’s efforts, he returned to Scotland and eventually regained his crown. 

Ferrying to the island today, your loop will include the bird sanctuary, home to an adorable resident puffin colony in season, and the stunning western lighthouse.

Day 6: Malin Head - Ireland's northernmost point

Head into rugged Donegal to stand at Malin Head, the northernmost point of Ireland. A wild and windswept landscape peppered with ancient archaeological remains, Malin Head served as the backdrop for the 2017 Star Wars film. Your hike will climb over rugged hills and past dramatic coastal cliffs.

Day 7: Glenveagh National Park

Glenveagh National Park is a hauntingly beautiful wilderness of rugged mountains, pristine lakes, tumbling waterfalls, and enchanted native oak woodland. Wander along the shores of the lake to the mystical Glenveagh Castle. Here you will have the opportunity to explore the gardens before continuing your walk beyond the castle walls, passing abandoned settlements on a winding path through the Derryveagh Mountains.

In the early evening, take a jaunt to the top of some of the highest cliffs in all of Ireland, Slieve League. Standing at 1,972 feet, these cliffs are nearly three times the elevation of the Cliffs of Moher. 

Day 8: Sligo & Lough Gill

Following in the footsteps of the poet William Butler Yeats, you will explore the landscape that inspired him. Take in deserted islands with romantic ruins with a gentle half-day kayak tour on the lake at Lough Gill. Paddle past ancient woodlands and enjoy an island picnic. Later, visit the surfing hub of Strandhill where you will hike the short distance to visit the supposed grave of Queen Maeve, a legendary warrior queen, to enjoy incredible views across Sligo Bay towards Donegal.  

Day 9: Sligo's megalithic sites

It's time to say goodbye to the west today and begin your journey back to Dublin. Start with a morning visit to some of the megalithic sites dotted around Sligo. The sites of Carrowkeel and Carrowmore pre-date the pyramids of Giza, and Sligo is known for having one of the highest concentrations of megalithic sites in Ireland. 

Later, you will continue on to Dublin where your guide will say goodbye at your hotel and leave you to explore and enjoy your last night in Ireland.

Day 10: Departing Dublin

After one last Irish breakfast, your airport transfer will pick you up from your hotel in time for your flight home. Safe travels!