After a previous visit to Belfast earlier in the year, I decided to spend a week in the car and explore Northern Ireland in more detail. The region did not disappoint with quaint towns, excellent roads, and coastal vistas that provide intrepid travelers with wind-swept but jaw-dropping scenery. And, as someone who has driven thousands of miles all over the world, there was one thing that did surprise me.
Tourism to Northern Ireland has largely recovered from the pandemic slump experienced by many other places around the world too, and perceptions about the nation, still less known than England, Scotland and Wales to many, are changing. During my visit, I was surprised by the chilled ambience of driving around Northern Ireland and even though it was school holidays — with more people on the roads than usual — it was still very much a relaxing vibe. Families took advantage of the beaches, and although the rain spat down on occasion, many still headed outdoors for a myriad of activities that the region offers.
Fishing, boating, seal watching, and playing in playgrounds were all popular options being undertaken by residents plus visitors alike. People were very friendly, inquisitive, and more than happy to help when it came to suggesting recommendations on where to go next.
The variety of scenery on offer changed as I drove through Mid Ulster before heading into Eniskillen. There were lots of agricultural areas, some mountains, and even an impressive lake or two on offer as we gradually switched from heading west to north.
From there, we headed through some parts of the Sperrin Area, a place of Outstanding Natural Beauty, before going through Coleraine and ending up at Port Stewart. The coastal scenery from here was stunning, and we soon ended up in Portrush, where the Open Golf Tournament had been in play only days before.
Portrush was lovely, but people were literally being blown along when we stopped on nearby cliff tops to admire the views on offer. Rugged coastlines that wouldn’t look out of place on the north west coast of Iceland or in parts of Australia, hugged the magnificent northern edge of the country.
We continued along until we reached the Giant’s Causeway and then started inching towards Ballycastle before returning towards Belfast down the western coast.
Throughout our journey, we were pleasantly welcomed wherever we went and enjoyed some great hospitality along the way. There were several great culinary experiences, including the Mill Race Restaurant at the Dunadry hotel, in County Antrim, which has previously been awarded an AA Rosette.
Even the airport has a more laidback demeanour to it compared to many others around the United kingdom which only added to the desire of wanting to return to the region soon.
