Best of Northern Ireland

The Best of Northern Ireland

Twin Centre Belfast & Enniskillen

11 Days 14^th June 2025

 

Join us to discover the beauty of Northern Ireland from the stunning Antrim coast, the Giant’s Causeway and the birthplace of the Titanic, to a sunset dinner cruise on the crystal-clear Fermanagh Lakelands, Blessingbourne Country Estate, the Ulster American Folk Park and Belleek pottery. Enjoy these attractions and more on this 2-centre tour exploring stunning scenery amongst the wonderful hospitality of the Irish.

 

Tour Itinerary

 

Saturday – Leaving Wiltshire we travel north to the Lockerbie area to our overnight hotel with time to relax and settle in before tonight’s evening meal. Comfort stops on route.

 

Sunday – After a full Scottish breakfast we head to Cairnryan for our ferry crossing over to Belfast. The crossing takes just over 2 hours arriving in Belfast mid-afternoon. The coach will continue our journey to our first main hotel in Enniskillen the Manor House Country Hotel arriving with plenty of time to explore the grounds of this beautiful hotel before dinner.

 

Monday – Today we will be visiting the Ulster American Folk Park in Omagh, County Tyrone, a living museum with more than 30 exhibit buildings to explore amongst costumed characters telling the story of 3 centuries of Irish emigration. From thatched cottages, listen to the stories and lives of days gone by, then ‘journey’ on board a full-scale emigrant sailing ship and experience the cramped quarters where hundreds of people lived during their 12-week Atlantic crossing. Through emigration, Ulster people have made an impact across North America, so walk in the footsteps of the bold migrants who set sail for a new life, this is their story. Entertainment in the hotel this evening after dinner.

 

Tuesday – This morning we head to the lovely Blessingbourne Country Estate for a guided tour of the house and gardens with its fascinating history, by the lady of the manor. After the tour we will enjoy tea and homemade cakes in the drawing room! We continue to the Belleek pottery visitor centre where we will enjoy a tour of one of the oldest working potteries in the world which began in 1857. Watch the craftsmen at work on a 30-minute tour before browsing the showroom exhibiting this beautiful china with an opportunity to make a purchase if you wish. This evening, we are treating you to a sun set dinner cruise on ‘The Lady of the Lake’! Enjoy a 3-course meal complete with after dinner tea & coffee while sailing through the crystal-clear waters of Lough Erne as the sun sets, a perfect end to the day.

 

Wednesday – A free day for you all today to relax in our beautiful hotel, steeped in history and dating back to the 17^th century. Enjoy this family-owned property that combines old world charm with modern hotel luxury. You may wish to use the extensive leisure facilities including the indoor heated pool, hot tub, steam room & sauna, relax on the terrace or stroll around the beautiful grounds that the estate has to offer, the choice is yours.

 

Thursday – We leave the Manor Hotel and continue our tour heading for the capital of Northern Ireland, Belfast via the stunning Antrim coast road with its unspoilt views of the Irish Sea and the Glens of Antrim. This road leads us to the UNESCO World heritage site of the famous ‘Giants Causeway’ with its 37,000 volcanic stone pillars, shrouded by folklore and fairy tales. We are including admission to the visitor centre to see the exhibits as well as an audio guide. (This centre is owned by the National Trust, so if you are a member, it would be useful to bring your membership card with you). After our visit we continue to our second main hotel the 4* Stormont, opposite the grounds of the Parliament building. Time to settle in before dinner.

 

Friday – Today we are taking you into the fabulous city of Belfast where we will be meeting our guide for a perfect introduction to the history and heritage of Belfast in the comfort of our own coach. After this guided tour, you will have free time in the city for lunch and exploration independently. Back to the hotel late afternoon to relax before dinner.

 

Saturday – Today we visit ‘The Titanic Experience’, a must-see attraction for any visitor in Belfast. This building is designed to resemble the hulls of 4 ships and is located in the Titanic Quarter, beside the historic site of the world-famous ships’ construction, housed in an iconic sixth story building. This state-of-the-art visitor experience tells the story of the fateful Titanic from her early beginnings to her tragic maiden voyage. Uncover the sights, sounds, smells and stories of the ship on this self-guided tour which extends over 10 interactive galleries with fascinating artifacts on display from beautifully re-created interiors to the belongings that survived the sinking. Your tour begins with a boarding card and will have details of one of the passengers that boarded the ship on Thursday 11^th April 1912. You will be guided on a virtual journey immersing you into life on board, the conditions for all class passengers and finally the chill of the sinking in a unique cinematographic experience. The final element will be to learn the fate of your passenger, the discovery of the wreck and more. An incredible attraction dedicated to the people who lost their lives in the disaster. We continue this afternoon the short distance by coach to the Belfast Botanical Gardens. First established in 1828 the gardens have been enjoyed as a public park by the people of Belfast since 1895. Explore the palm house and tropical ravine, the rose garden and for tree enthusiasts, the impressive rare oak trees planted in the 1880’s, have lunch and discover the year round displays of scent and colour.

 

Sunday – Your second free day, this time in Belfast to relax in the hotel, and an opportunity for a leisurely walk in the grounds of the Stormont Estate. There are beautiful gardens a variety of walking trails throughout the estate with picnic areas, monuments and historic buildings.

 

Monday – Time to sadly leave Ireland today, catching our late morning ferry back to Cairnryan, arriving at our overnight hotel late afternoon.

 

Tuesday – After a full Scottish breakfast we travel back south to Wiltshire after our fabulous tour discovering Northern Ireland.

 

Your hotels

4* Dryfesdale Country House Hotel – Lockerbie 2 nights

4* Manor House Country Hotel - Enniskillen 4 nights

4* Stormont Hotel – Belfast 4 nights

 

All hotels have en-suite bedrooms with hospitality trays, TV, hairdryer & free Wi-Fi. The Manor House hotel has an indoor pool. The Dryfesdale does NOT have a lift, but ground floor rooms are available on request. All hotels have restaurants, bars, lounges and terraces.

 

Price Includes

Luxury Coach Travel with Extra Leg Room

Home Pickup, Full Hostess Service

10 Nights Dinner, Bed & Breakfast (Including Dinner Cruise)

Tea/Coffee after Dinner

Entrance to Ulster American Folk Park

Tour of Blessingbourne Country Estate with Tea/Coffee & Cakes

Tour of Belleek Pottery

Sunset Dinner Cruise on Lough Erne

Guided Tour of Belfast

Entrance to Giants Causeway

The Titanic Experience & Tour

Belfast Botanical Gardens

 

11 Days £1,679.00

Single Supplement £350 (Limited)

Double for Sole use in Main Hotels