Belfast Tour
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The approach to Belfast Harbor from the Irish Sea offers the
passengers a good opportunity for first impressions of the Northern
Irish countryside. Passengers will pass close by County Antrim’s
shoreline with excellent views of the town of Carrickfergus
with its Norman castle guarding the approach to the Lough. Ahead
the cranes of one of Belfast’s most famous landmarks,
the shipyard where the Titanic was built, can be seen towering
above the port. Belfast is a lively city offering excellent
attractions such as museums and fine Victorian buildings. All
of Northern Ireland’s many tourist attractions are easily
accessible from the Port.
Belfast Castle
For over 120 years Belfast Castle has been a familiar landmark
in the city of Belfast. It is located on the slopes of the Cave
Hill, 400ft above sea level, offering spectacular views over
Belfast City. Tours of the Castle take place throughout the
summer, together with a slide show and complementary refreshments.
Belfast City Hall
Belfast City Hall is a quadrangular building by Alfred Thomas
(1906) in the renaissance style. In the center of the building
is a dome crowned by a lantern, its walls lined with Italian
marble and seven stained glass windows portraying various scenes
in the history of Belfast. The pleasure grounds contain a statue
of Queen Victoria and a memorial to the Royal Irish Rifles.
Carrick-A-Rede Rope Bridge
Open for most of the summer season (April to September) the
Carrickarede rope bridge is not a trip for the faint hearted
with an 80 foot downwards view of sand, sea and surf. As the
waves roar below, the breeze surrounds you with a feeling of
flight. Not to mention the astounding view of the surrounding
coastline.
The bridge is slung up during the summer by commercial fishermen
getting access to their nets.Usually open from mid-March until
September.
Crown Liquor Salon
The Crown Liquor Salon is Belfast's most famous pub. Once a
railway hotel, has been restored by the Conservationist National
Trust. A magnificent high Victorian public house, with rich
ornamentation and fine woodwork, glass and tiles, built at the
end of the nineteenth century. Located on Victoria street Belfast
city.
Giants Causeway
For countless centuries visitors have marveled at the mystery
of the Giants Causeway in Antrim. At the heart of one of Europe's
most magnificent coastlines, its unique rock formations have,
for millions of years stood as a natural rampart against the
unbridled ferocity of the Atlantic storms.
Hillsborough
Located in County Down the village takes it's name from Sir
Arthur Hill, Who built Hillsborough Fort in 1650. Most Buildings
in Hillsborough are in the Georgian style and date from the
18th century.
Mount Stewart House and Gardens
Five miles South-East of Newtownsland on the Portferry road,
County Down, this impressive eighteenth century mansion is owned
by the National Trust. Home to the influential Londonderry family.
Murals on the Falls and Shankill Road
The thing that fascinates most visitors to Belfast is Belfast's
recent history - that is the sectarian fighting. The signs of
conflict are still evident in the striking, elaborate murals
that adorn dozens of gable ends. On the Falls Road there are
murals of green, white and orange, and the paintings of fallen
comrades in the areas of Catholic / Republican communities.
While on the Shankill Road the murals have the red, white and
blue on the areas of the protestant communities.
The Ards Peninsula
The breezy coast road of the Ards runs South via Dunaghadee,
passing close to the beautiful windmill at Ballycopeland, on
to Portavogie harbor, on it goes past Kearney village right
to the end of the peninsula where the ancient Irish marked their
graves with a ring of standing stones and built a fort into
the wind on the Hill of Tara.
Golf - Royal Co.Down
Royal
County Down the very words are enough to send a shiver up your
spine. Laid out beneath the imperious gaze of the Mountains
of Mourne and enjoying a magnificent setting along the shores
of Dundrum Bay, Royal County Down is truly one of the world's
finest links golf courses. Designed by Old Tom Morris for the
princely sum of four guineas back in 1889, Royal County Down,
as well as being one of the most beautiful courses in the world,
is also one of the most challenging.
Golf - Royal Belfast
One
of only four Irish golf clubs with a "Royal" prefix,
Royal Belfast Golf Club was founded in November 1881 and holds
the distinction of being the oldest golf club in Ireland. And
while the course may be overshadowed to some extent by the great
links courses of the northeast, such as Royal County Down, Royal
Portrush and Portstewart, there is little doubt that Royal Belfast
is one of the finest parkland golf courses in the entire island
of Ireland.
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