Causeway Coast
Sperrins and Tyrone
Glens of Antrim
other websites

The Giant's Causeway

This list below seeks to take in the highlights, with suggested websites highlighted in bold text for more information or photographs. The 'tour' starts at the nine o'clock position and works its way clockwise around the Province.

Londonderry.
Just minutes away across the border in Donegal is the Grianan of Ailech, an impressive pre-historic fortress with stunning views.

The North Coast and Causeway Coast

The Causeway Coast [photos] is the main visitor attraction in the northern half of Northern Ireland, followed closely by the Glens of Antrim.

Coleraine is the site of the oldest identified settlement in the British Isles at the Mount Sandel fort. The name in Irish means ferny dell. It a market town, originally fortified, as still reflected in the street pattern, and a large regional shopping centre. The council website is singularly mundane with the exception of an interesting page on Dunluce Castle (extra photo)and the story of the Giant's Causeway (more photos on this site) and the Spanish Armada.

In Limavady (Irish: leap of the dog), the haunting melody of the Londonderry Air (Danny Boy) was first written down by Jane Ross.

Towering over the Benone coastal plain are the northernmost Sperrins, which run down south into County Tyrone. Binvenagh is the local prominent landmark, with more photos of and from there on this site.

Omagh District takes in Baronscourt; a local site has information on most towns in the area, including photographs of scenery, and accommodation information.

The Sperrins and Tyrone [photo]

The Sperrins are best viewed along my recommended route: travelling south from the coast to end in Gortin or Newtownstewart. Here's the plan: after visiting the Bishop's Castle and admiring the view from Mussenden Temple, continue to Downhill, take the Bishops's Road (the steep one off the A2) to the Eagle Hill viewpoint (the stunning views of Benone are from here). This road continues along the top of Binevenagh into Limavady on the B201/A2. From Limavady follow the A37 out of town back towards Coleraine but turn right to travel SE to Drumsurn and travel beyond to Legavannon Pot, an unusual geological formation on the edge of the Sperrins. Navigate to Draperstown. If you want you can travel to Dungiven and cross the Glenshane Pass to Draperstown (founded by London's Worshipful Company of Drapers), home to the interpretive centre of the Ulster Plantation of 1610. From there, you follow the road down the Glenelley Valley, through the heart of the Sperrins, past the Heritage Centre, to the small town of Plumbridge. You can then continue west to Newtownstewart, or detour south to the charming village of Gortin and Gortin Glen forest park.

The Ulster American Folkpark 
The Ulster History Park 
Gortin Glen Forest Park 
Sperrin Heritage Centre 
Gray's Printing Press
Plantation of Ulster Visitor Centre
Creggan Visitor Centre

The Ulster Way, the long-distance footpath which takes encycles all six counties of Northern Ireland and also steps out across the border, passes over Bessy Bell, very close to Baronscourt. A local group has info on walking in the Sperrins. The Glens Development Group has a site with information on local walks, cycle routes,  attractions and accommodation.
 

The Glens of Antrim

This general guide is a good starting point to the scenery of the Glens. A great route for visitors follows the A2 out of Belfast and around the area of outstanding natural beauty-designated coastline of Antrim to the Giant's Causeway. Parts of this road were originally built as famine relief in the 1840s; you can also see the traces of the iron ore railway from the Second World War at Glenarriff. photo

The principal Glens' names mean: Glenarm - glen of the army, Glencloy - glen of the dykes, Glenariff - glen of the plough, Glenballyemon - Edwardstown glen, Glenaan - glen of the little fords, Glencorp - glen of the dead, Glendun - brown glen, Glenshesk - glen of the sedges (reeds), Glentaisie - named after the princess of Rathlin Island.

Websites which might help you plan your visit

Northern Ireland Tourist Board (also 028 9023 1221)
Bord Failte, if you plan to travel a bit further south (also 020 7493 3201)

The local council websites can be found via the Civil Service website or directly to Belfast City, Derry City, Limavady, Coleraine, Strabane and Omagh. They vary in their usefulness with respect to content aimed at visitors.

Information about National Trust properties and other geographically-sorted resources can be found on the NI links page.

Tourist Information about the North (Causeway) Coast.

Photos of the Giant's Causeway and of the Causeway and Benone.

The National Cycle Network's local routes in Northern Ireland pass right by both event areas.