by plane
road & ferry
coach
local public transport
car hire

The Giant's Causeway

Airline information
For up to date availability or schedule information, I suggest using a website such as eBookers or Deckchair.

Travelling by car and ferry
If you are travelling in a group, or have lots of kit to take, then the simplest method of travel is by car and ferry. Not surprisingly, the road system in Northern Ireland is identical to that in the rest of the UK, but with a generally higher road density and lower volumes of traffic. The only nuance is that the road numbers start from zero again, so that there is an M2, M2, A1, B1 etc, but with much less traffic outside the cities.

This table lists ferry crossings from the mainland to Northern Ireland and the Republic, starting with the most northerly crossing from Scotland. Beware: at peak times (i.e. holiday weekends and the summer) some crossings fill up months in advance, as with air tickets.

Travelling by coach
There is a twice-daily Ulsterbus Express / National Express coach service from London Victoria to Belfast Great Victoria Street, calling at Digbeth Coach Station. As long as you can cope with long periods sitting on a coach (ie up to 12 hours' journey time), this is a cheap method of getting there, if you have travel arrangements for while you are in the province.

Travelling by public transport within Northern Ireland
In a word, don't. No really, unless you have a strong sense of irony, relying on the Translink network (Northern Ireland Railways, Ulsterbus and Citybus) outside Greater Belfast and on the main route to Londonderry or Dublin is not to be recommended. There isn't the density of population to support a service and even the "Inter City" routes which exist within Northern Ireland are serviced infrequently. And Benone and Baronscourt are not exactly centres of population.

Relevant routes
273 Londonderry to Dungannon via Newtownstewart (Ulsterbus Goldliner).
274 Londonderry to Monaghan via Newtownstewart (Ulsterbus Goldliner).
97 Strabane to Omagh via Newtownstewart (Ulsterbus).
134 Limavady to Coleraine via Downhill & Bellarena (Ulsterbus).

Having slated the network, I must, however, recommend the Coastliner and the Bushmills Express, open topped double decker, which ply the Antrim Coast Road from Belfast right round to to Coleraine.

Car Hire
If you are short on time, you might consider the best option to be fly-drive. All the normal companies are present at Belfast International and Belfast City Airports. Additionally, local Belfast firm McCausland often have good offers. 

If you need the services of a knowledgeable local travel agent to help you arrange your travel plans, I Can recommend the agent used by my family: McCurdy Hamilton in Ballymoney. You can contact Derek Ray by email or by telephone (028 2766 3537).