Driving through a brilliant green landscape spangled with bright yellow gorse, sipping a famous Bushmills whiskey in a friendly neighbourhood pub or taking on the challenge of world-class links: in this small country, everything is only a short distance away. Go if you are seeking a laid-back holiday with a feel for yesteryear. Go if you yearn for astounding scenery. The rugged Antrim coast sweeps past picture-perfect villages and sandy beaches to the Giant’s Causeway – a World Heritage Site and the country’s most visited attraction. Further south the Mountains of Mourne tumble into the sea, while in Fermanagh, the landscape is dominated by lakes – ‘loughs’ in this part of the world – bordered by forests and farmland and studded with islands rich in early Christian monuments. Northern Ireland provides a wonderful natural setting for outdoor activities. Highlights include the famous Ulster Way, 491 miles of paths across moors, mountains and along the coast. The route is divided into more manageable sections for the less ambitious! Belfast, the capital, is buzzing with activity. Brand new architectural creations like the modernistic Odyssey and Waterfront Hall exhibit the new Belfast while facades like the City Hall, Queen’s University and the Ulster Museum showcase the grandeur of earlier days. Visitors most profound memories are often time shared with locals. ‘There are no strangers here, only friends who have not yet met’. This maxim, posted on one crowded pub wall, says it all
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