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Start: Belfast city - Finish: Belfast city
Getting here: Fly to Belfast and rent a car.
Average mileage per day: 111km
Recommended duration: 5 days

Day One

Take the Causeway Coastal Route from Belfast via Carrickfergus, checking out its 800 year old castle on the way, then the A2 to Larne. This route has been rated one of the top five road trips in the world. From here travel north and enjoy the spectacular scenery – at times you’re just metres from the sea spray. As you continue on your journey the nine Glens of Antrim will unfold before you. Stop off to explore them, along with the white, windswept beaches. At Glenariff Forest Park take a pitstop to enjoy the glorious woodland walks. There are beautiful villages dotted along this coast, and we recommend you stop for lunch at the picturesque village of Cushendun. From here, take the road hugging the coastline to Torr Head for views over to the Mull of Kintyre. Returning to the Causeway Coastal Route, head towards Ballycastle before taking the coast road to the Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge, where walking across and back over an 80ft chasm will give you a pure adrenaline rush. Head towards Bushmills, where you can take a tour of the Distillery, and perhaps a dram of whiskey once you’ve parked your car for the night.
Total mileage: 142km

Day Two

In the morning, head back along the coast road to the Giant’s Causeway  – you’ll need time to appreciate this awesome feat of nature. Legend has it that the Irish giant Fionn mac Cumhaill (Finn McCool) built the causeway to walk to Scotland to fight his Scottish counterpart Benandonner. Heading west take in the ruins of medieval Dunluce Castle, teetering out over the sea, or breathe in the fresh air at the beaches of Portrush or Portstewart.

Look out for the glorious Mussenden Temple overlooking the 9 mile long Benone Strand, before heading on to Londonderry city for an overnight stay.
Total mileage: 74km

Day Three

Take time out to walk Londonderry’s city walls lined with cannons, taking in the richness of the sights and attractions scattered around the city, which hark back to another era entirely. Then head south on the B48 and A32 towards Enniskillen, County Fermanagh. There’s plenty to enrich your journey as you pass through the gloriously scenic Sperrin Mountains; and you can take a small detour to visit the Ulster American Folk Park, just outside Omagh, County Tyrone, which is one of the best open-air museums of its kind, detailing why two million people left Ulster for America during the 18th and 19th centuries. Nearby, Gortin also has a magical forest park where the flora and fauna can be viewed in all their glory. Finish your day in Enniskillen by visiting its impressive castle.
Total mileage: 131km

Day Four

Potter around the Fermanagh Lakelands for a while, as you’re perfectly placed for magnificent Lough Erne and even a day on the water, where you can savour the purity and wildlife that surround you. Then it’s time to head towards Portaferry in County Down (via A4, M1, A49, A24, A25) where you can stay overnight in this pretty, waterfront village. Access to the village is via the car ferry from Strangford.
Total mileage: 166km

Day Five

Portaferry lies on the edge of Strangford Lough, a breathtaking sea lake. For an insight into the extent of this waterway, pop into Exploris Aquarium, where you can find a seal sanctuary for injured or abandoned pups, excellent discovery pools and a space to get up close to marine life. Head north up the east coast for more stunning views. Enjoy watersports or a boat trip, then relax at one of Greyabbey s teashops and Mount Stewart House, with its much admired gardens. Then it s back to the buzz of Belfast city, where your journey began.
Total mileage: 46km

And if you have more time…

• Take a wander around Castle Coole, County Fermanagh one of Ireland s most sumptuous stately homes; or explore the Marble Arch Caves, County Fermanagh, an underground world of tunnels, rivers and waterfalls.

• Stargaze at the Armagh Planetarium, where you can get stellar with meteorite impacts and space robots.

• Get interactive at W5, the award winning discovery centre at Belfast’s Odyssey, with over 160 exhibits in four dynamic exhibition areas.

• Visit Belleek Pottery on the banks of the River Erne. Home to the world famous Belleek Fine Parian China.