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North Ireland Bed and Breakfast - Find B&B on bnbstar.co.uk
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Bed and Breakfast Guide Northern Ireland
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The beautiful landscape of Northern Ireland with no less than six American Presidents claiming roots in Ulster as it is also known, is low rolling hill country with dramatic views, secluded valleys, lakes, the Sperrin and Mourne mountain ranges and indented coastline with many picturesque bays providing good anchorages for yachts and the unspoilt countryside that provides an ideal venue for outdoor pursuits. Coarse fishing is amongst the world's best providing you with superb salmon and trout rivers.
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With its lively cities and tranquil villages you’ll find community festivals, historic castles steeped in myth and legend, ruins and interesting monuments to admire and many activities where you can participate such as, golf courses with several being of international championship standard, sailing, climbing, hill walking, horse riding and motor sports. Not forgetting the marvels of the Glens of Antrim and the mysteries of the dramatic “Stepping Stones” of the Giant’s Causeway. It is an ideal place to get away from it all, wherever you choose to stay you’ll find comfortable and cosy bed and breakfast in Northern Ireland offering good service and where you can enjoy nearby traditional Irish entertainment and warm hospitality.
Explore glorious County Antrim whose dramatic, jagged coast is a wild vista of escarpments with layer upon layer of rock sweeping majestically along the shores, it is also an area of outstanding natural beauty, with high sea cliffs, the spectacular Glens and the capital city of Belfast that is full of happy friendly people of inventors, writers, actors, musicians and sporting stars. It is a charming place with a thriving cultural life as well as a myriad of lively bars and restaurants, nightlife, a lively art scene and shops galore, where you’ll find a prime shopping area on Donegal Place and the Castlecourt Centre. Belfast and its leafy suburbs has something for everyone, enjoy the Victorian heritage and over 50 parks or visit the famous Botanic Gardens, Ulster Museum and the new Odyssey Entertainment Complex.
Northern Ireland is not densely populated, there are many forest or country parks to explore where you can enjoy the natural surrounding countryside dotted with little fishing villages and towns and some of the most beautiful coast you could imagine. At the tip are The Glens of the Antrim Coast, consisting of nine valleys with their own very individual characters, an elemental beauty with a great store of Irish myths and legends, with dramatic cliff hugging roads and pretty peaceful villages, it provides also leafy valleys and rushing waterfalls. The glorious Causeway Coast holds many attractions, including the geological wonder, known as the ‘Eighth Wonder of the World’ of the Giant’s Causeway, this weird rock construction is made up of around 40,000 natural hexagonal basalt columns that rise out of the water at the foot of 300 ft cliffs and which you can walk across to admire and enjoy at a leisurely pace. According to legend, the columns are ancient “stepping stones” where giants used to cross the channel between Ireland and Scotland. The rugged natural features like the Giant’s Causeway and the surrounding cliffs create an unforgettable sight and together they add to a beautiful realm of rivers, waterfalls, wild flowers and a bird paradise.
Fancy a walk on an exciting rope bridge? Then check out Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge near Ballintoy presenting an exciting photo opportunity not to be missed and if you think the bridge is scary now, then think what it was like when it was just one simple hand rope! Definitely not for those scarred of heights as it swings high above the waves, linking the tiny island of Carrick-a-Red along the dramatic Giant’s Causeway coast offering fabulous scenery of tall chalk cliffs, spectacular sandy beaches and rewarding walks with views across to Scotland in a beautifully scenic area.
Situated in the most north-easterly tip of Ireland is the spectacular Dunluce Castle, thought by some to be the most picturesque of all Irish castles that was erected by the Earl of Ulster in the 13th century and is today a favourite tourist attraction in its own right. Built on a 100 foot high basalt stack with a sea cave underneath, the castle is surrounded by terrifyingly steep drops at either side, Dunluce Castle is steeped in myth and legend and “inhabited” by giants, ghosts and banshees wailing through the sea mist, it also has the most dramatic coastline to be found anywhere in the British Isles. Not far is the Bushmills railway a beautiful restored steam railway and the famous13th Century Old Bushmills Whiskey Distillery, reputed as being the oldest in the world. Whiskey in Irish Gaelic, “uisce beatha” means “water of life”.
Visit the towering Knocklayde Mountains and Ballycastle Forest where county walks offer spectacular views, or visit the legend of the Lough, Lough Neagh the largest freshwater lake in the British Isles is also one of Europe's largest lakes and the centre of a thriving eel fishery since the Middle Ages. There are 50 miles of cruising waters offering sailing, fishing, sunbathing and all other watersports. The rich diversity of habitats around Lough Neagh offers excellent opportunities for birdwatching all year round and has always been synonymous with fishing. The rivers flowing into the Lough and the small lakes surrounding it offer fine fishing of salmon, pollen, perch, bream, roach and dollaghan among the varieties of species to be found and provide a range of challenges to all kind of anglers. It also has many stories concerning its origin, one of the best known is that of Ireland's legendary giant, Finn McCool, who it is said created the Lough when he scooped up a portion of the land and tossed it at a Scottish rival, he missed and the earth landed in the Irish Sea thus creating the Isle of Man. The bed and breakfast in Northern Ireland is not only cosy and stylish but excellent value for money.
County Down in south east Ireland is famous for its rounded 'Drumlin' hills that cover north Down and Strangford Lough, where terns swoop over the quiet waters of a picturesque sea with numerous tiny islets. When exploring the area, you’ll see around Portavogie harbour seals bobbing against the prawn boats as the catch is landed. The Lough is a great bird sanctuary and wildlife reserve. Thousands of Brent geese spend the winter here and greylag and the white fronted geese visit from the nearby marshes. Round the shores are many interesting and historic places to see. Visit Mount Stewart, the childhood home of Lord Castlereagh, foreign secretary of England during the Napoleonic wars. The estate has delightful gardens with sculptures of dodos and dinosaurs on the terraces, or you can admire Inch Abbey, Grey Abbey and Comber. The Mournes, the best known mountains in Ireland offer wilderness grandeur. The barren peak of Slieve Donard dominates the mysterious blue distance of the landscape. It's an afternoon's climb from the car park at Bloody Bridge near the town of Newcastle but worth the effort as the scenic views are breathtaking. From the top you can see the Isle of Man and the full length of Strangford Lough. To the north-west lies the pale line of Lough Neagh.
Londonderry, a historic walled city with a fascinating past, also makes an excellent touring base from which to explore the rugged beauty of the Sperrin Mountains. Threaded by streams and small roads, the Sperrins are bounded by picturesque towns and quaint villages where you’ll enjoy a slower pace of life taking in the spectacular scenery, the hills and rich fertile valleys with huge old oaks and elms. Derry is perhaps Ulster's most historic town, founded in AD 546 by St Columba. Known locally as simply 'Derry', the city is located on the River Foyle. In 1610 the City of London created the Irish Society and under its Royal Charter, fortified Derry was renamed Londonderry. Derry is famous for its Great Siege of 1688-89, when for 105 days the people of the town heroically held out against the forces of King James II. The old city walls are still intact and you can stroll around the centre of the city, interesting buildings include the Cathedral of St Columba built in 1633. You’ll find fishing, horse riding, golf and other out door pursuits in abundance as well as shops, cosy pubs and nice restaurants offering good Irish food. Dozens of small towns are hidden away down among the green places of the countryside, and fishing villages string out along the shores. The towers and steeples of parish churches mark the high ground beyond trimmed hedgerows. Enjoy the warm Irish charm and great hospitality by staying is local bed and breakfast in Northern Ireland.
The city of Armagh, the seat of both Protestant and Catholic archbishops, is known as the ‘City of Saints and Scholars’. Located south of the shores of Lough Neagh has been the spiritual capital of Ireland for over 1,500 years. Here is where you’ll find brilliant sparkling rivers and lakes in which to fish. Apart from the Blackwater which offers trout and pike, you can catch eels in more than a score of rivers and lakes in a beautiful countryside setting. There's free fishing in Poyntz Pass Canal, the Cusher and Callan rivers, as well as half a dozen.
Tyrone has a fascinating landscape, rich in prehistoric and Celtic remains. About one thousand standing stones are a testament to the Stone Age people who passed this way. If you are interested in this period, the Ulster History Park near Gortin Glen Forest Park is well worth a detour. Situated west of Gortin Village on the Omagh Road, is an area characterised by fantastic panoramic views and the magnificent Gortin lakes. Here you can also experience a series of beautiful walks. Just down the road from the forest park is the Ulster History Park, a highly rated History Centre, including an accurate recreation of early settlements within the region. From the top of Tullaghoge hill there are spectacular views of the old kingdom of Tyrone. Once a major linen centre, the busy town of Dungannon is home to the famous Tyrone Crystal. Visit the marvellous Ulster American Folk Park, an open-air museum that traces the history of the 2 million Ulster people who emigrated to America during the 18th and 19th centuries. It comprises of more than 30 historic buildings along with a emigrating ship with actors in period costume as guides.
Visitors that like cruising, water sports and particularly fishing will love County Fermanagh. Both Lough Erne and Lough Melvin attract fishermen from all corners of Ireland and from all over the world enjoy the peaceful, idyllic lakes. The rivers and lakes are also heavy with fish and Lough Erne has claimed many world coarse angling match records. The trout and salmon fishing is good too, so good in fact, that the locals tend to ignore the coarser kind and the whole region is highly developed for fishing therefore the angler is spoilt for choice. Fermanagh is still wonderfully empty of crowds, the waters offer endless sailing opportunities too, other major attractions are the Marble Arch Caves near Enniskillen, one of Europe’s finest show caves allowing the visitor to explore a fascinating, natural underworld of rivers, waterfalls, winding passages and lofty chambers, a guided tour includes an underground boat trip on a subterranean lake to admire wonderful stalactites and stalagmites.
The beauty of County Fermanagh is world famous for the vast array of scenery including picturesque waterways and historical statues. The magical lake and river landscapes of the southern border county of Fermanagh is covered by pristine serenity and breathtaking beauty of Lough Erne lake, probably becoming as one of the finest of angling and boating regions in Ireland and the county capital boasts a number of tourist attractions such as Cole's Monument, the Ardowen Theatre, Killen Castle and Portora Royal School, which has been attended by famous Irish writers such as Oscar Wilde and Samuel Beckett. County Fermanagh is not only the home of the world famous Belleek Pottery, but its countryside offers excellent walks and an abundance of outdoor activities.
Northern Ireland is famous for its fairy lore, which also contains vestiges of pre-Christian tradition. The legendary fairies are known in Irish as the people of the sí and are connected with early Celtic beliefs of how the dead live on as a dazzling community in their burial chambers. Other legends live on and a visit to this enchanting land is a must is teeming in history and the bed and breakfast in Northern Ireland is greatly enhanced by the warm and friendly manner of the Ulster people!
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City Guides for North Ireland
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Belfast B&B Guide Northern Ireland
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Londonderry B&B Guide Northern Ireland
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Armagh B&B Guide Northern Ireland
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Derry B&B Guide Northern Ireland
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Willowbank House (Enniskillen, NorthIreland)
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Fairylands Country House (Armagh, NorthIreland)
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