Amy’s Adventure in Belfast & Derry
I was lucky enough to be invited on a FAM trip hosted by Tourism Ireland and what an adventure it was!
Day 1:
I arrived at Belfast City Airport where I was met by a transfer to take me straight to the Titanic Museum. I wandered back into the past and learned about the industrial city in the late 19th Century, the lives lost during its construction and when the ship was fatally hit by the iceberg. It was a very moving experience, one I didn’t expect to feel quite so affected by, but when faced with the list of survivors compared to those lost, I would be surprised if anyone didn’t at least have a lump in their throat.
Afterwards, we headed up to the city of Derry/Londonderry to meet with the rest of the group and had a beautiful lunch at the Stitch & Weave restaurant, located in the newly renovated Ebrington Square. There are lots of exciting new things coming to this part of Derry which should continue to bring what was an old army barracks to life, whilst preserving it’s importance to Derry’s history.
We took a walk across The Peace Bridge and headed to The Tower Museum, spending some time at the ‘Derry Girls’ Exhibition and seeing the iconic Spice Girls costumes that made the show what it was! Definitely worth a visit!
From there we met with a real life ‘Derry Girl’, Charlene from Martin McCrossan Tours who took us on a walking tour of Derry’s city walls, talking so passionately about her heritage and painting a clear picture of what the city was like during the troubles. She was also a fan of Derry Girls so made many references to different filming locations which made the tour even better!
We stayed in the beautiful Ebrington Square Hotel and Spa, a new luxury spa hotel. This is definitely going to be a firm favourite with the tourists this year, it’s in an excellent location with lovely restaurants within short walking distance accompanied by views of the River Foyle.
After a quick freshen up we headed to the Walled City Brewery for Dinner and Beer sampling. All beer is themed around the city and its culture which adds that extra touch of charm to the experience.
Myself and a few others headed across The Peace Bridge to The City Hotel for a drinks reception, followed by some live music at Derry’s most iconic pub Peadar O’Donnells and it did not disappoint! The Guinness was flowing and the atmosphere was certainly welcoming, you would expect nothing less!
Day 2:
It was another early start for me as we headed down to the Bogside to visit the new Peacemakers Museum, opening in approximately July/August 2024 which takes you on a journey from the start of The Troubles and the long journey to peace in Derry. I can’t wait to go back and visit when it officially opens!
Even though the sun wasn’t shining we hopped onboard a speed boat provided by Foyle Adventures and took it for a ride down the River Foyle! It was a brilliant experience, however next time I will make sure I pack my waterproofs as you may just get splashed…
To warm ourselves up we had a lovely lunch at the Bishops Gate Hotel located in the heart of Derry, before setting off to Belfast for the remainder of the trip.
Once we arrived, we met with a tour guide James from DC Tours who showed us around the centre of Belfast. He discussed its history and gave his own experiences of The Troubles which really brought the tour to life. I love to hear about personal experiences especially when it is so hard to imagine life ever being this way in the not so distant past.
We checked in to our hotel for the night, a lovely new hotel centred around sustainability and supporting local businesses which was apparent in every detail. It was right in the centre next to all the shops, bars and restaurants so it certainly ticks all the boxes for location!
We took a short walk to the Home Restaurant in Belfast for dinner, a Michelin star restaurant and the food was absolutely stunning! We couldn’t go to Belfast and not have a drink in the most famous pub there – The Crown! Its décor is so well preserved and it’s really maintained its character and charm for tourists and locals to enjoy for many years to come.
Day 3:
On our final day we headed out on a Street Art Walking Tour of Belfast. This showcased amazing artwork done by locals and artists who have travelled from all over just to make their mark on the city! Here are some of my favourites –
Afterwards we headed to Waterman House Cookery School located in the Cathedral Quarter to learn how to make some of the more traditional dishes Northern Ireland had to offer! I love to cook so this was right up my street! We made Guinness Bread followed by a Seafood Chowder, finishing off with a traditional Irish Lamb Stew and Champ which was gorgeous. Even though I am not a huge seafood fan I really enjoyed the Chowder!
We then said our goodbyes and I hopped back on my short flight to Edinburgh, with the intention of returning very soon!
To find out more about Amy’s visit to Belfast & Derry or if you’re interested in a similar trip,
give the team a call on 0131 243 8098 or send us an email.
