Belfast – Five Attractions in One Day Tour

We left Scotland behind on our cruise of the British Isles, and today we visited Northern Ireland. We docked in Belfast, the capital of Northern Ireland, and a city heralded for its shipbuilding legacy. Belfast is also known today for its cultural and architectural renaissance.

Elaine had arranged a private tour with Micks Tours Belfast, and we were taking his Five in One Full Day Titanic Top Attractions package.

We left Belfast behind as we made our way to the Glens of Antrim, a region of outstanding beauty comprised of nine glens or valleys. After a lovely drive, we reached Glenariff, the Queen of the Glens, and the biggest of the Glens of Antrim. What a stunning sight.

Glenariff

Our Touring Group

Just as stunning was our drive to our next stop, Giant’s Causeway. Ever since reading about this place, I’ve been intrigued. Northern Ireland’s only UNESCO World Heritage Site, Giant’s Causeway is said to be the jewel in the crown of the Antrim coast. The site is made up of some 40,000 massive, black basalt columns sticking out of the sea. This dramatic spectacle has inspired legends of giants striding over the sea to Scotland. The rugged symmetry of this ancient natural wonder is astonishing.

Beautiful Scenery on the Way to Giant's Causeway

Our First Views of Giant's Causeway - It's a Bit of a Walk to the Basalt Columns

What an Amazing Sight!

Details of the Basalt Columns

Sarah and Tim at Giant's Causeway

Views in All Directions Were Stunning

After soaking up the natural beauty and wonder of Northern Ireland, it was time to return to Belfast. We stopped at Belfast Castle, which was constructed in the late 1860s. Its lovely gardens have wonderful views over Belfast Lough. The castle’s cat garden, as it is sometimes called, was intriguing for cat lovers like us. An old legend held that occupants of the castle would have luck only as long as a white cat lived there. True or not, the legend is commemorated in the gardens by mosaics, a topiary, and sculptures depicting cats. We didn’t have time to track down all nine of the garden cats, but it was fun to try.

Belfast Castle

Belfast Castle Gardens

Searching for Cats in The Cat Garden

Though Belfast is a vibrant and largely peaceful city today, it was and still is divided along religious and cultural lines, the same ones that were the cause of so much violence during The Troubles. This period of conflict lasted from the late 1960s to the late 1990s. Starting in the late 1970s, the people of Belfast began expressing themselves in a more creative way. To learn more about this era, Mick drove us through the streets of Belfast to view hundreds of thought-provoking murals depicting this time.

We first saw the murals that were painted on the ends of housing blocks. These murals reflect important aspects of each community’s culture and history and are a visual way of showing pride and communicating values.

Belfast Murals

We then moved on to view the Belfast Peace Walls. The British Army constructed the first so-called “peace walls” in 1969 to reduce tensions in the city and keep the Loyalist and Nationalist communities apart. Made of corrugated iron and topped with barbed wire, this temporary solution soon became a canvas for both groups.

Belfast Peace Walls through Raindrops on the Windshield

Mick was especially passionate in explaining the murals to us and how they have become an iconic part of Belfast. He helped us understand the complexities of Belfast’s turbulent past and even took us to one mural where we were invited to leave a message of peace on the wall that still divides the two communities. What a powerful experience this part of our tour turned out to be.

Mick Answering Questions, and Tim Deciding Leaving His Message

Sarah and Tim at the Peace Wall

Our final stop was Titanic Belfast, the iconic new museum that tells the story of the ship that hit an iceberg and sunk on her maiden voyage. Located on the site where Titanic was designed, built, and launched, the museum depicts all phases of Titanic’s life. I thought the exhibits were incredibly well done and can certainly understand why this has become Belfast’s top attraction.

Titanic Belfast Museum

Designing, Building, and Launching the Titanic

Hitting the Iceberg and the Aftermath

Today’s tour was one of our best so far. Mick was a fabulous guide, and he shared many of his personal experiences. He was also our first guide to suggest that he take group photos. These photos will be a nice way to remember the people with whom we have been spending so much time.