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Northern Highlights Full-Day Guided Tour in Northern Ireland

Badge of ExcellenceBelfast, Northern Ireland

Northern Highlights Tour The Best of Northern Ireland

6 to 8 hours
Pickup offered
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English

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Overview

A convenient option for time-tight travelers who want to see as much of Northern Ireland as possible in a single day, this tour encompasses the country’s highlights as well as some lesser-known sights. Explore Belfast city with a guide and travel along the Antrim Coast, stopping at the Giant’s Causeway, Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge, and the waterfalls of Glenariff Nature Reserve without the hassle of navigation.

Tick off more of Belfast's top sights in just one day
Tour with a guide who shares fun facts and historical information
Travel along the scenic Causeway Coastal Route without the hassle of navigation
Stress-free, round-trip transport from your Northern Ireland hotel or port

What's Included

Bottled water

Meeting and Pickup

Pickup points

Select a pickup point

Start time

11:00 AM

Pickup details

Pick up is available from all Belfast and Derry/Londonderry Hotels, Guesthouses, Bed & Breakfast, AirBnB, Holiday Parks, ports and airports. Pickup is also available at Lanyon Place Railway Station for trains arriving from Dublin. We also pick up from the cruise terminals, or for early ship arrivals will happily meet up with guests at the front of Belfast City Hall. Taxi to city centre costs around £10.00.

What To Expect

Belfast City Centre (Pass By)

Carrickfergus Castle

15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Glenarm Castle

15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Carnlough Harbour

20 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Glenariff Forest Park

30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Cushendall (Pass By)

Cushendun Village (Pass By)

Torr Head

50 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Murlough Bay and Fair Head

30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Seafront Marina Ballycastle

1 hour • Admission Ticket Not Included

Kinbane Castle

15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge

10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Giant's Causeway

45 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Dunluce Castle

15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Not wheelchair accessible
A minimum of 2 people per booking is required
Stroller accessible
Service animals allowed
A maximum of 3 people per booking
Near public transportation
Children must be accompanied by an adult

Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately
Infant seats available
Not recommended for travelers with back problems
Not recommended for pregnant travelers
No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.

Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.
This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund.

Traveler Photos

Reviews

5.0

139 reviews

Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews

Reviews by Viator travelers.

We perform checks on reviews

Showing 1-10 of 139 reviews

The best tour ever

Renee_G, May 2024

We were traveling in Ireland and the UK for 12 days. We did many tours and this was our absolute favorite. Fergal picked us up in his jaguar sedan which was extremely comfortable and he took us all over Northern Ireland along the coast. It was absolutely beautiful. He was extremely knowledgeable, and took us too many places including castles and the awesome water falls. He also took us to O’Connor’s pub for a late lunch since we had a big breakfast. I had my first Guinness there and the food was delicious. Definitely have him take you there. Fergal is super nice and personable and fun 😀

A Day of Chasing Rainbows

Stephen_M, Jan 2024

A day of chasing rainbows! We dodged morning rain during our trip out of Belfast and saw nearly a dozen rainbows during a day of great weather on a private tour of the Giant’s Causeway and Antrim Coast. Truly mind-blowing scenery along the northern tip of of the Irish Island. Our guide, Fergal, was an excellent companion for the journey and transported us in comfort and style, offering tremendous insight to make the day a memorable pleasure. He made the most of opportunities for us to see unique and impressive sights. Thoroughly enjoyed the experience. Very special day that will always be with us.

Response from Host, Jan 2024

Hi there Stephen and Mary and thank you so much for your wonderful words about our day together this week. Irish weather is as unique as the Irish people and I am so happy that our day together provided you both with a tremendous experience. Thank you for a great day out and for your generosity during and at the end of our day together. I look forward to welcoming you back to Ireland. Safe journey home my friends and see you soon!

Great Tour with Fergal!

Mary_D, Sep 2023

What a great day! Fergal is THE BEST! He knows all the great places and has lots of wit to add to the history of the sites. Our day was amazing and the late afternoon lunch at O’Connor’s was so delicious. Book with Fergal - you won’t be disappointed. Thanks for a wonderful adventure!

Response from Host, Sep 2023

Hello again my amazing trio of ladies. Mary, Mary and Stacey!! Thank you so much for being such amazing company on our day together yesterday in my wee part of the Emerald Isle. Great craic (fun and laughter) and great stories from everyone and great tumbles from mother Mary, sweet Jesus LOL. I hope all went well on your onward adventure and would love to hear how it went with Stacey through the Hills of Donegal! See you all again soon my amazing friends!!

Fabulous

Mayumi_W, Aug 2023

Great tour of Northern Ireland! We did city sightseeing prior to heading out to Giant's Causeway and our tour guide, Fergal, was fantastic!! very knowledgeable and knew all the hidden sites and made our trip enjoyable. If you only have limited time in Belfast, book with Fergal.

Response from Host, Aug 2023

Hi again Mimi and Wes and thank you so very much for your wonderful company on our day together yesterday and for this wonderful review. It is sometimes challenging to fit so much into shore excursions off the cruise ships but you guys made it so refreshingly easy by putting your trust in me. And I thank you too for your kindness and generosity throughout and at the end of our day. I hope you enjoy the remainder of your cruise immensely and maybe one day you will return to continue your Irish journey. Slainte.

One of the Best UK Tours We Did

Peta_B, Aug 2023

We had a fabulous time seeing so much but so little of Northern Ireland. The scenery was beautiful and breathtaking. Fergal was a fantastic driver guide, the car was luxurious and clean, and we thoroughly enjoyed spending the day with him. I highly recommend this tour and Fergal.

Response from Host, Aug 2023

Hello there Peta and Ian and thank you so much for your lovely review of our day together along our amazing Causeway Coastal Route. I love your reference to seeing 'so much but so little' of this amazing part of Ireland, but surely that would merit a return visit to enjoy more? I do hope that you will both be back again to continue your journey of the Emerald Isle and thank you for being such wonderful company in our short time together. Go raibh maith agat agus Slainte!

Highly recommend this private tour of Northern Ireland.

Mindy_T, Aug 2023

This is one tour that would very difficult to pull off on your own in a self-guided format over just 8 hours. We made multiple stops as we made our way up the rugged Northern Ireland coast to the grand finale - the Giants Causeway. Fergal provided us with many experiences along the way that were very memorable and personalized. We appreciated the private aspect as we were able to have informative discussions during the drive time to learn even more about the area and the culture. I also appreciated the ability to avoid crowds and time our visits at each site to maximize our time in each location.

Response from Host, Aug 2023

Hello again my friends and thank you so much for this amazing review of our day together. I endeavour to provide an experience that I myself would enjoy...detailed but not forensic....and I am so happy that you both enjoyed your time with me along our beautiful Antrim Coast and Glens, amongst the most unique and authentic parts of our lovely Emerald Isle. I do hope that you will call this way again to continue the journey. Cead Mile Failte agus Slainte!

Perfect tour of Northern Ireland

Tom_C, Jul 2023

Fergel, our guide, was first class in so many ways. Starting with pickup on time at our ship in his Mercedes E Class AMG, picking a route to avoid rain while driving on the coast (did the route to Giant Causeway "clockwise", to unexpected stops. He adjusted the stops to meet our interests, which included stops at Royal Portrush Golf Club and Bushmills for tastings. We did the usual stops as well, but we're treated to some extra stops along the beautiful Irish coast for pics. Also stopped at a hidden waterfall, Falls of the Hoof, and views of old castles from great vantage points. Returned directly to ship after enjoyable 8 hour tour with just the right amount of sightseeing and stories. If you get the chance, book with Fergel!!

Response from Host, Jul 2023

Hello there Tom and Marge and thank you so much for your amazing words about our day together this past week. I am so happy that I know the climate patterns here to ensure we had the optimal weather for your trip along our amazing Antrim Coast and Glens. And equally deligthed to introduce you to Royal Portrush Golf Club my friends for golf enthusiasts, (where you were separated from your hard earned cash LOL). I so look forward to welcoming you to my lovely part of the world some time soon. In the meantime, safe and happy travels my friends. Wonderful day out Tom and look forward to seeing you and Marge again soon!

Wonderful tour of the Northern Ireland coastline

Sheryl_H, Jul 2023

I highly recommend this tour to others. Fergel was wonderful and very attentive to our needs. When he saw that I had mobility issues, he adjusted the tour to stop at the Giants Causeway first so I could take the buses up/down. The thing that surprised me the most was seeing the beautiful countryside and coastline when traveling to the various stops. We went down roads that large tour buses would not dare to traverse. If you want to see the scenery, this is the tour for you!

Response from Host, Jul 2023

HI there Sheryl and Tom and thank you so much for these amazing words and for letting me host you along our wonderful Northern Irish coastline. I do love to take my guests off the beaten path and I just love the fact that you appreciated your trip and enjoyed all of the wonderful places that I loved as a child and as a young man. And I thank my late father for instilling these amazing places in my mind so that I can share them with you. Hope to see you soon my lovely friends.

So amazing Irish rain down for but not destroy it. In fact it added to it.

Marylyn_T, Jun 2023

Such an excellent and thorough tour! It poured throughout having a tour but as opposed to ruining it this actually added to the Irish experience! I would highly recommend this tour.

Response from Host, Jun 2023

Thanks so much for your lovely words regarding our day together yesterday. The monsoon rain and thunder and lightning was frightening at times, but we did have some moments of warm sunshine particularly when we stopped at the main sites. A day of weather drama, great views, great food and great laughs. Thank you Marylyn and Claudine and see you both again soon!

Proposal along the coastline

Patrick_R, May 2023

Fergal as a tour guide went above and beyond to make our day trip memorable for my girlfriend and I. Fergal was knowledgeable, friendly and easy going. I booked this day tour to propose to my girlfriend along the northern coastline. Fergal was in on the surprise and was ready with a bottle of prosecco and strawberries (which I will always replicate on our future anniversaries). Fergal also made several suggestions about stops along the tour that would be best for the proposal spot. I decided on Murlough Bay. Fergal did everything possible to make our trip comfortable and enjoyable. We stopped for lunch and had great little conversations in-between our stops. 10/10 would recommend taking a private tour up the coastline. Prepare for a full day of scenic stops, and bring a rain coat!

Response from Host, May 2023

Thank you Patrick for making me a part of your amazing day with your wife-to-be Megan and what an amazing day it was. It is always a great privilege to be an integral part of life-changing moments and I was deeply honoured to be part of yours. I will forever recall the sheer joy of your moment together and my small part in recording it and providing the celebratory Prosecco and Strawberries, but those moments will be forever yours. I do trust that all will go beautifully come July and that your life together will be as it was on our remote corner of Ireland - beautiful, wonderful, magical and complete! Thank you my friends.

Driving and scenery.

Sarah_T, Apr 2023

We had a great tour guide. However, I wish Viator or the tour group would have informed us that the castles (which were included on the price) were closed on Monday. We didn’t get to see any castles just scenery. The scenery was great but after 8 hours of hopping in and out of a car to look at views, got tiresome.

Response from Host, Apr 2023

I am very disappointed with this review as it contains inaccuracies and lies. The only castle not included was Carrickfergus (closed Mondays) and we stopped at Glenarm Castle, Redbay Castle and Dunluce Castle and the customer took lots of photos at all these locations. All other locations on the itinerary were included. At no time during the trip did the customer complain, so it is both disingenuous and deeply offensive to leave such a review, particularly since they both indicated how much they had enjoyed their day when dropped off! They have also requested a refund which is outrageous. I reject both the review and the refund request for all the above reasons and will be raising a counter complaint with Viator.

Breath taking

dmorenzhotmailcom, Apr 2023

Our tour was absolutely amazing. Fergal, our tour guide was so accommodating and knowledgeable and took us to places the big tour buses couldn’t. I would highly recommend this tour.

Response from Host, Apr 2023

Thank you so much for these wonderful words about our day out along the amazing Antrim Coast and Glens. Great fun was had and let us hope that future adventures will follow my friends. Hopefully your remaining days were as rewarding and safe onward travels.

Greatest Tour of All Time!

Vin_G, Mar 2023

By far one of the greatest, most memorable experiences of my life! Fergal was so friendly and really catered the tour to our interests. Not to mention he helped me find a romantic spot where I could propose to my girlfriend ! If you want a taste of all that Northern Ireland has to offer I highly recommend booking this tour!

Response from Host, Mar 2023

Hi Vin and Christina and thank you so much for these lovely words about our time together on Tuesday. I must say, I was deeply honoured that you chose your day out with me to pop the question to your lovely future wife. I was equally honoured that you were both delighted with the location I suggested for the big proposal! Glenariff Glen and Waterfalls will be forever etched in your hearts and I can think of no better place for lifelong memories! I wish you both well for what I know will be a bright and wonderful future and look forward to welcoming you back some time soon as husband and wife!

The most amazing experience

Ashlee_F, Mar 2023

Fergal was an amazing guide and the highlight of our trip. His knowledge of the area put us in the most beautiful places at the right times and was able to avoid the large tour crowds. We are already looking forward to another trip.

Response from Host, Mar 2023

Hi again Ashlee and David and thank you so much for these wonderful words about our tour and our time together yesterday. I thoroughly enjoyed your company as we made our way through the lovely Glens of Antrim and I am delighted that you found the many stops to be just right! I realise that we are at opposite ends of the weather spectrum (Arizona v. Ireland) but you bravely put up with those biting winds and snow showers to immerse yourself in the day. I so look forward to doing it all again sometime soon my friends, perhaps when the temperatures are kinder! Safe travels in the meantime!

An amazing tour in a wonderful place

Corinne_F, Feb 2023

I can only advise you to make this visit. Fergal is a wonderful guide, caring and knowing the region like the back of his hand. He adapted the visit to our desires and was able to show us the wonders of the region. The car is super comfortable and pleasant which does not spoil anything. We had an unforgettable time thanks to Fergal whom we would like to thank once again. Try it and you will be won over. Northern Ireland is an amazing place to visit, you could see 4 seasons in 5 min and marvelous lands.

Response from Host, Feb 2023

Hey there my wonderful friends and thank you for such amazing testimony on your day with me and with your Friend. Hopefully I will see you both in my beautiful part of Ireland and we can have a laugh a minute.

Must Do when visiting Ireland

Bryant_M, Dec 2022

Only had a few days in Ireland and this was the highlight of our trip. Fergal’s tour is one of a kind in that it is private and you get to see interest points that are not on a big tour groups itinerary. He showed great spots only the locals know to get to and provided us plenty of opportunities for photos. It is a full day tour so be prepared for a full day of awe and wonder as you explore the beautiful coast of Northern Ireland. Thanks so much for the amazing experience Fergal!

Response from Host, Dec 2022

Hi there my lovely friends and thank you so much for your generous words about our time together in my amazing part of Ireland. December days are of course short and I am so happy that we packed so much into our time together and that you enjoyed the 'awe and wonder' of Northern Ireland. You have my details my friends and I look forward to many amazing adventures in the years ahead. Slainte agus Go Raibh Maith Agat! Thank you and Good Luck!

Amazing

Janet_M, Oct 2022

We had an amazing day with a wonderful guide who tailored the day to our interests. We highly recommend this tour.

Response from Host, Oct 2022

Hello again Janet and thanks so much for leaving a nice word or two about our inclement day together along our lovely Antrim Coast and Glens. The Irish weather pulled no punches but we weathered the storm and made a fantastic day of it all, afterall. Come back soon as we have more to see and do. And keep well my friends!

Fantastic day!

Amanda_S, Oct 2022

The coastal experiences, laughing with my son, and fantastic history! Fergal made this trip memorable and we would absolutely do it again!

Response from Host, Oct 2022

So good to know that the wee lad had a great time and I know he so enjoyed the Royal Navy frigate HMS Northumberland tracking us through the Straits of Moyle. Priceless giggles and so happy to have made you and your wee lad even happier! Safe travels my friends and see you soon!

We loved every part of...

Lynn_D, Oct 2022

We loved every part of the trip but probably the beautiful waterfalls in Glenariff Forest Park stands out. We have gone on many trips and Fergal is one of the best guides we have had. We strongly recommend Fergal and his Northern Highlights Tour . It was the highlight of our Ireland trip.

Response from Host, Oct 2022

Hello there Lynn and thank you so much for your kind words about your day with me along our wonderful Irish Coast. I am so grateful that you had such a great day with me and I do hope you will come back one day to complete the journey. Thank you so much my friends and see you soon!

Northern highlights tour.

Kathryn_K, Sep 2022

Fergal was a fantastic guide full of knowledge. The itinerary was packed full and there were so many beautiful sites. We could not have asked for a better day. We took some incredible photos, but unfortunately the site is not letting me upload them.

Response from Host, Sep 2022

Hi there my wonderful friends and thank you so much for this wonderful reflection on our day along the Causeway Coast and our gorgeous Glens of Antrim. I know you took some great images on our journey (just remember to convert them to jpeg as iPhone etc use their own format). I really do hope to see you both back soon in our wonderful part of Ireland and to complete our fantastic journey together! Safe and joyous journeys in the meantime!

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