Ireland Road Trip Part 6: Northern Ireland: Derry, Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge, Belfast Troubles Tour & Titanic Experience
Day 20: Crossing to Northern Ireland
We left Donegal behind and crossed the “invisible” border into Northern Ireland. It was a strange sensation; there was no checkpoint, so the only real sign that you’ve entered the UK is the sudden shift in speed limits from kilometers to miles per hour.
Our first destination was Derry (or Londonderry, depending on who you ask!). It was much larger than I anticipated, but incredibly compact and walkable. We made a beeline for the Derry Girls mural (the primary reason we added this city to our itinerary) and grabbed the mandatory photos. If you’d like more context on the city’s history and murals, consider booking a guided Derry Girls walking tour.
Afterward, we walked the historic walls, which are among the finest intact examples of a walled city in Europe, and made our way to the Peace Bridge, a long pedestrian bridge. Before leaving, we stopped to take pictures of the iconic murals on Free Derry Corner.
From Derry, we hugged the northern coast toward a timed reservation I was both excited and nervous for: the Carrick-A-Rede rope bridge. The bridge spans 20 meters and sits 30 meters above the crashing waves and rocks below. I’m not afraid of heights, exactly, just falling from them! Anxiety was high, but the 186 downhill steps to reach the bridge helped me walk off the nerves. I did it, and it was a truly “cool” and slightly heart-pounding experience.
We had hoped to visit the Giant’s Causeway next, but because we lingered so long in Derry, we missed the visitor center and car park hours. To make the most of this coastline, you can book a full‑day Giant’s Causeway and Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge tour from Belfast that handles all the timing and parking for you. than adding a long off-site hike to an already tiring day, we decided to save that for another time and moved on to our final stop: The Dark Hedges. For my fellow Game of Thrones fans, walking the “King’s Road” was a surreal treat and offered some fantastic photo ops.
Exhausted but happy, we finally reached our hotel for a well-earned dinner. Tomorrow, we take on the big city of Belfast!
Day 21: Belfast
Today, we headed into the heart of Belfast. After dropping our bags at our hotel, we jumped straight into a Black Taxi Tour, which turned out to be one of the most eye-opening experiences of the trip. Our guide was incredibly knowledgeable, taking us through the key locations where “The Troubles” escalated.
Seeing the Protestant and Catholic neighborhoods in West Belfast still separated by the Peace Wall, which stands at least 50 feet high, was jarring. The gates on the roads at the entrance to these neighborhoods still shut at 6:30 PM, and many homes have giant cages on their back decks for protection. We even got to stop and sign the Peace Wall ourselves. If you’re heading to Belfast, booking a Black Taxi Tour is an absolute must. We also caught glimpses of St. Anne’s Cathedral and Queen’s College before the tour ended.
If you’re heading to Belfast, booking a Black Taxi political tour in advance is an absolute must.
In the afternoon, we shifted gears to the Titanic Experience Belfast. Located right where the ship was originally built and launched, this modern museum is world-class.
Pro Tip: Definitely get skip‑the‑line Titanic Belfast tickets here to save time and avoid queuing.
We ended the day with a quiet dinner at our hotel to recharge for our final leg.
Day 22: Hill of Tara & Dublin Finale
After a late start and a tasty breakfast, we said goodbye to the UK and headed back into Ireland toward the Boyne Valley. Our destination was the Hill of Tara, which became truly significant in the Iron Age (600 BC to 400 AD) and into the Early Christian Period as the ancient seat of the High Kings of Ireland. Though if I’m being honest, we were mainly there for the “Tara swag” and the lunch!
From there, we completed the circle, returning to Dublin where our adventure began 22 days ago. We spent our final afternoon:
- Taking the light rail into the city center.
- Taking one last stroll and some final shopping along Grafton Street.
- Eating a celebratory farewell dinner.
The perfect exclamation point on our trip was seeing the Riverdance 25th Anniversary Show. Maybe it’s a bit cliché, but it was absolutely amazing and the perfect way to spend our last night. Afterwards, we came back to the hotel to pack and to try to figure out how to fit three weeks of memories and souvenirs into our suitcases. We had to buy another bag for our “new” stuff. This is after 3 stores already shipped merchandise home for us! We just hoped none of our flights got cancelled, and we would make the tight turnaround in Boston. From there, we headed back home.
For your last days in Dublin, you can .
Travel Day Home
And just like that, our 22-day Irish odyssey had come to an end. We were officially back in the USA! Of course, no epic journey is complete without one final travel story. Our flight from Dublin took off a bit behind schedule, which led to a late arrival in Boston, just enough to make us miss our connecting flight.
Luckily, Delta stepped up and got us onto a direct flight shortly after. All things considered, we only walked through our front door a couple of hours later than originally planned. The best part? Getting to squeeze our two pups finally! As incredible as the Emerald Isle was, we missed these two guys more than words can say.
Final Thoughts on the Emerald Isle
Looking back on the last three weeks, we’ve realized that 22 days was just enough to fall in love with Ireland, but not nearly enough to see everything it has to offer. From the castle halls of Ashford to the windswept heights of Slieve League, every mile was a memory.
Ready to plan your own Irish escape? If the logistics feel a bit overwhelming, let us handle the heavy lifting. Head over to Crafted Routes for a personalized, custom itinerary tailored specifically to your pace, interests, and budget.
https://craftedroutestravelco.com
