What can you See in 2 Weeks in the North of Ireland?
The North of Ireland offers some of the best sights including the view-encrusted Giant’s Causeway Trail, the walled city of Derry, castle ruins, dramatic cliffs, and golden sand beaches.
One of the best reasons to do the Ireland North Itinerary is that most of it is less visited than the Southwest. Once you travel west of the ultra-touristy Giant’s Causeway in Northern Ireland, you can enjoy less-touristed sights all the way to Westport in the Republic of Ireland. This is worthwhile alternative to Southwest Ireland Itinerary.
Read on to find out how to make the most of your time —decide which places should you visit, see which photos fascinate you, as well as get links to our custom Google maps and itinerary planning information.
Author & Photographer: George Mitchell
Our recommendations are not influenced by affiliate links – we have none. Our content and advice is derived from our personal experience and knowledge based on living in Europe for seven years.
Travel Guidelines
Here are some basic principles to follow when you travel in Ireland.
- Give up trying to “see everything”. You cannot.
- Some places may be better to visit than others but getting from A to B is just as beautiful as destination B.
- Tour one concise geographic region in each week.
- Meet the people — one of the most important “destinations”.
- Use 75 km per hour to calculate average (not actual) driving time. Ignore Google travel time based on ridiculous 100 kph speed limits on Irish two-lane roads not properly built for that speed.
- Avoid travelling to a new city every day. Too many tourists think they can drive all day and then see their destination as well.
You need to factor in travel, sightseeing, and activity time.
Quintessential Ireland
We like to experience the things that make Ireland unique. Quintessential Ireland is white sheep on green farmland, golden sand beaches, rugged coastlines and craggy cliffs, National Trust (OPW) castles (not tourist traps), glorious viewpoints, and hiking. In the next post we describe what we feel is Quintessential Ireland and what places are examples of where to see it. This itinerary is based on the features of Quintessential Ireland.
What are the Best Places in Ireland North?
We have curated the best places in the North. You may have other opinions and interests. But our advice is confirmed by the residents and visitors of Ireland via the Google Map Rating (G0 to G5) provided for each place. All of our recommendations are over 4.5, a very high rating indeed. You can select other places, but the itinerary should be based on nine must-see sights: Giant’s Causeway (G4.7), Danluce Castle (G4.6); Derry Walls Walk (4.7); Horn Head (G.8); Slieve League, Donegal (G4.9); Mullaghmore Head, Sligo (G4.8); Downpatrick Head (G4.8); Keem Bay, Achill Island (G4.9); and Trim Castle (G4.7).
In fact, this post just describes the must-see highlights. Click on the hyperlinked, detailed post for each day to get the full itinerary with all the places that you can see on the way.
We have developed a custom Ireland North’s Best Sights Map and pinned all the points of interest with the Google Rating suffixed. If you have less time simply stop at Ramelton, Donegal or Sligo and return to Trim, departure point for the Dublin airport. If you have more than 14 days, simply add the optional places listed at the end of the post.
Decisions, Decisions, Decisions – D-Day 1
What should you do on your arrival day? That depends on your arrival time and whether you will feel like driving or vegging out due to jet lag. Also note that in our case the rental car process was very bureaucratic and busy even in April. It was 2 hours after arrival when we finally got into our rental car! The options for day 1 are to:
- Stay at Trim an easy 49 km 42 minutes from the airport;
- Travel north to the pretty fishing town of Carlingford (110 km 1:17h);
- Drive all the way north to the Antrim Coast
(Ballycastle 254 km 2:48h or Ballintoy 258 km 2:52h).
Also note that we recommend staying in Trim at the end as your departure point for Dublin Airport.
Ballycastle-Ballintoy Area – Day 2
Drive: 174 km 2:10 hrs from Carlingford;
244 km 2:55 hrs from Trim;
258 km 2:55h from Dublin Airport
Stay: Ballycastle or Ballintoy
Ballintoy is where we ran out of time on our 35-day clockwise road trip to Ireland. I am listing places that we had planned to visit but in counterclockwise order. You could also visit Belfast but we personally do not consider cities to be a unique feature of Ireland and on a short two week or less trip we would recommend scenic places over cities.
If you already drove to Ballycastle or Ballintoy on Day 1 then you can explore the rest of the following places.
- Carlingford (Google does not rate towns and cities)
- Dark Hedges (G4.3)
- Torr Head G4.7
- Fair Head G4.9
- Portaneevy G4.6
- Carrick-a-Rede G4.6
- Ballintoy Harbour G4.8
- Portbradden Harbour G4.6
The Dark Hedges (G4.3) is an atmospheric tunnel of beech trees used in the Game of Thrones series. Located along Bregagh Road just south of Ballycastle, Northern Ireland, it has the lowest rating of the things to do in this region.
Ambling the Antrim Coast – Day 3
Drive: 54 km, 1:20 hrs one way from Torr Head to White Rocks
Stay: Ramelton, Letterkenny, Derry, Bushmills or Ballintoy
“The Antrim Coast Road is often praised as Ireland’s most scenic drive.” This is highly debatable. The road does not even travel along the coast. You need to get off the road to see views and do hikes.
Giant’s Causeway National Park
If the weather is good, you should start with the famous Giant’s Causeway (G4.7). These are the most famous basalt columns in the world – hexagonal crystals caused by rapidly cooled basalt lava.
They claim that all national parks are free but you have to park. The choices are the NP parking lot for an extravagant £12.50 “per person parking” fee or free along the highway IF you can find a place. There was no parking to be had when we went in May and we had run out of time.
Giant’s Causeway Trail
Dunseverick Castle (G4.4) is the trail head for the 7.7 km Giant’s Causeway Trail. National Trust warden, Toby Edwards, claimed this is the best hike (and coast). Some web articles stated that the Dunseverick side of the trail was unexciting. It was time to find out the truth.
After a mere five minutes I was hooked. I had the place all to myself — there were a total of five other hikers including a nice Dutch couple I spoke with for quite a while, as we covered a wide range of topics from hiking to politics.
Actually, you don’t need the highest cliffs or the widest beaches to make a hike good. What makes it special are indented headlands, rocky shapes, and constantly changing, photogenic views.
For the rest of day 3 (if any), you can cover some of the nearby places mentioned under Day 2.
Antrim Coast to Derry – Day 4
Drive: 64 km, 1:00 hr
Stay: Derry, Ramelton, Letterkenny
Dunluce Castle
The best view is right at Danluce Castle (G4.6). There is a charge to visit the ruins. Otherwise, walk from the parking lot through the low wall and turn right for a superb photo opp. Drive a bit further west to Magheracross Viewpoint for a coastal view of Dunluce Castle.
White Rocks
Drive Highways A2 and B62 to another special sight on the Antrim Coast. White Rocks (G4.8) has a beautiful beach with rock cliffs and castle ruins in the background.
Not only is the beach beautiful and free, the white limestone cliffs were formed 65 million years ago. You are looking at years and years of dead seashells deposited at the bottom of the sea and compressed into limestone.
Avoid over-touristed Port Stewart and Port Rush altogether unless you prefer urbanization to nature. This is an example of Joni Mitchell’s classic song Big Yellow Taxi: “They paved paradise and put up a parking lot.” The traffic was horrendous with wall-to-wall cars.
Benone Beach
Benone Beach (G4.8) was a huge expanse of sand that was definitely worth stopping for. However, it was spoiled by cars and food trucks parked all over the supposedly Blue Flag beach.
For the detailed itinerary see Ambling the Antrim Coast. From Benone Beach travel to Derry for sightseeing.
Doubling Down in Derry – Day 4 & 5
Derry is definitely worth visiting. A walk on top of the Derry Walls (G4.9) is a must. Derry was the last walled city to be built in Europe (1613 – 1618). You will pass many tourists sights such as St. Augustine’s Church (G4.8) at the NW corner.
On the west side you will get a view of the Bogside (Catholic) district. On the east side is St Columb’s Cathedral (G4.6).
At the end, walk north to visit a beautiful stone building, the Guildhall (G4.8). This city hall was the biggest target of bombings during The Troubles!
Next visit the Catholic district with the Free Derry Corner (G4.7) and a veritable open air art gallery of powerful frescoes. See detailed description of this day at:
Hiking at Horn Head – Day 6
Drive: 175 km 3:15h from Derry;
Stay: Ramelton: could go back to Derry
Drive to Lookout Point on Horn Head (G4.8). Take the short uphill hike from the parking lot to high plateau for a 360° view. A second trail leads to another view of the rugged cliffs.
Drive to Discovery Point for another great view. Even with the hazy weather, we were blown away by the magnificent vistas at Horn Head, the must-see of the day.
On the way back, stop off at Dunfanaghy to get some food and visit sandy Killahoey Beach (G4.9).
Marble Hill Bay (G4.7) is a photogenic beach backed by a hill. Be sure to park near The Shack Cafe (G4.7) and enjoy artisan coffee and ice cream. We were not impressed with the ice cream elsewhere in Ireland but this place was superb.
From here you have two alternatives but you probably only have time for one:
1. Glenveagh NP (G4.8) offers a castle, gardens, and hiking near a lake.
2. Fanad Head Route
2a) Doe Castle is not a must-see but it was the scene of Ireland’s own real life Romeo and Juliet tragedy.
2b) Fanad Head Lighthouse (G4.7) to us was overrated. This was the most photogenic view.
2c) Ballymastocker Beach, Portsalon (G4.9) is one of the nicest beaches of golden brown sand.
Drive south up the switchbacks on Highway R268. The view from the top of the hill is spectacular, especially in sunset lighting. Here is the detailed itinerary.
Driving to Donegal – Day 7
Drive: 172 km 3:15h from Ramelton
Stay: Donegal
If it’s sunny drive straight to Slieve League (G4.9), one of the best cliffs in Ireland. It was supposed to be the highlight of this trip. Instead, it was pouring rain and, even worse, the fog hid the famous cliffs. It is not worth driving there in this kind of weather.
We then drove to Silver Strand (G4.9), another beautiful beach! Even when it is not sunny, you can still appreciate beautiful beaches and craggy coastlines.
On the way back to Donegal, we stopped again at the Ahoy Café (G4.7) in Killybegs for some great cappuccino and pastry.
Donegal was another nice small town with a great B&B. Walk around the Diamond, a triangular square in the centre of town. We loved the stone work on Market House and other buildings.
Sleeping in Sligo – Day 8-9
Drive: 106 km 1:55 hrs
Stay: Sligo
As you will only have two nights in Sligo, do some sightseeing on the way into Sligo on travel Day 8. The pièce de résistance was the photogenic coastal drive around Mullaghmore Head (G4.8).
Discover fossil-laced headlands at Streedagh Beach (G4.8). Few people know that Ireland, Newfoundland and the Maritime provinces of Canada are linked geologically as they used to literally be connected 180 million years ago! Today they are also linked ethnically. As the Maritime provinces are over 20% Irish ethnicity.
Even if it’s raining, this is perfect time to visit the beautiful Drumcliff Church (G4.5), the burial site of poet W. B. Yeats.
Feel at peace on tranquil Colleenamore Beach (G4.8). Rosses Point Beach (G4.7), and the town of Sligo.
If you have more time or have to leave this itinerary to get to Dublin airport, then drive to Glencar Lough View (G4.6) and Glencar Waterfall (G4.7).
The following detailed day itinerary is in reverse order as we were travelling clockwise around Ireland.
Winging it to Westport – Day 10
Drive: 183 km 3 hrs
Stay: Westport B&B
The top attraction on your travel day to Westport is Downpatrick Head (G4.8), which is a bit out of the way but definitely worth it. An easy hike leads you over the photogenic cliffs to sea stacks on the north coast. It you have more time stop at Céide Fields (G4.4), peat farms, and Portacloy Beach (G4.9). From here make your way to Westport.
Amazing Achill Island – Day 11
Drive: 85 km 2 hrs one way
Stay: Westport B&B
Soon after the bridge crosses to Achill Island, you should turn left onto local route L1405. Stop at Kildavnet Tower to read about Grainne aka Grace O’Malley, the pirate queen. The O’Malley Family made their fortune from a large shipping and trading business, aka piracy. The O’Malleys owned this castle to protect the entrance to the bay, which hid their ships from the open sea.
If you take the central highway you will miss the pastoral western coast complete with colourful sheep on green hills.
Continue driving north passing rocky headlands finally reaching the White Cliffs at Ashleam.
Then head north to white sand Keel Beach and turquoise water Keem Bay (G4.9). This is a must drive to see Quintessential Ireland! For the detailed itinerary see our post.
Travelling to Trim – Day 12
Drive: 218 km, 2:45 hrs from Westport
Stay: Trim
Supposedly, the reason ports have brightly colored houses was to help sailors and fishermen find their way home, especially during fog and inclement weather. However, Trim is not on the coast. Perhaps this was to ensure everyone can find the pubs!
If you arrive early you can first get lunch then you can start sightseeing. Trim is an interesting small town of 9000 people with at least five good reasons to stay there. It is a good base for:
- Trim Castle and town;
- Bective Abbey;
- Neolithic Newgrange, which is 5000 years old;
- Crannmor Guest House;
- Dublin Airport, only 49 km 42 minutes away.
Staying Trim in Ireland – Day 13
Trim Castle
Before you write Trim Castle (G4.7) off as just another ruin think about the year 1066. Why is this date significant? Why is this is considered a turning point in European history? The Normans invaded southern England and defeated the battle weary Saxons at the Battle of Hastings in 1066.
Today Trim is the largest Norman castle still standing. You can thank 1066 for all the castles found in Ireland. Irish Castles were a French invention. The Normans built castles to defend themselves against the Saxons they had conquered. See more details in Staying Trim in Ireland, which is not about dieting!
Travel to the Neolithic Era – Day 14
Bective Abbey
Drive: 8 km, 7 mins. from Trim
Stay: Trim
Bective Abbey (G4.7), founded in 1147, was a peaceful place we found by accident on our way to Newgrange. It was used as a location during the filming of the 1995 historical action-drama movie Braveheart.
Neolithic Newgrange
Drive: 34 km, 0:33 hrs from Trim
Stay: Trim
Follow the sign to Newgrange, which actually brings you to the Brú na Bóinne Visitor Centre (G4.6), where the mandatory tour buses leave. I did not book ahead and generally there are a couple of seats left on each bus because groups do not want to be split up. I got on very easily.
This tomb dates back to the Megalithic (Stone) Age. How did they build it and why?
Newgrange is one of the oldest sites in Europe, built around 3200 BC — over 500 years older than the first pyramid at Saqqara, Egypt (2667 BC)! These passage tombs are believed to be evidence of a cult of the dead. See more details in:
More Options for More Time
There are several options for the end of the trip: Trim or Dublin.
Malahide Castle and Gardens
Drive: 55 km, 0:55 hrs
Stay: Trim, Dublin
Another nearby place to visit is Malahide Castle and Gardens (G4.6). We did not get a chance to visit.
Dublin Walks – Days 15 + 16
You probably need 2 days (3 nights) to see Dublin. You will need three or four more days to visit the museums, Guinness brewery, or to drive south of Dublin to Powerscourt and/or Glendalough.
Power of Powerscourt – Day 17
Drive: 21 km, 0:33 hrs from Dublin; 75 km 1 hr from Trim one way
Stay: Southern Dublin
Do you want to see a gorgeous garden? It is considered the third best in the world by National Geographic! You will especially like the Italianate Gardens and the Japanese Gardens. There were beautiful rhododendrons when we visited in May!
Glorious Glendalough – Day 18
Drive: 50 km, 1:10 hrs from Dublin; 101 km 1:35 hr from Trim
one way including Powerscourt
Stay: Trim, South of Dublin
Glendalough (Glenda Lake) was a special find of an archaeological sight plus a scenic drive in the countryside. Do not miss it! Glendalough Monastery was started in the 6th century by St. Kevin. After seeing a short film, we went with a free guide to tour the site. After the guided tour you can wander on your own.
Dublin Airport – Departure Day
Drive: 49 km 42 minutes from Trim
Stay: depart
Final Comments on this Itinerary
This is an action-packed itinerary where you can get away from the crowds of tourists who head to sites that are famous because of name recognition. The places are all highly rated by the people as shown by the high Google Map Ratings. Remember, the most important “destination” is meeting the people.
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What things fascinate you? How long is your trip? What questions do you have?
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Itinerary Planning
Do you want to learn how to plan an itinerary? Is your trip less than two weeks? If you have less time simply quit the itinerary at Ramelton, Donegal or Sligo and return to Trim, departure point for the Dublin airport. Use this ready-made itinerary map to plan your trip.
Ireland North’s Best Sights Map
If you have more than 14 days, add time for the points of interest mentioned in our day by day itineraries. You can easily add 4 days in the Dublin area to make it a 21 day itinerary.
There is a similar itinerary for two weeks in Southwest Ireland.
Purpose of Your Trip
What is the purpose of your trip? What are your interests? This itinerary was based on the features that make Ireland unique…
Ireland FAQ
The FAQ post answers questions such as:
- Where should I go in Ireland?
- What is the best season for travel?
- What is the best clothing?
- Where should I go? What are the must-sees?
- How much time do I need for Ireland?
- Can I see everything in a week?
- How safe is Ireland?
- How much cash should you take to Ireland?
- Should I pay in Euros or my own currency?
- What apps are useful for travel?
- Should I rent a car? Take a Taxi?
Terra Encounters 
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