Hiking holiday Northern Ireland

Portstewart marks the beginning of this stage and, together with Portrush, is one of its most charming coastal towns. Both are renowned for their iconic white sand beaches and the legendary golf courses that have hosted the Irish Open. The historic St Patrick’s Well sits right at the start next to the golf course. Along the way, enjoy sweeping beaches and impressive cliffs, growing ever steeper the farther you walk. From Dunluce Castle, you take the bus back to your accommodation.

Bushmills is known for the island’s oldest distillery and its single malt whiskey. This stage feels like a dance across sandy beaches and cliffs. Highlights along the way include the spectacular Giant’s Causeway with its 40,000 basalt columns rising from the sea and the fishing harbour in Ballintoy, both used as settings for Game of Thrones. Hamilton’s Seat offers the highest viewpoint on the coastal path, and the Carrick‑a‑Rede rope bridge provides a thrilling walk 30 metres above the churning sea. At the end of this stage, a bus takes you to the harbour town of Ballycastle.

Today you follow the Moyle Way through the moorlands and forests of the interior. The Orra Bridge – a solitary stone bridge in the moor – takes on a mysterious air, especially in mist. From Trostan, the highest peak in the Glens of Antrim region, you look out over this mystical landscape of hills threaded with rivers. At the end of this stage, a bus from the Glenariff Forest Park car park brings you to idyllic Cushendall, a coastal village that feels as if time has stood still.

A bus takes you back to Glenariff Forest Park, where you step into the spectacular world of the Glenariff Waterfalls Woodwalk. Wooden boardwalks guide you to its magical waterfalls, including the twin falls Ess‑na‑Crub and Ess‑na‑Laragh. Passing through Glenariff Glen, the queen of all Irish valleys, you arrive at the charming Gaelic coastal village of Waterfoot, before returning to Cushendall via Red Bay Castle, a dramatic red sandstone castle ruin perched on a cliff.

A transfer takes you to Belfast. Here in the capital with its remarkable 3,000 hectares of wooded parks, time feels a little off‑balance: the Albert Memorial Clock Tower stands on damp ground and leans much like the Tower of Pisa. The Titanic also ended up askew – and sank. Its story is vividly told in the city’s Titanic Museum. Towards the end of the day, a bus takes you to Banbridge, and from there you continue to Blackwell House, a genuine oasis known for its wonderful cuisine.

What a change of scenery: in the Mourne Mountains, barren granite peaks replace gentle hills, and near the coast you find a jungle of ferns. From the foot of the massif, you hike up to the Mourne Wall, a historic stone wall linking several summits, and continue on to Bloody Bridge with its magnificent sea views. A transfer takes you back to Banbridge.

At the award‑winning Blackwell House, where Swiss charm meets Northern Irish hospitality, you enjoy complete relaxation at the end of your trip. Set amid peaceful countryside, this luxurious guesthouse rewards you with a legendary breakfast, one of the best on the island. The perfect finale to a memorable and richly varied walking holiday.