Leave Dublin for Drogheda to see the site of Battle of The Boyne and maybe also Newgrange, the oldest building in Europe, and Mellifont Abbey, a medieval Cistercian ruin. Pub lunch and then perhaps visit Knockabbey Castle & Gardens. Currently under major restoration with the aid of the Great Gardens of Ireland Restoration Fund, these special gardens are being re-awoken. They reveal some of the finest historical water gardens to be found anywhere in the country, dating back to the 11th century. The gardens contain a wide range of magnificent specimen trees and the tulip tree ranks among the largest and finest in Ireland. Carry on through Newry and over the beautiful mountains of Mourne to Dundrum, with its ruined Norman castle. Pay your respects to Ireland's Patron Saint in his cathedral town of Downpatrick. Overnight in the village of Strangford. Overlooking Strangford Lough, the delightful Georgian town house that would be perfect for the family was chosen as one of the 50 best hideaways in Europe. The village of Strangford has bars and shops to explore and lots of walks.

Stay at 41 Castle Street, Strangford,

"Poised above the waters at the entrance to Lough Strangford, roses framing its Georgian windows, this is one of a glorious row of 200-year-old houses. Maureen matches her house"  Sawdays Special Places.  This delightful Georgian house was chosen as one of the 50 best hideaways in Europe by The Sunday Times

Strangford	Downpatrick	Mountains of Mourne

Wednesday July 18th

Explore the Ards Peninsula

Grey Abbey Village  is a popular place for antique lovers with its numerous antique, craft and Gift shops. Grey Abbey, an antiquing centre, with a restored medicine garden beside the old monastery. Further up the road is Mount Stewart, the seat of the Marquess of Londonderry. Now in the care of The National Trust, both house and garden are outstanding. 

Mount Stewart, the seat of the Marquis of Londonderry, is looked after by the National Trust. This impressive eighteenth century mansion housing works of art collected from around the world is complemented with one of the greatest gardens in the British Isles. Extending to 98 Acres the garden includes Sunken, Shamrock and Italian gardens as well as the amazing Dodo Terrace with its extraordinary concoction of concrete animal statues. The Temple of the Winds a highly unusual octagonal 18th Century banqueting hall also situated on the estate. Consider an early lunch in the tea rooms here to fortify you for Belfast. 


.As you head towards the old Market Town of Newtownards you will be able to see one of the areas most recognisable landmarks, Scrabo Tower, perched high above Newtownards. This imposing edifice was built in 1857 as a memorial to the Third Marquis of Londonderry. The tower stands in Scrabo Country Park with Woodland walks and parkland. If you are feeling active a climb of 122 steps will take visitors to the open viewing level which gives spectacular views across Strangford Lough, The Mourne Mountains, Belfast and beyond to Scotland.

It was the manufacture of linen which made Belfast Ireland’s biggest city by 1888. The yellow cranes which dominate the river are Samson and Goliath and signpost the  Harland and Wolff shipyard where the world-famous Titanic ship was built.  Your route into Belfast will bring you through some of the areas where Unionist political murals dominate, remarkable examples of political art.

Start at  Belfast City Hall – one of the finest Classical Renaissance buildings in Europe;  it resembles an American state capital building.  See the ornate dome, grand staircase and the poignant marble figures commemorating the loss of the Titanic.

Cross the road to the Linen Hall Library which has been lending books for over 200 years and is the oldest surviving subscription library in the UK.  
Close by is the Grand Opera House, Northern Ireland’s premier theatre.

Stop for a pint of Guinness at the Crown Bar – Northern Ireland’s best known pub owned by the National Trust and still lit by gas lamps. 

St Anne's Cathedral, with its maze floor, is an interesting place to visit.  The floor of the Nave and the Aisles  immediately opposite the West Door exemplifies a labyrinth - "a mighty maze! but not without a plan." Executed in black and white Irish marble, the white forming a narrow pathway flanked on both sides by the black, it is symbolic of the difficulties of the Christian life. A successful negotiation of its twistings and turnings brings the pilgrim to that straight and narrow path leading directly to the Holy Table!

Overnight at Harmony Hill in Ballymena. 

Harmony Hill House was built in the eighteenth century for the owner of the new mill being constructed to weave the cotton so in demand in Britain in that time. Now the home of Richard and Trish Wilson and their family, the west wing of the house has been extensively refurbished to provide accommodation for the traveller in a style reminiscent of a bygone age.

Richard and Trish came back to Northern Ireland seventeen years ago, and using their extensive experience of the region - Richard's parents owned the Portaferry Hotel - and their unique hotel and catering experience in the UK and abroad, became involved in a local hotel which they helped to create and run for over a decade, from which they retired in 1999. Richard and Trish have lovingly created a beautiful design to provide a more relaxing atmosphere in which they can continue to provide the same hospitality which has been enjoyed over the last decade, though no longer offering a restaurant.  

The Caldwells, who built Harmony Hill,  were an old family - some of their descendants had survived the Siege of Londonderry in 1689, and later moved to America to found the town of Londonderry, New Hampshire.

John Caldwell Snr, born 1742, was a man of considerable wealth and owned a mill and substantial land. He was a Captain in the Ballymoney Volunteers and in 1783 he had been instrumental in enrolling a local Roman Catholic, Daniel Maxwell, into their ranks. This made Ballymoney one of the only Volunteer Companies in Ulster to have a Roman Catholic member.  His sons became United Irishmen and after the 1798 Rising had to flee to America.

Giant's Causeway	Whitepark Bay	Glens of Antrim

Thursday July 19th

What to see today and  how far to go is very flexible.  Explore the Glens of Antrim and The Giant's Causeway and then return to Dublin by way of  Antrim and Lurgan or through Cookstown, Armagh and Dundalk, taking the main road back to Dublin.  Arrive at Europcar Desk at Dublin Airport by 3.30 pm to pick up your car for the journey to Foxmount Farm Country House, Waterford.

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