Northern Ireland / Tuaisceart Éireann / Norlin Airlann – Let’s explore here
What’s it like in Northern Ireland?
Northern Ireland is part of the United Kingdom and is located in the north east of the island of Ireland, west of the island of Great Britain. It shares a land border with the Republic of Ireland.
The metropolitan area of the capital, Belfast, is home to almost 635,000 people (2021), about ⅓ of the total population of Northern Ireland.
To the centre of the country is Lough Neagh, the largest freshwater lake in the UK and on the island of Ireland. There are beautiful low lying mountains in the north west (the Sperrin mountains) and the south east (the Mourne mountains). The highest point is Slieve Donard in the Mourne mountains, at 2,790 ft (850 m) above sea level.
A bit about the history of Northern Ireland
Early History and Gaelic Influence
Northern Ireland, as part of the island of Ireland, has a history that dates back to ancient times, when the island was populated by Celtic tribes. By the early medieval period, the area was ruled by a series of Gaelic kingdoms, with Ulster being one of the main regions. Gaelic culture and language flourished for centuries. Throughout the Middle Ages, Ulster was often in conflict with other regions of Ireland, and it was dominated by a series of powerful clans.
English and Scottish Colonization
In the late 16th and early 17th centuries, during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I and later King James I, the English crown began a process of colonisation in Ireland, including in the northern part of the island. This period is known as the Plantation of Ulster, in which English and Scottish settlers were encouraged to move to Ulster. The plantation led to significant demographic and cultural changes, creating tensions between the Protestant settlers and the native Catholic population.
The Irish Rebellion and English Rule
In the 17th century, Ireland experienced a number of uprisings and conflicts, including the Cromwellian conquest of Ireland in the 1650s, which resulted in the defeat of Irish Catholics and the strengthening of English Protestant control. By the 18th century, Northern Ireland had become predominantly Protestant, while the southern parts of Ireland remained largely Catholic. Tensions between the two communities grew, with religious, social and political divisions intensifying over time.
Formation of Northern Ireland
In the early 20th century, Ireland sought independence from the United Kingdom. Following the Irish War of Independence (1919–1921), the Anglo-Irish Treaty led to the establishment of the Irish Free State (later the Republic of Ireland) in 1922. However, six counties in the northern part of Ireland, with a Protestant majority, chose to remain part of the United Kingdom, forming Northern Ireland. This partition was a source of tension and division, as the Catholic minority in Northern Ireland often faced discrimination.
The Troubles
From the late 1960s to the 1998 Good Friday Agreement, Northern Ireland experienced a period of violent conflict known as ‘The Troubles’. This was primarily a struggle between the Catholic nationalist community, which sought unification with the Republic of Ireland, and the Protestant unionist community, which wanted to remain part of the United Kingdom. The conflict involved paramilitary groups, such as the Irish Republican Army (IRA) and the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF), as well as British forces. Thousands of people were killed or injured during this period, and the region was deeply divided along sectarian lines.
The Peace Process and the Good Friday Agreement
The Good Friday Agreement, signed in 1998, marked a significant step toward peace in Northern Ireland. It established a devolved government, with power shared between unionists and nationalists, and put in place mechanisms for addressing the causes of the conflict. While violence has largely ceased, tensions and political disagreements still persist, especially over issues such as the status of Northern Ireland in relation to the rest of the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland Today
Northern Ireland remains part of the United Kingdom but is a unique political entity with its own devolved government, which manages many domestic affairs. The region continues to grapple with its historical divisions, although it has seen considerable improvements in terms of political stability and economic development since the end of The Troubles. The question of its future, whether it should remain part of the UK or become part of a united Ireland, remains a topic of political debate, especially in the wake of Brexit and its implications for the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.
Road trips in Northern Ireland
We travelled across Northern Ireland as part of our road trip around the whole island of Ireland in Summer 2024.
The capital
We started in Larne due to coming on the ferry from Scotland, and travelled southwards towards the lovely capital, Belfast. The capital is a really great place to base yourself to explore the area, as the road connections are excellent, and there’s plenty of affordable accommodation. We found the Belfast docks and marina area to be lovely, especially around the Titanic museum. Also the government buildings at Stormont were lovely.
The biggest lake
From Belfast we also spent a day exploring the UKs largest lake, Loch Neagh, which is really lovely too. It’s a great place to take a picnic, and there are multiple places mourned it’s perimeter that offer really pleasant views.
The south east
Over in the south east is a great part of Northern Ireland. The Mourne mountains are beautiful and are great for hiking. On the other side of the mountains, by the coast, there’s an awesome set of picturesque little towns and villages lining the bay. This area was one our favourite parts of the country, and is definitely worth a visit.
The north west
Having almost circumnavigated the island of Ireland, we arrived back in Derry / Londonderry, which again, was far nicer than we’d anticipated. It looks like lots of it had been renovated in recent times, and there was lots to see and do in the city, in particular around the river.
National parks
Both Binevenagh National Landscape and the Sperrin mountains were really beautiful to drive through, with so many excellent views. In the latter can be found the amazing the Beaghmore Stone Circles, which are multiple sets of ancient stone circles are in the same area – what a great find!
The north coast
The country’s coastline is lovely to behold, especially around the famous Giant’s Causeway, which is a major tourist destination.
Map of our road trip through Northern Ireland
Our favourite places in Northern Ireland
These are some of the best places that we explored on our road trip through Northern Ireland. We’ve put them in alphabetical order.
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of Northern Ireland with a population of around 350,000 (2022) people. The marina area is particularly picturesque and is well worth a visit. Whilst historically the city was very divided and indeed violent, the city felt very safe when we were there. We noticed that in addition to much of the sectarian imagery within the city, there are now also many modern murals, perhaps providing a conscious cultural rebranding of the city.
Binevenagh National Landscape, County Londonderry
Binevenagh National Landscape is a stunning area located in the north west, in the Keenaght barony.
Derry / Londonderry, County Derry
Derry / Londonderry is the second largest city in Northern Ireland, after the capital, Belfast, with a population of just over 85,000 people (2021). It is one of the oldest continuously inhabited places in Ireland, having been founded in the 6th century. Whilst historically the city was very divided and indeed violent, the city was very friendly and was very safe when we were there.
Dunseverick Castle, County Antrim
Dunseverick Castle was built at least as early as the 5th century, and the remains lie near to the Giant’s Causeway on the north coast.
Lough Neagh
Lough Neagh is the largest lake in the United Kingdom: 19 miles (31km) wide and 9 miles (14km) long. It supplies 2 in 5 people in Northern Ireland with drinking water. Five of the six counties of Northern Ireland have shores on the Lough. Bird watching and fishing are very popular on the pretty lake.
Mourne mountains, County Down
The lovely Mourne mountains are located in the south east, near to Newry. The highest mountain in the are is Slieve Donard at 2,790 ft (850m) above sea level.
Rostrevor, County Down
Rostrevor is a small village at the edge of the Mourne mountains, overlooking the Carlingford Lough, near to Newry.
Sperrin mountains & the Beaghmore Stone Circles
The Sperrins are a lovely mountain range in the north west of Northern Ireland, in counties Londonderry and Tyrone. The highest mountain is Sawel Mountain, at 2,224 ft (678m) above sea level.
Beaghmore Stone Circles is a set of seven stone circles of different sizes; six of which are paired; twelve cairns and ten stone rows. They’re from the Bronze age, dating to around 2900-2600BC, and are located close to Cookstown in County Tyrone, in the Sperrin mountains.
Warrenpoint, County Down
Warrenpoint is lovely little town on the border of Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. It overlooks the Carlingford Lough, near to Newry, and is at the edge of the Mourne mountains.
Whitehead, County Antrim
Whitehead is a lovely little town on the east coast, close to carrickfergus. The colourful promenade is well worth a visit and it’s an ideal stop-off point between the ferry points in Larne and Belfast.
Whitehead at dusk
Whitepark Bay, County Antrim
Whitepark bay is located on the north coast near to the Giant’s Causeway. It’s a beautiful beach that’s three miles in length.
What’s it like to drive in Northern Ireland?
Driving in Northern Ireland is mostly a leisurely affair, mainly due to the sparsity of the population away from the Belfast metropolitan area. Although many drivers even in Belfast, compared to England, drivers are not aggressive in major cities or on motorways. Some poor drivers do tend to sit in the middle lane on motorways or in the overtaking lane on dual carriageways, hindering the flow of traffic. The use of the car horn is not widely used outside of actual warnings or emergencies.
What are the speed limits in Northern Ireland?
They drive on the left hand side of the road in Northern Ireland.
The speed limits for cars in Northern Ireland are:
- 30 mph (50 km/h) for urban driving
- 60 mph (100 km/h) outside of built up areas
- 70 mph (110 km/h) on dual carriageways
- 70 mph (110 km/h) on motorways
We’ve also created a dedicated page to driving abroad, which you might find helpful 🙂
What currency do they use in Northern Ireland?
In Northern Ireland they use pound sterling. The use of credit / debit cards is now widespread, although not guaranteed – have some cash just in case, particularly in cafés and restaurants. ApplePay is widely accepted in petrol stations and most stores in major towns. Traveller’s cheques are accepted. There are lots of ATMs.
You should make yourself aware of the amount that your bank charges you for using credit and debit cards abroad. Often credit cards are cheaper for purchasing items directly, and for withdrawing cash from ATMs.
What language do they speak in Northern Ireland?
They speak mostly English in Northern Ireland, although some also speak Ulster Scots and close to the border with Ireland, they also speak Irish Gaelic.
What time zone is Northern Ireland in?
Remember, when you’re planning your next trip to take a look at what time zone it’s in.
Do I need a visa to visit Northern Ireland?
We’ve created a dedicated, more comprehensive page on visas, which you should find helpful. Check it out!
Is wild camping legal inNorthern Ireland?
No, wild camping is illegal in Northern Ireland.
What plug / socket type do they use in Northern Ireland?
In Northern Ireland they use plug / socket type G.
Health issues in Northern Ireland
Is it safe to drink water in Northern Ireland?
Yes, it is safe to drink tap water in Northern Ireland. Bottled water is also readily available across Northern Ireland.
What vaccinations are required for Northern Ireland?
This NHS website is kept up to date with all relevant information on vaccinations in Northern Ireland.
Phones in Northern Ireland
What is the country calling code for Northern Ireland?
The country calling code for the Northern Ireland is +44
What are the emergency phone numbers in Northern Ireland?
- The emergency number for police in Northern Ireland is: 999 / 112
- In Northern Ireland, the emergency number for England is: 999 / 112
- The emergency number for fire in Northern Ireland is: 999 / 112
If you’ve got some useful info that you’d like to share, let us know!
Don’t forget to check out all the other pictures!