Driving Driving

4 days

Set out on a food trail of local specialties and gourmet treats across Northern Ireland, and prepare for a taste sensation

Our culinary trail kicks off in the city of Belfast, winds through the gastronomic heartlands of County Down and the orchard heaven of County Armagh, before exploring the lakelands of County Fermanagh and tranquil County Tyrone. We’ll dip into Derry~Londonderry city before tracing the Causeway Coastal Route along Antrim's coast and back to Belfast.

Flavours of Northern Ireland

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Day One

Starting in Belfast, this tasty tour brings you through some of the most beautiful scenery the island has to offer with top gourmet stops along the way.

A driving 35 mins

Find out why Belfast tastes great

Eating out in Belfast is an exciting mix of homegrown flavours, modern techniques and the best local produce, with a restaurant scene that takes in everything from the Michelin-starred Eipic and Ox to the downhome tastes of Long's Fish and Chips. Get to know the secret delis and traditional pubs of this vibrant city on the Belfast Food Tour in the company of passionate foodie, Caroline, which kicks off at 19th century St George's Market (Fri-Sun). Or maybe book a table for sumptuous Afternoon Tea at Titanic Belfast on a Sunday. Either way, your tastebuds will thank you for it.

Don't miss

Even if you don’t stay at The Merchant Hotel, you’ll want to sample at least one creation from its famous cocktail list.

B driving 8 mins

Spuds, walks and award-winning seafood in County Down

From urban buzz to rural bliss next at The Poacher's Pocket, an award-winning gastro pub and a great place to refuel before exploring the local area. The old-fashioned front bar has retained its traditional charm, but the dining area boasts an effortless style, and is the perfect backdrop for dishes that make the most of the excellent local produce. Comber, where the pub is located, is also famous for its Comber Early Potatoes, which have European Protected Geographical Indication and are prized for their nutty flavour. While you’re here, head to nearby Strangford Lough, a haven of wildlife and the largest sea lough in the British Isles. Studded with 100 islands, the lough boasts numerous walking trails, including the Castle Espie Woodland Trail with a mix of estuary views, salt marshes and Ireland’s largest collection of native and exotic water-birds.

If you have more time

Call in at the Old Post Office Tea Rooms in Lisbane for delicious homebaked scones, pastries and pie. A great little find.

C driving 20 mins

Rich pickings and natural beauty along Strangford Lough

Chef Danny Millar is the star of the show at Balloo House, a 400-year-old inn that offers two distinct dining experiences, with a fine dining restaurant above and a relaxed bistro below. Focusing strongly on local and seasonal produce, Millar crafts dishes such as venison liver, with creamy mash, crispy onions, bacon and red wine jus, as well as Northern Ireland’s highly regarded Himalayan salt-chamber aged beef from Hannan’s. It's worth staying overnight at the Mill House B&B – from here you can enjoy more of the County Down countryside including scenic walks and panoramic views of Strangford Lough.

Learn to cook

Try out your baking skills at Tracey’s Farmhouse Kitchen. After being welcomed into her thatched cottage, you’ll be asked to roll up your sleeves, put on an apron, and start kneading dough for soda and wheaten breads in the traditional way.

D driving 25 mins

Films, food and fabulous fish

Heading south through the town of Downpatrick, where the mortal remains of St Patrick are said to lie within Down Cathedral, you'll reach the village of Dundrum. Beautifully situated on the edge of Dundrum Bay and backed by the moody Mourne Mountains, the go-to eatery here is most definitely the Mourne Seafood Bar, which uses impeccably fresh seafood from local ports and their own shellfish beds. The area is a heartland of quality food from artisan honey to the super-creamy Abernethy Butter, used in some of the world's top restaurants. To find out more, why not take the Mourne Foods & Films Cycle Tour, which leaves from the nearby town of Newcastle. Highlighting the link between a heather-rich land and delicious local produce, the tour takes you through the valley's filming locations for Philomena, Game of Thrones, The Fall and Dracula Untold.

If you have more time

Pop into the Anchor Bar in Newcastle for high-grade pub grub and local craft beers.

Afternoon tea in old-world surrounds

Nestled into the lush surrounds of the Shimna Valley, the Enniskeen Country House Hotel boasts almost impossibly beautiful views over the peak of Slieve Donard and out to the Irish Sea. There couldn't possibly be a better location for a sumptuous afternoon tea than within the elegant old-world dining room here. Developed to celebrate the very best local produce, the Mourne Honey Afternoon Tea is an indulgent delight showcasing tasty treats, including Mourne Honey-baked Armagh ham sandwiches, traditional Irish tea brack with Abernethy butter and Mourne Honey and strawberry Victoria sponge.

Don't miss

Detour to Moira on your way back from Belfast – a small village with a big gourmet heart and home of some of the best artisan meats in Northern Ireland.

Day Two

Descend from the mountains and into the lakelands, discovering succulent treats at lavish country houses and culinary creations on the shores of Lough Neagh

F driving 35 mins

A country house breakfast

If there is a better way to start the day than with a breakfast at Armagh's Newforge House we've yet to hear it. This gorgeous family-run country house puts on a legendary spread with an Ulster Fry laden with Moyallan dry-cured bacon, Madden's award-winning sausages and freshly laid eggs from chickens that roam the orchard. After that, pay a visit to the Armagh Cider Company to see how the magic happens from the 80 acres of beautiful orchards to the final product, before heading back to Newforge for a delicious three-course seasonal dinner.

Come at festival time

County Armagh is famous for its delicious Bramley apple and in September the Armagh Food and Cider Festival celebrates the harvest with a packed programme of events, including foraged lunches, artisan markets and orchard tours.

G driving 55 mins

A perfect deli in County Tyrone

To get a great flavour of the lush landscapes of County Tyrone, set your course for Dungannon's Deli on the Green, a perfect stop for lunch. Located in Beechvalley, Dungannon, this part-deli, part-bistro is a fine place to sample a salad of Fivemiletown Creamery’s Goat’s Cheese, served with pickled carrot, orange and candied walnuts. Delicious.

If you have more time

It's hard not to love the quirk and eccentricity of Tomney's pub in Moy, County Tyrone. In the same family for 300 years, it's warm, welcoming and unforgettable.

H driving 30 mins

Stunning cookery on the edge of a lough

If you're of the belief that beautiful landscapes inspire beautiful cookery, then make your way to Belle Isle. Surrounded by the lakeland landscapes of County Fermanagh, which produce some of the best dairy on the island, Belle Isle Cookery School sits on the edge of Lough Fyne. It's really a sublime destination, a place to relax and hone your cookery skills with both private cookery classes and general cookery courses.

If you have more time

Detour south to the Watermill Lodge, a lovely restaurant and guest house in the heart of the lakelands.

Gourmet delights on the shores of Lough Erne

Perfectly placed for exploring some of the area's top attractions including the Marble Arch Caves, Florence Court and Castle Coole House, the Lough Erne Resort is one of Northern Ireland's most luxurious retreats. And, naturally, the food here is of the highest possible quality. Chef Noel McMeel is devoted to using the very best local produce and has cooked for some of the world's most discerning diners. At the Catalina Restaurant, you can find dishes of the very highest standard with local superstar-produce on the menu, including Baronscourt Venison, Thornhill Duck and Keenan Seafood.

If you have more time

Head to the delightful town of Enniskillen and enjoy a relaxed lunch under the stone-vaulted ceilings of Café Merlot in Blakes of the Hollow. Or pay a visit to the Boatyard Distillery for a tour and taste experience where you can meet the team and discover the secret behind its famous ‘Érainn’ Copper still.

Day Three

As you set out from Fermanagh, you'll find perfectly baked scones, masterfully made bread and a walled city filled with delights to discover...

J driving 1 hr 50 mins

Pure charm in a thatched cottage

Belleek might be famed for its pottery but it's loved locally for The Thatch, a recently re-thatched coffee shop where you can pick up everything from home-baked goodies to fishing tackle (why not try catching some Lough Erne brown trout?). Set within a charming 18th century cottage, it's the perfect place to cosy up with tea and fluffy scones. Winners of a Great Taste Award for its wild venison French rack, Baronscourt Estate rears the crème de la crème of wild game. If you're in the area, why not opt for a self-catering stay on the magnificent estate.

If you have more tie

Pop into the Ulster American Folk Park for an immersive recreation of Northern Ireland’s emigrant story. Or if you’d rather cast your eyes to the skies, the Stars and Stones tour takes you from the mythic stone circle of Beaghmore, to the magnificent views from the Dark Sky Observatory.

K driving 50 mins

A home bakery to wake up for

Close to the northwestern shore of beautiful Lough Neagh, you'll find the small village of Castledawson. At 3am every morning, while most of the village sleeps, Ditty's Home Bakery is a hive of activity, with bakers getting the store's soda farls, potato and wheaten breads ready for the day. This beloved bakery is also the source of some of the island’s best oatcake biscuits (perfect with Irish cheese) as well as wee buns and scones – the ideal accompaniment to a cup of tea.

If you have more time

Try the Old Thatch Inn pub in Castledawson. It's one of the oldest pubs in Northern Ireland, and a real gem.

Urban tastes in Derry~Londonderry

Heading into Derry~Londonderry, a whole host of culinary treats await. There's glamorous fine dining at Browns Restaurant and Champagne Lounge, creative locally inspired pintxos at the Walled City Brewery (North Derry Salami empanadas, anyone?) or seasonal cooking at Beech Hill Country House Hotel. Browse the city's weekly and monthly food markets for tasty delights such as Dart Mountain Cheese, Flossie’s Fudge or turf-smoked salmon, or sit and relax with a glass of local craft beer in one of the city's great traditional pubs.

If you have more time

Set sail from Portstewart on a Catch and Sea food experience. It’s a breakfast tour, and once the bucket is full, a local chef is waiting on shore to prepare a home-cooked breakfast to match your appetite, with your own freshly caught fish as the main ingredient.

Day Four

Sample world-class seafood beneath soaring cliffs, test out one of Ireland's most iconic drinks and taste meals inspired by legends... this is Northern Ireland at its culinary finest.

M driving 20 mins

The foodie delights of the Causeway Coast

Next up, the Causeway Coast, which weaves from Derry~Londonderry to Belfast, passing by Mussenden Temple, the Giant's Causeway and the Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge. It's also home to some truly great places to eat - the first of which is Harry's Shack on Portstewart Strand. Chef Derek Creagh and restaurateur Donal Doherty have been making international waves from this sand-strewn beach shack, serving masterful seaside fare, including fish fresh off the Greencastle boats and vegetables from their walled garden on the Inishowen Peninsula in next door Donegal. No wonder some of the accolades it has picked up include Ireland's Restaurant of the Year.

If you have more time

Lost & Found in Coleraine is a delightful stop-off for a breakfast of eggs Benedict or a lunch of beef hotpot.

N driving 1 hr

Into the heart of whiskey territory

Along the coast, past Dunluce Castle, you'll find the very charming village of Bushmills. Here, a visit to the Old Bushmills Distillery is a must. It's Ireland's oldest working distillery and the guided tour will whisk you through the workings of the distillery before a "wee dram" in the 1608 bar. Enjoy dinner in The Bushmills Inn’s AA Rosette restaurant afterwards, or explore Bushmills' French links with a quirky and casual meal at The French Rooms. Its ties to our Gallic neighbours date back to the 17th century when the Huguenots decided to settle in the town.

If you have more time

Embark on a food tour along the Causeway Coastal Route with Toast the Coast Food Tours, and enjoy taste sensations spanning from Whitehead to Cushendun.

O driving 15 mins

A culinary castle on a glorious estate

Glenarm Castle has been in the McDonnell family since 1636. The tea rooms overlook the kitchen garden and serve Glenarm Organic Salmon from the nearby salmon beds. Glenarm Castle estate also produces Glenarm Shorthorn Beef, which is aged in Peter Hannan’s purpose-built Himalayan salt chambers in Moira, County Down, before appearing on some of the region’s best menus.

Don't miss

The nearby resort of Galgorm is home to the River Room restaurant, which boasts 3 AA Rosettes for culinary excellence.

A sweet ending

Heading on from here to Ballygally, make a date with Ballygally Castle Hotel’s afternoon tea, inspired by the fact that HBO’s Game of Thrones® was filmed nearby. Where else can you feast on Dothraki Trifle with mini Dragon’s Eggs? Overnight guests can enjoy the hotel’s focus on local produce at breakfast, which includes Clandeboye Estate yoghurts produced with milk from Holstein and Jersey cows. Oh, and did we mention the hotel has a resident ghost? The Ghost of Ballygally has been around for the best part of 400 years, but Lady Isabella Shaw is reputedly a friendly spirit!