InSite Tours Ireland

By “The Lower End” we mean the part of Rathlin that points south, towards Ballycastle and Fair Head. It’s called that because it is lower in elevation compared to the other portion. That larger portion points west and is referred to as “The Upper End”. A stream, entering the sea beside St Thomas’ Church, forms the boundary between the two Ends.

This walk takes place on a combination of surfaced roads and designated trails. Different routes are available so please ask at time of booking. If you walk to the Rue Lighthouse along the spectacular cliffs at Roonivoolin you will be covering about half the island. Keep your ears open to hear the distinctive call of the Chough: an island bird rarity. Altacarry or Rathlin East Lighthouse is another way to go. Sorry, you can’t get to see round the East light. If you visit the RSPB Seabird Centre (other end of Rathlin), you will be able to see inside that Lighthouse.

Hear the tale of Robert the Bruce or stories of the many other battles fought on Rathlin. You could hike towards the lonely Coastguard Hut, looking out for Buzzard, Raven and Peregrine.

This walk lasts around 4 hours, be prepared to get muddy at times. UNSUITABLE FOR CHILDREN.

This walk is a firm favourite

The international success of Game of Thrones has led to an unprecedented interest in the amazing real life locations used to bring the fantasy land of Westeros to life.

On this Private Tour by Luxury Car from Belfast - suitable for couples or small groups of three - you will get unprecedented access to many of the stunning locations that featured in Game of Thrones.

You will also get to know the unique history and traditions of this ancient part of Ireland.

Itinerary

• Titanic Studios Belfast - Where Internal Filming and Green Screen CGI took place.
• Ned Stark and the Night's Watch Deserter - One of the first scenes of the series. Cairncastle - County Antrim
• The Kings Road - The Dark Hedges - Stranocum - County Antrim
• Dothraki and Vale of Arryn - Glenariff Glen - County Antrim
• The Red Woman Melisandre - Cushendun Caves - County Antrim
• The Seven Kingdoms and Slaver's Bay - Theon's horse ride with Yara. Also the parlay between Stannis and Renly in Series 2. Murlough Bay - County Antrim
• The Stormlands - Renly Baratheon's Camp in Season 2. Larrybane - County Antrim
• The Iron Islands - The backdrop to Theon's return and where he paid homage to his ship 'The Sea Bitch'. Ballintoy Harbour - County Antrim
• The Coast of Dorne - Season 5 scenes of Jaime Lannister and Bronn storming into the south of Westeros were filmed here.
• The Shores of Dragonstone - Where those who defied the Lord of Light were sacrificed by Lady Melisandre. Downhill Strand - County Derry
• Dothraki Grasslands - Where a stranded Daenerys encounters a horde of horse warriors at the end of Season 5. Binevenagh - County Derry

This walk departs both a.m (Year Round) and p.m (27 March to 15 September) from Church Bay and will last for 1 hour 30 minutes approximately.

The walk is on surfaced roads, at a gentle space with few inclines. Expect to see Seals and Shorebirds (perhaps Curlew, Oystercatcher and Herring Gull). We will pass old buildings and hear their story. Shipwrecks didn’t just happen in the days of sail: you will hear about HMS Drake, sunk in WW 1 and a ship wrecked as recently as 29 January 2007. The walk lasts a bit more than an hour and children are welcome.

Find out what it is like to live on Rathlin today. How are children educated? What if you suddenly get sick? What’s the chances of getting a speeding ticket? What jobs are important?

The walk is on a combination of trails, clifftop and surfaced roads off with different route options, but all offering you a great opportunity to cover many parts of Rathlin.

In late Spring see Orchids and maybe the rare Pyramidal Bugle (a favourite of your guide). This walk will last 7+ hours, but at a relaxed pace. It is sometimes combined with a bus journey, which is at additional cost and subject to availability. With the time at our disposal we could visit all three of Rathlin’s lighthouses. Plenty to see and learn with lots to chat about.

NOT SUITABLE FOR CHILDREN. This walk is for adults with a good level of fitness.

We are now accredited as ‘We’re Good to Go™’ in partnership with Tourism Northern Ireland and Visit Britain, giving you the reassurance that we put your health and safety as our top priority when you tour with us.

This is an intimate and emotional journey through the landscapes and places that inspired the Nobel Prize Winning Irish poet, Seamus Heaney. You will be guided through your experience by Fergal Kearney, who knew the poet personally and has many stories to tell of these inspiring moments.

This is a private experience by private luxury vehicle and will take you to many places referenced in Seamus' many poetry collections, most of which are known only to your guide. Those who have taken this journey with us have often been overwhelmed by the beauty and complexity of Seamus' writing, read aloud to you by your guide in the very places that inspired them.

We look forward to welcoming you and sharing Seamus Heaney' HomeGround. It will be an unforgettable experience.

What to Expect

This is a private tour that will take you off the well beaten path for an intimate and moving insight into the life and work of Seamus Heaney.

Walk through the fields of Tamlaghduff within sight of Seamus Heaney’s family home at ‘The Wood’, perhaps enjoying a chance meeting with one of his brothers; stroll through the ‘squeaking sedge’ on the Strand at Lough Beg, made famous in Seamus’ eulogy for his murdered cousin; gaze out over the vast expanse of Toner’s Bog, from his eponymous poem ‘Digging’, now returned to its natural state in the total stillness of Ballymacombs. Or simply breathe the Bellaghy air that Seamus himself breathed as you immerse yourself in the totality of his amazing sense of place.

Whether you’re a Seamus Heaney novice or a scholar of his body of work, this tour will be intimate, moving and arresting in equal measure, delivered with the characteristic humour, knowledge and subtlety of a fellow Bellaghy native.

Your tour guide Fergal Kearney says, "Having known and worked with Seamus Heaney over many years and having grown up in the same fields and lanes and knowing the same people in his native Bellaghy, I feel uniquely gifted to follow in the footsteps of the great man and to share his journey through my eyes. This is no stranger’s view of the poet in his place, but that of a generation that has been influenced by Seamus over the years and known him personally for decades."

We are now accredited as ‘We’re Good to Go™’ in partnership with Tourism Northern Ireland and Visit Britain, giving you the reassurance that we put your health and safety as our top priority when you tour with us.

You will be collected from your accommodation, cruise ship or port of entry by luxury car. You can enjoy an optional tour of Belfast, taking in the Murals, the City Centre, the University Quarter and Titanic Quarter. Then we will follow the world famous Causeway Coastal Route, taking in the nine glens of Antrim and sea views across to Scotland (depending on the weather). You can marvel at the coastal scenery along the notorious Torr Head Scenic Route before your onward journey to Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge and then to the Giant's Causeway. On your return journey you can take in the waterfalls at Glenariff, the Queen of the nine Glens of Antrim, then continue by motorway back to Belfast.

A fully escorted day tour taking in the highlights of Belfast (optional), the beautiful Causeway Coastal Route, the stunning Nine Glens of Antrim and of course the Giant's Causeway, with a few surprise destinations off the beaten track. Join your luxury private car tour at your pick-up point and take a leisurely, insiders view of the vibrance of Belfast and the beauty of our Causeway Coastal Route. Stop off at some of our most spectacular sites and enjoy the very best of local cuisine along the way.

Itinerary

Take a tour of Belfast city (optional), featuring Belfast City Hall, the University Quarter, the home of the Titanic and the murals and peace walls of West Belfast.

Then join the wonderful Causeway Coastal Route, started in 1832 to connect Belfast to the coastal communities of the North East and completed in 1842. Gasp in amazement at the sea views, the stunning nine Glens of Antrim, beautiful coastal villages including Glenarm with its enchanting gothic castle, Carnlough with its tranquil limestone harbour and Ballycastle, where you can enjoy a seafood lunch of locally caught fish.

Journey further north where you can enjoy an amazing view of Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge from the cliff top promontory of Portareevy (Visit to the Bridge is an Option but Allow up to 3 Hours). A short time later we will arrive at the Giant's Causeway where you can take the cliff-top walk to truly appreciate this natural wonder, then visit the unique geometric stones themselves as they fall away into the Atlantic Ocean.