Antrim County Hotels

Extreme is the word when it comes to walking and if you like climbing rocks try getting to the top of Fair Head – 100 metres of cragginess to the top. The crashing Atlantic waves make for great surfing too.

One of the area’s most enduring attractions has to be the surreal masterpiece that is the Giant’s Causeway, a spectacular rock formation consisting of 40,000 basalt columns rising out of the sea. It’s Ireland’s only UNESCO World Heritage site and popular mythology says the Causeway was built by an Irish giant named Fionn mac Cumhail. Close by you can tentatively make your way along Carrick–a –Rede rope bridge. Once you have accomplished these more or less compulsory visits you can relax and head for quieter waters, or rather villages.

Antrim County’s Top 10

Antrim County Events

The Old Lammas Fair in August is County Antrim’s oldest traditional market fair with street entertainment and stalls selling local delicacies like Dulse, a tasty edible seaweed (?!)

Belfast Pride takes over town in July/August so get ready to party, at this colourful County Antrim event which celebrates diversity.

If you’re in the mood for some medieval festivities head for the County Antrim Lughnasa Fair in July with costumed re-enactments, and all round merry-making.

The Ballyclare May Fair is a traditional County Antrim event dating back to 1756 and still going strong.

If it’s September in County Antrim then it must be time for the Gig’n the Bann, a fun-filled festival of traditional Irish music, song and dance on the banks of the River Bann.

The Titanic Maritime Festival in June is County Antrim’s three day extravaganza of nautical fun with aerobatic displays, street theatre, food stalls and live music.

Celebrate the traditional way at County Antrim’s May Day Fair with arts and crafts, food and drink galore and a good old-fashioned dance around the Maypole.

The Great Northern Irish Beer and Cider Festival takes place in July for drinks, bands and the best ‘craic’ in County Antrim.

County Antrim’s Carricfergus Pagent Weekend in June is a colourful celebration with arts, crafts and a spectacular firework display.

When to Go

· Ireland is pretty well known for its often cool and wet climate which is why Northern Ireland has been particularly suited for peat bog formation. That said, the weather is generally mild – its temperate oceanic climate giving rise to only slight fluctuations in temperature.

· Mean daily winter temperatures vary from around 4°C to 7°C and mean summer temps vary from 12°C to 18°C. Frost is not uncommon during the months of December and January and summers can get far hotter than the above-mentioned averages.

· The weather in County Antrim is unpredictable so best to pack for all types of weather including rain.

Getting There

· Northern Ireland’s main airport, Belfast International Airport is located at Aldergrove, County Antrim and has regular flights to the UK, Europe and North America. County Antrim is also served by George Best Belfast City Airport which is a mile east of Belfast’s centre.

· The main railway lines run between Belfast, Antrim and Londonderry.

· County Antrim is home to Northern Ireland’s two main ports, Larne and Belfast, with sailings from Larne to Troon in Scotland and Fleetwood in England.