Nestled in the north-west corner of Ireland, the city of Derry-Londonderry (Northern Ireland) and the county of Donegal (Republic of Ireland) sit snugly side by side. Taken together, this pair have every ingredient you could want from a short break: a dollop of history, a splash of culture and immeasurable quantities of nature and adventure. Better yet, it’s a combination that few have yet to put together.
Often referred to as ‘The Walled City’, Derry-Londonderry takes its nickname from the 400-year-old fortifications that surround its historic centre. Its still-intact walls were built during the Plantation of Ulster, the early-17th-century colonisation of Ireland under King James I, which saw native landowners supplanted by English and Scottish settlers. Although the city was established centuries earlier, this era marked the beginning of a complex history, the impact of which is still being felt across the region and beyond. Even today it is evident not only in the city’s architecture and museums, but the stories of ordinary local people.
Although heritage remains at the heart of Derry-Londonderry, there is a sense that it is looking towards a bright future. The symbolic Peace Bridge, opened in 2011, contrasts starkly with the city’s 17th-century old town and connects to the fast-developing waterside, now filled with modern eateries and the bones of a highly anticipated maritime museum, due to open in 2024. As a former (and first ever!) UK City of Culture, its calendar is likewise packed: summer welcomes the return of the Maritime Festival; October anticipates the arrival of thousands of visitors for one of the biggest Halloween celebrations in Europe; and throughout the year, Irish traditional music pours out of local pubs and creates an irresistible lure for passers-by.
After rattling through the city highlights, it’s time for a change of pace. The town’s border location makes it an easy access point for Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way, a 2,600km driving route that fords a scenic path between the northern and southern coasts. After a short journey, you’ll find yourself on the Inishowen Peninsula, the rugged tip of County Donegal and a coastline shaped by the elements across millions of years. With fine views at every turn, expect to be transfixed by golden-sand beaches, fortress ruins and endless quaint villages.
A car is essential for reaching the county’s remote corners, but Donegal is all about slowing down and embracing Ireland in miniature. There’s dozens of hiking trails along its wild clifftops and hills, so don’t forget your walking boots; and if conditions are right, exploring the Atlantic’s wildlife-rich waters by kayak or boat offers a great way to get closer to nature. Whatever adventure
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Fancy sleeping in a see-through dome? Built for two, Finn Lough’s bubbles are set in private woodland and come with double beds and rolltop baths. All of which makes them perfect for stargazing or just relaxing in — particularly with the rain pinging off their transparent shells. An on-site spa adds a Finnish sauna, hot tubs and float room, and The Barn serves small plates that go big on local flavours.
Demand for travel is high and rates are even higher – an average of $1,600 per night for hotel bookings during 2023/24 festive season. Happy (but stressed) travel advisors and suppliers are delighted to see you swarming back, often in record numbers. The only challenge is meeting your expectations, something that has never been more difficult. Fifty-seven percent of you say, “Creating a travel experience that best fits my expectations is more important than price.” Making sure you have a bon voyage these days takes more time and creativity, even if it’s often hidden behind those smiles. Welcome to the post-Covid travel industry.
My Instagram feed is full of couples getting engaged at swoon-worthy spots across the globe, from Rome's Trevi Fountain to candlelit beaches in Mexico.
As a seasoned travel and adventure writer who has soared solo all over the planet, I’ve learned a few things about what makes a journey truly extraordinary. It’s a bit like entering into a social experiment over and over. What will it be like if I join X group in X country doing X activity with X assemblages of people? Flip it, change it—what’s it like now? What I’ve gleaned is that the perspective, confidence, and positivity of individuals matters; attitudes—good or bad—are contagious; experiences aren’t nearly as meaningful unless they’re shared; and a guide who sets the tone for the group of strangers with enthusiasm, encouragement, and inclusiveness is everything.
It has the country pubs, antique shops and honey-hued market towns of the Cotswolds, and the chilled, waterside vibe of the Lake District, and yet many haven’t heard of it. Rutland, England’s smallest county, takes its Latin motto to heart: multum in parvo, much in little. Midway between Cambridge and Nottingham in the East Midlands, with the 3,100-acre inland sea of Rutland Water at its heart, it’s a place that feels made for a restorative weekend break — and with countryside bolthole The Barnsdale getting a recent makeover, there’s never been a better time to go.
All travel is by definition quixotic — the most seasoned globetrotters can be led on wild goose chases, deceived, and/or just plain make huge mistakes all by themselves about what's around that next corner. Trekking up to the Scottish highlands to look for "Nessie," aka, the Loch Ness "monster," allegedly "sighted" — perhaps even several times — a half-century ago in the Highlands' breathtakingly gorgeous 23-mile-long freshwater lake just south of Inverness, is an epic, decades-long wild goose chase.
Landscapes as green and lovely as everyone says. Literary giants in Dublin; Titanic history in Belfast. A pint and good craic in a traditional pub. The lure of Celtic legends.
Smaller than Wales, Belgium’s southern, mainly French-speaking region may be compact but packs a diverse punch. Wallonia is a jewel of a destination that sparkles with centuries of history, architectural splendour, glorious nature, fascinating culture, wonderful gastronomy and beautiful cities, towns and villages.
Northern Ireland's second city and Ireland's northern-most county sit rather snug together in the corner of the island of Ireland. But many are yet to discover the two make a fantastic combination for a twin break. Blending thought-provoking history, striking landmarks and an incredible natural world, Derry~Londonderry and County Donegal's Inishowen Peninsula offer everything you could wish for in a short, action-packed getaway.
Strapped to a dramatic stretches of coastline, Northern Ireland’s Causeway Coastal Route is a wind-battered swirl of churning seas, shattered cliffs, expansive grasslands and long-abandoned castles. Follow it in any direction, and you’ll soon come to appreciate how this landscape became so closely associated with tales of warriors and giants. Home to many of the country’s most iconic and spectacular sites, including the jagged outcrop of basalt known as the Giant’s Causeway, this endlessly surprising route offers drivers more majesty per mile than almost anywhere else in Europe.
Enter the Hallmark Channel “Summer Nights” sweepstakes by August 29, 2016, for a chance to win one of two grand prizes: 1) a seven-day Virgin Islands cruise for two, including air and hotel before and after the cruise; 2) or a four-night trip to Victoria Island, British Columbia, to visit the set of “Chesapeake Shores,” including air, transfers, and hotel.