Visit Ireland Without A Passport

Right from the beginning, I should make it clear that this is not an endorsement to skip international boundaries without the relevant paperwork; rather, it is an endeavour to bring to your attention a much overlooked corner of The UK – Northern Ireland.

Northern Ireland is a jewel of a place; it has a rugged beauty, friendly people and a unique charm, going there is almost like stepping back 30 years into the past and remembering how England used to be – in more genteel times. Being part of the UK, no passport is needed and a short flight will see you safely landing at Belfast City Airport – a clean, modern and easy to traverse terminus.

A car can easily be hired from the rental desk in the exit lobby and collecting your vehicle is accomplished by walking 25 yards down the road from the airport building. As you leave Belfast you will go past the historic twin cranes of Harland and Wolfe, the shipbuilders that built the SS Titanic, and a tad further on, the majestic sight of Divis Mountain will be your farewell from the Belfast area.

Driving on now, through the heart of the province, we cross wild open moors interspersed by little else but the occasional distant croft, until we reach the town of Coleraine. Coleraine is a major university town straddling either side of the river Bann. Here we can halt for a well deserved meal and an impromptu tour of the town’s shops.

Onward though, along the coast road to Whiterocks Beach. Here the multiple hues of the azure sea offset the white sands that stretch out for miles. The coast is lined with limestone cliffs that over the centuries have been weathered into a magical labyrinth of arches, caves and headlands.

Old shipwrecks litter the waters around Whiterocks, testament to the maritime dangers that belie the areas’ natural beauty.

And now, an appointment with adventure at Carrick-a Rede island. To reach Carrick-a-Rede you must follow a cliff top path for about 20 minutes. From the path you can look down onto isolated coves and pristine beaches, accessible only to the seals that swim thereabouts or to the seabirds that the cliffs are home to.

At the end of the path is your goal, Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge, a very shaky 30m high rope and plank affair, which spans the 20m to Carrick Island. As you walk across the bridge, the entire structure undulates and a combination of this and the great height has caused many an intrepid tourist to turn back in fright. For those, however, that complete this exhilarating trial, a certificate of achievement is available at the exit.

I could take you onward, to ruined castles long abandoned and to traditional pubs with roaring fires, where locals improvise musical scores late into the night. The wonders of this magnificent land are without end. You have been regaled with only a minute taste of what is in store for visitors here, why not see for yourself, click here [http://www.superbreak.com/browse/location-NIR.htm] to take the first step of an unforgettable adventure – and unlike most journeys, should you forget your passport – no matter.

Phoenix University