Game of Thrones & Ireland's Movies: Self Drive

Upon arrival at Dublin Airport you will pick up your car rental and drive to the city centre and explore the city. The North Side of the city offers striking monuments such as the GPO (General Post Office) on O'Connell Street and the Phoenix Park, the largest public park in Europe. The city's south side appears more sophisticated with its vast Georgian squares and is home to Trinity College, Dublin Castle and two Anglican Cathedrals. If you have time, you can enjoy a visit to the Guinness Storehouse. Overnight in Dublin (Maldron Hotel Newlands Cross or similar).

This morning you will depart Dublin and drive northwards. Your first stop will be to visit Trim Castle which was used to film the York and London scenes for Braveheart. Next you will visit the nearby Bru na Boinne and Newgrange. The archaeological landscape within Bru na Boinne is dominated by the three well known large passage tombs, Knowth, Newgrange and Dowth, built some 5,000 years ago in the Neolithic or Late Stone Age. Travelling North, head for Downpatrick, burial ground of Saint Patrick, the Patron Saint of Ireland and visit Castle Ward, to visit some of the set of Game of Thrones, series one. Continue on to Belfast for the night (Ramada Encore Belfast or similar).

This morning you can enjoy a panoramic tour Belfast City. See some of the landmark sites such as City Hall and Queens University. Why not visit The Titanic Belfast Experience; a dramatic, innovative and exciting presentation of the real story of the Titanic?! This state-of-the-art exhibition takes visitors on a journey through the life of the Titanic, from her conception in Belfast in the early 1900s, to her famous maiden voyage and tragic end. In the afternoon you will drive from Belfast to the northeast shores of Lough Neagh and Shane's Castle. Built in 1345 by a member of the royal house of O'Neill, the castle ruins and its 2600-acre demesne near Randalstown was the scene of extensive filming for the Game of Thrones series. Outside the village of Ballygally lies Cairncastle the location for many other scenes from Game of Thrones. Cairncastle has its own tale of the nobleman supposedly drowned along the coastline in 1588 as part of the ill-fated Spanish Armada. Return to Belfast for the night (Days Hotel or similar).

This morning you will leave Belfast and drive towards the picturesque town of Glenarm on the north Antrim coastline the setting of many Game of Thrones scenes. Time permitting, you should pay a visit to Steensons Jewellers in the village, producer of many of the jewels featured in the hit TV Series. Continue driving along the Antrim coastline enjoying the spectacular views, rolling hills and scenic villages. Next stop is a visit Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge. One of Northern Ireland's most famous landmarks, the bridge is suspended across a 20m chasm between the mainland and the tiny Carrick Island, with a 23m drop to the water below. Overnight in the Ballycastle or Bushmills area (Bushmills Inn or similar).

No visit to the north of Ireland would be complete without calling in to the Giants Causeway which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Made up of a network of approximately 40,000 basalt columns projecting into the ocean, the Giant's Causeway forms several miles of Northern Ireland's Causeway Coastal route. Later visit Bushmills Distillery - one of the world's oldest distilleries. Overnight in the Derry area (Maldron Hotel or similar).

This morning you should enjoy a walking tour of the walled city of Derry. Leaving Derry you will drive to Donegal, where you can visit Glenveagh National Park and Glenveagh Castle. Situated in the Northwest of Co. Donegal, Glenveagh encompasses some 16,000 hectares in the heart of the Derryveagh Mountains. Drive by the nearby Glenties, where Brian Friel's play "Dancing at Lughnasa" was filmed. Overnight in the Donegal area (Mill Park Hotel or similar).

This morning commence your return drive to Dublin. Travelling south through the Fermanagh Lake District, visit Castle Coole, a magnificent 18th century mansion and landscape park. Castle Coole is one of Ireland's finest Neo-classical houses, allowing visitors to glimpse what life was like in the home of the Earls of Belmore. Next you should visit nearby Marble Arch Caves, one of Europe's finest show-caves with a fascinating natural underworld of rivers, waterfalls, winding passages and lofty chambers. Lively and informative guides conduct tours past a bewildering variety of cave formations - stalactites glisten above streamways and chambers while fragile mineral veils and cascades of creamy calcite coat walls and spread as shimmering terraces across rock strewn floors. Overnight in Dublin (Maldron Hotel Newlands Cross or similar).

It's time to say goodbye! After breakfast you will drive back to Dublin Airport and return your car rental.