Collaborative post. Northern Ireland is filled with history and breath-taking views and as a result, apopular place to visit. Visitors are often drawn to the cliffs where Game of Thrones was filmed, or head to the city of Belfast to explore Irish culture. Northern Ireland’s smaller villages foster a close-knit community and look after their own. Enjoy the charismatic accent and spend your holiday learning about Irish culture. One way to enjoy all it has to offer is to book a unique experience through Northern Ireland and make some new friends along the way. A group tour can be a fantastic way to share your travelling experiences with others and try new things. They have numerous hotels there. Don’t forget, if you’re travelling via campervan, make sure you take out campervan insurance, Here are the best castles to visit in Northern Ireland for history buffs and culture lovers alike.
Image credit: Unsplash – K. Mitch Hodge
The Best Castles to See in Northern Ireland
Castle Coole
Head to this 18th Century mansion and landscape park built by the first Earl of Belmore. You can spend the day revelling in the grandeur of this destination and learn about one of Ireland’s most impressive Neo-classical homes. As you walk around, you can get a sense of what life was like for the early Earls of Belmore and the type of home they lived in. You can also hear about the people who lived below the stairs and kept the home functioning. The servants’ rooms and service quarters are also magnificent.
Glenarm Castle
If you fancy a Land Rover experience, this is the Irish castle for you. Check out the 17th Century Glenarm Castle, which is still a private family home for Viscount and Viscountess Dunluce’s family. They enjoy having visitors explore the castle on guided tours throughout the year. However, bear in mind that these tours are only open on specific dates of the year.
You can visit the drawing-room, dining room, ‘Blue Room’ and of course the grand hall. The Walled Garden is also a favourite among visitors and features a plethora of wildlife and plants. Embark on the Mini Land Rover Experience and let your kids take over the driving on an off-road adventure course.
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Image credit: Unsplash – K. Mitch Hodge
Dunluce Castle
Dunluce can only be accessed via a bridge from the mainland. This medieval castle is located on a rock next to the sea and still has a strong fortress. It has multiple historical and archaeological features to view and was built by the second Earl of Ulster in the 13th Century. The castle was supposedly the inspiration behind C.S. Lewis’s Castle in The Chronicles of Narnia.
Shane’s Castle
For all those Game of Thrones fans, you can visit Shane’s Castle which featured in the hit series. This medieval castle was used in Game of Thrones for Pyke Castle of House Greyjoy. It was built-in 1345. A fire hit the castle in 1816 and left the structure in ruins – except for the arched room and surrounding grounds.
Northern Ireland is full of beautiful castles to explore surrounded by amazing scenery. Have you ever visited Northern Ireland before?
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I love castles and often try to visit one when we do get the chance. I do hope to visit Northern Ireland with my family one day so this list will come in handy, bookmarking it in the mean time
We love exploring places like this. Bonus if they were used in the Game of Thrones!
Ha, yes. That certainly is a bonus. They’re so picturesque.
So cool. I love history and castles, so I need to get here for sure. I just love Ireland.
So many people have this on their bucket list. Who doesn’t love exploring castles!
We are hoping to visit Northern Ireland in the not too distant future so will definitely have to visit some!
Northern Ireland is so beautiful and there are so many beautiful castles to see. I am yet to visit any but would love to in the future.
I really do hope you get to go someday x
I would love to visit Northern Ireland, and visit these castles.
That would be amazing wouldn’t it. Ireland is such a lovely place.
I need to add Ireland to our bucket list. I have always loved castles and would love to tour a few. Oh, and neo-classical is a style I love.
It’s perfect to add to your bucket list. Enjoy your trip when you go.
Ah! Ireland is so lovely. We traveled around to see castles, and they are all so unique and fabulous to visit.
It must be amazing to see them. I’d love to take the kids.
I have always wanted to visit a castle. These look so awesome to visit.
They would be amazing to visit!
Thanks for the list. I really don’t have any idea where to go if I ever visit Ireland.
There are plenty of great places to see there.
I am desperate to visit northern island with my dogs. This is a post I loved reading and will keep for when I eventually make it!
I hope you get to go sometime soon. Hopefully when the weather improves though.
I’m a fan of Game of Thrones, it would be great to visit the Shane Castle.
It sure would. I know I’d love to go see it.
I have never been to Ireland, and it is somewhere we do want to explore, especially as my husband ancestory is from Ireland. We have a friend who is Irish and planning to go exploring there with them at some stage
That sounds like fun. I hope you guys have a wonderful time.
Northern Ireland looks like a lovely place to visit and I had no idea there was a few castles up there too.
It’s great isn’t it. Nice to see something different.
These are all such enchanting castles, they look straight out of a fairy tale.
They can be really pretty.
Those are so beautiful. I’d love to see those someday too. I love visiting castles.
They really are. It’s lovely so go on an adventure and see these, the scenery can be so pretty.
I’m so interested to see old castles. I’ll definitely enjoy exploring these castles when I visit Northern Ireland someday.
Me too, there are quite a few to see.
Wow this is amazing!! such wonderful scenery!! thanks for sharing this so lovely.
It is so lovely and green there. Such a beautiful place to visit.
Northern Ireland has so many hidden gems to go and discover and such history. These sound like some incredible castles.
It sure does have some hidden gems. It’s an amazing place to go visit.
These are absolutely breathtaking. I would really love to see these.
Ireland is a gorgeous place to visit.
We love adventures and exploring new places and Northern Ireland is somewhere I’ve wanted to travel for a very long time
I can’t wait to go on my next adventure.
Ireland is just a breathtaking place and I would love to visit one day! It seems so peaceful and magical all at once.
It is such a beautiful place and popular to visit.
We are planning visiting Northern Ireland for years! Castles are for a must!
I’m sure you’ll have an amazing time when you get to go.
Castles are so amazing – and it’s wonderful to walk around the grounds! Thank you so much for sharing these sites.
It is great to see the grounds, they can be so pretty.
I’ve been to Northern Ireland a few times before but never to see any of the castles. There was so much to explore I’d love to go back one day x
It’s a beautiful place to explore with plenty to visit.
I loved visiting Ireland but we still have to visit Northern Ireland, it looks like there is a lot to see and do.
There sure is. It’s such a beautiful place to visit.
Ireland looks like such a beautiful place to visit. It would be fun to design a tour around visiting castles!
It sure would, there are plenty to see.
I love this kind of thing. I hope I’ll get to see some of these one day.
It would make a great little adventure.
It would be so neat to check out different castles in Ireland. This would be a fun tour!