Ballymena means middle town and Marlagh Lodge is indeed situated right at the centre of Northern Ireland!

Northern Ireland is full of wonderful things to explore, from legend-filled caves to mountains, bracing sea cliffs to exquisite historic houses; and the beauty is that most things can be reached and driven back from in time for dinner!

The North Antrim Coast with its lovely coastal drives and walks, quaint fishing villages, the world’s oldest licensed whiskey distillery and of course, the famous Giant’s Causeway, is a must. Marlagh Lodge is within less than an hour of the coast, and we do know of one or two unspoilt, less well known spots which would be perfect for a picnic or just some peace and quiet.

You might like to get there via the Antrim Glens, a series of nine magnificent Glens which sweep down to the coast. There are forest walks leading to chalky cliffs which afford panoramic views stretching, on a good day, right to the Mull of Kintyre on the Scottish coast. Glenariff, known as the ‘Queen of the Glens’, is particularly popular and its waterfalls, especially Ess na Larach which is the largest and most impressive, are well worth the effort to see.

Belfast is a beautiful city. Above the usual high-street shops, Georgian and Victorian architecture abounds. The most impressive building is the 300ft long, copper-domed confection of City Hall. Finished at the beginning of the 20th Century, it dominates Donegall Square and can be seen from the far end of the main shopping street, Royal Avenue. The marble interior is breathtaking, and it is well worth exploring. St Anne’s Cathedral, begun in 1899, has particularly beautiful gold mosaic work in the Baptistry. There are plans to erect a new spire which will be visible from all over the city. The Linen Hall Library, established in 1788, is the last subscribing library in Ireland and has wonderful interiors. Also worth exploring are the Ulster Museum, Botanic Gardens with its fantastic glass Palm House and tropical ravine, Cave Hill and the parliament buildings at Stormont.

The National Trust owns several impressive properties in the Province. Our favourites include two that may easily be visited in one day. Mountstewart, near Newtownards is a wonderful house with fabulous gardens. As well as being full of unusual plants, the gardens at Mountstewart are home to an unusual menagerie of stone animals, each said to represent various politicians and others who visited the house in the 1920s when the terraces were being designed by Edith, Lady Londonderry. There is also an impressive topiary collection and we can recommend the newly renovated coffee shop!

A drive round the coast and a short ferry ride across Strangford Lough will take you to Castleward, a fascinating late 18th Century house in Strangford. It is unusual because half is in the Palladian style favoured by the first Lord Bangor and half is in the Strawberry Hill Gothic style popular at the time, insisted upon by his wife, Anne! It is home to Northern Ireland’s only opera company whose annual performances (during May/June) make a splendidly fun evening out. The interval lasts for an hour, during which one may either bring a picnic to eat in the grounds or eat in the marquee - a rather more civilised alternative given Northern Ireland’s often unpredictable weather! It is not unusual, however, for the second half of the opera to be accompanied by satisfied snores coming from the back rows of the audience!

County Fermanagh is home to two of the Trust’s most beautiful properties. Castle Coole near Enniskillen is regarded by some as the finest neo-Classical house in Ireland; within a few miles is Florence Court, former seat of the Earls of Enniskillen, built in the mid 18th Century. Another short drive will take you to the fascinating Marble Arch Caves which are well worth a visit - the underground tour goes right into the heart of the cave system, and a boat trip takes you across the lower lakes.

For the sporting-minded, there are a number of activities we can arrange. For golfers, there are a number of local courses, or you may wish to travel to the famous Royal Portrush Club. We are also happy to arrange fishing, horse riding, sailing, windsurfing, parascending and most other things you can think of!