Great Days Out for Groups - Discover Northern Ireland

This is your primary contact forbooking this visit or finding outmore informationThis description sums thevisit up in a nutshell!4Using this guideThis guide is packed with great ideasfor group day visits in Northern Ireland.Entries are arranged by location -Belfast and the six counties. The entriesare designed to be flexible and can beadapted depending on the size of yourgroup, your budget and how much timeyou have to spend. You should discussopportunities with the booking contactshighlighted. They will be very happyto advise you and help you make anyamendments to the suggested itinerary.All visits must be booked in advancethrough the booking contact highlightedas some tours involve special visits thatmay not be open to the general public.We recommend you book at least 2 – 3months in advance, but always checkavailability with the booking contact,just in case.In many instances admission chargesto visitor attractions and tours will apply,however groups may be eligible to receivespecial discounts. You should discusscosts and discounts available with thebooking contacts.Please note that some visitor attractionsmay operate reduced visiting hours or evenclose during the winter months. It is best tocheck details with the booking contacts.For additional information and more group day visit ideas, please visitdiscovernorthernireland.com/groupsSome visits include light refreshments orlunch, while others offer suggestions of anearby café or restaurant where you canpurchase refreshments. Please check whenmaking your booking and the symbols inthe ‘Your Day Out at a Glance’ section willillustrate if refreshments and/or lunch areincluded or available to purchase.Most of the tours and visits in this guideare based on the group travelling togetherby coach and in many instances a localguide will join the coach group on arrival.Those groups arriving by another formof transport should check at the timeof booking to see whether alternativearrangements can be facilitated.This guide also looks at practicalinformation; such as booking a coach,using a registered guide, and makingthe most of our pubs and hotels duringa group outing.Extra copies of this guide are availablewhile stocks last, telephone 028 9044 1506to order a copy.GARDEns • CULTURE • LITERATURE • LOCAL HISTORY • MYTHS & LEGENDS • HERITAGE • CHRISTIAN HERITAGE • CREATIVE • NATURE • ACTIVE64Historic Country EstatesOf AntrimVisit two of the most fascinating historic estates in County Antrim, Leslie Hill Estate andBenvarden Estate and Gardens, including a very special VIP tour of Benvarden House,still occupied by the Montgomery family.Begin your tour at Leslie Hill Estate 1, outside Ballymoney. The layout of the estate,with its grassland, woodland and lakes, has barely altered in the last 230 years and hasbeen carefully conserved by the Leslie family. Enjoy tea or coffee in the Tea Room beforeexperiencing a bygone age wandering through the Georgian farmyard among farmmachines, carriages and carts. You’ll also meet many domestic animals.Next is the historic Benvarden Estate and Gardens 2 in Dervock. Built in the 1630s andowned by the Montgomery family since 1798, these magnificent privately owned gardens –voted ‘Best Garden in Ireland’ in 2009 - have been maintained to exceptional standards.Explore the delightful two-acre Walled Garden and its beautiful rose beds, an extensivekitchen garden and the Woodland Pond, which is a setting for a wonderful wild garden.The river, which runs through the estate, is spanned by a Victorian iron bridge built by theMontgomery family. You can also enjoy a display of old farm and garden implements. Yourvisit concludes with a VIP tour of the Montgomery private home, a very special chance tovisit a historic home still occupied by the family.TO BOOK CONTACTMr Montgomery, Benvarden GardenT: (028) 2074 1331 E: info@benvarden.comVIsIT ConTACTs1BENVaRDEN GaRDEN36 Benvarden Road,Dervock, Co. antrim.(028) 2074 13312LEsLIE HILL EsTaTEMacfin Road, Ballymoney,Co. antrim, BT53 6QL.(028) 2766 6803WHILE YOU’RE IN THE AREAEating out - The Royal Court Hotel; The Nook at the Giant’s Causeway; Bushmills Inn.Retail therapy - Junction One International Outlet shopping Centre.Extending your visit - Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge; Bushmills Distillery; The Giant’s Causeway.For additional information and more group day visit ideas, please visitdiscovernorthernireland.com/groupsAdditional suggestions and further information,addresses and contact details for places mentionedin the ‘while you’re in the area’ section can befound on www.discovernorthernireland.com .Alternatively ask your booking contact for moreinformation.The visit themes arehighlighted to let you knowwhat type of experiencesto expect.YOUR DAY OUTAT A GLAnCE6-7HOURSAddresses and contact detailsof each venue visited are listedin the Visit ContactsBEnVARDEn GARDEnFeatures of the visit are indicatedby symbols. You will find a key tothe symbols at the beginning ofeach county section.