DAY TRIP 2 - Coleraine & Londonderry

This week we planned a trip to Coleraine and Londonderry continuing our quest to explore the North West.

> Coleraine

We arrived at Great Victoria Street Station, Belfast, to catch the train to Coleraine and Londonderry using our Translink Family Day ticket* which allowed us unlimited travel for just £18.50.  I wanted to go to Coleraine as I had heard it was great for shopping. After breakfast and a spot of retail therapy, we boarded our train to the historic Walled City. Unlike the road, the railway runs parallel with the Causeway Coast and as we emerged through the tunnel at Castlerock we were excited to see the phenomenal view of Downhill Beach -  something you would never see in the car.

> The Walled City of Derry

As this was our first ever visit to Derry we consulted the Translink and NITB website (www.translink.com and www.discovernorthernireland.com) to check out where to start. We were all really looking forward to seeing what Derry has to offer so we headed straight for the Tower Museum. Showing our Translink Family Ticket we were able to get 2 for 1 entry which was great value considering we spent two hours there, looking around the two permanent exhibitions. The Story of Derry exhibition tells of the City’s history from monastic times, Plantation, Siege of Derry, through to the 18th and 19th centuries. The second exhibition, The Armada Shipwreck - La Trinidad Valencera, tells of one of the largest ships in the Armada Fleet that foundered in Kinnagoe Bay in Co. Donegal during a violent storm.
From the Tower Museum we walked around the City Walls which were built from 1613 – 1618 under a Royal Charter of King James I, to control the local rebels. A staggering 1.5km in circumference they varied in width between12 and 35 feet!
We made our way to the oldest bar in Derry, The River Inn & Cellars. The River Inn has been located on the boundary of the historic city walls since before the Great Siege of the 17th century and open to the thirsty public since 1864. The atmosphere was very cosy and after our walk round the walls the traditional pub grub was welcomed by all – it cost just £30 in total for the five of us to have a good lunch.
We were pretty tired after a full day of exploring so the smooth train journey home gave us the chance to sit back and relax.

Opening Hours - Tower Museum:
Tuesday to Saturday from 10am to 5pm
Entry Fee – Adult £4, child £2, £9 (family - 2 adults & 3 children)

Official guided tour of the walls of Derry - Adult £3, child £1.
Call (028) 7134 7176 for further information or check out www.derrywalls.com

Kids Say:

“Mum definitely enjoyed Coleraine the most because of all the shops. The Tower Museum was really interesting and I think mum and dad were happy that we were enjoying something educational! We had a walk about the City Walls and pretended to shoot from the cannons. We also enjoyed getting the train as we all got the chance to have a good look at the map and see exactly where we were going.”

Getting there

For information on train and bus route schedules log on to www.translink.co.uk.