Post-Conference Tours
There are four post-conference tours on Friday 26th July for which you can register. Spaces will be limited and fill on a first-come-first-served basis. Coaches will depart the main QUB Lanyon Building at 09:00 sharp. Please bring what you need for the day: water, snacks, appropriate clothing, sunscreen etc.
The Giant's Causeway and Antrim Coast Tour
The ancient Irish giant Finn McCool allegedly created this UNESCO World Heritage Site with its 10,000’s of query hexagonal basalt columns as a walkway across the sea to fight his rival in Scotland.
A unique experience and the most visited tourist attraction in Northern Ireland. Depart Belfast and travel along one of the top 5 scenic drives in the world, the Antrim Coastal Route. Tour highlights include Carrickfergus Castle, Carnlough Harbour, Carrick-A-Rede Rope Bridge viewpoint, The Dark Hedges, Giant's Causeway, Dunluce Castle and the Antrim Coast Road.
More about the Giant's Causeway
Rathlin Island
A large, rugged, spectacular 7km long offshore island home to a huge variety of easily viewed wildlife including breath-taking breeding seabird colonies with 100,000s of kittiwakes, fulmars, razorbills, guillemots and puffins.
Bring your binoculars and camera! There is an array of notable species on the island including many rarities (e.g. Arctic skua). Of particular interest is the ‘Golden hare’; a straw coloured morph of the Irish hare (Lepus timidus hibernicus) unique to the island. Hares are easily seen in the fields behind Church Bay. Journey time is 1.5 hours from Belfast before a 30-minute ferry ride. You will visit the RSPB West Light bird centre and have the opportunity to hear about the current project to eradicate feral ferrets and rats from the island to benefit biodiversity.
More about Rathlin Island
Mount Stewart
For those wanting a less taxing trip with shorter traveling times, this is a beautiful 18th century National Trust stately home and world-class gardens just 30 minutes by coach.
You may take a tour of the house and listen to the history of the Londonderry family and the house’s creation, or you may stroll in the stunning gardens and wider demesne estate with its arboretum and mature woodlands. There is a café and you are right next to Strangford Lough affording glittering views of the Mourne mountains in sunny weather.
More about Mount Stewart
Newgrange (Brú na Bóinne)
A 5,200 year old passage tomb located in the Boyne Valley located 1.5 hours south of Belfast by coach
This is site of a huge earth mound, neolithic passage and chambers align with the winter solstice with large stones and engraved megalithic art featuring the triple spiral design (triskelion) featured on the conference logo. You will get a tour of the site and view the visitors center.
More about Newgrange