A lazy start to the morning, the park up was perfect quiet all night and exclent views.

The first stop was a 4000BC earthworks with standing stones in the center.

This whole valley, a 10-minute drive from Belfast Centre, was tranquil and full of surprises.

There was a walled garden at the top of one of the hills used by an architect who built bits of Belfast to host garden parties in the 30s.

From here, we descended into the valley and found a small museum dedicated to the navigation of the river from Bristol in Lough Neagh

The volunteers were excellent we had a tour of the barge that had been restored with a history of the inland waterways of Ireland and a tour of the lock keepers cottage.

A short drive and we are at Belfast Castle owned by the city it is more a stately home.

The garden is a Cat garden there were 9 cats hidden in the garden

The flowers were good too

Behind Belfast Castle the hill rises steeply we walked up to Cave Hill Cave and McArt’s fort.

Now for a proper Castle

This is in Carrickfergus the castle dates from the 13 century.

For dinner we popped inland to see Glenoe Waterfall.

And back to Carrickfergus a night by the marina.