48hrs IN DERRY~LONDONDERRY
48HRS IN DERRY~LONDONDERRY
In partnership with Discover NI
Last weekend we headed north west, for a two-night stay in Derry~Londonderry, with activities across the city and county.
We’ve been to Derry lots over the years - from quick daytrips on the train to overnighters when the city is PACKED for the Halloween festivities.
But on this trip, brilliantly organised by the team at Discover NI , we’d be ticking off a few things that’ve been on our NI bucket list for a while...
Tree Tops Adventure at The Jungle
First stop, The Jungle in Moneymore. We have been here twice before, but in the dark of night for their Fright Night Experience (you have to do it).
Arriving during the day was a whole other experience. The pic above is just one building on a massive site packed with so many activities - from camping and glamping, to paintballing and zorbing.
The Tree Tops Adventure sounded brilliant - until we got our harnesses on, walked into the VERY tall sprawling woods and suddenly had that feeling of “GULP”.
But it was brilliant. For an hour we tackled the wire and wood bridges that connected the trees, scaled ladders up to taller heights (double-gulp) and threw ourselves down ziplines and off ledges (triple-gulp).
There’s a longer session available too, if you’re brave enough to tackle the higher route. We’re gonna wait until we’ve forgotten how scary this intro session was….then book it again :)
Llama Trekking at The Jungle
A well-needed one-hour calming walk afterwards, with these super cute fluff monsters.
The noises they make are hilarious and do your best not to keep stroking the fur on their necks. We had Ant as our fellow trekker (there was another called Dec too) - turns out he was a bit of a hungry hippo, trying his best to stop at every tasty leafy tree that came within munching distance!
Along the way we got a chance to see a few of the other activities on-site - the glamping pods and BBQ houses looked great.
We sat and watched a group doing the Hawk Walk - definitely on our list for next time.
Lunch in Magherafelt
Another first for us - Slim’s Kitchen, for a quick takeaway lunch to munch in the car.
We’ve heard about Slim’s so many times before, from friends who regularly eat in their Belfast location - so we knew it would be good.
Avocado toast and a satay chicken rice box was devoured in no time. We’ll be back!
FOODIES LISTEN UP! From 3rd to 31st August 2020, you can get up to 50% off the cost of your meal at participating outlets, as part of the “Eat Out To Help Out” scheme.
Back to the trip…
A 50min drive via the epic Glenshane Pass and we were soon arriving at our hotel…
Bishop’s Gate Hotel, Derry~Londonderry
Aptly named, this nearly-brand-new hotel sits next to the Bishop’s Gate entrance through the Derry Walls. A great location and lots of personality inside the hotel - from the numerous dog-and judges portraits, to the super-friendly staff.
Turns out we had actually met the head concierge Micheál before, during his time at Belfast’s Merchant Hotel - we were in great hands.
Derry Girls Tour
Just 4 minutes walk from the hotel, we met another true gent - Garvin, our guide for the Derry Girls Tour of the city.
Meeting at the now-famous mural on Badger’s Bar…
…where there’s actually a rolled-ice cream stand called Dairy Girls! :) It’s just out of shot there on the left - we were meant to go back after and get one…next time!
The tour was great, covering famous Derry locations in the hit TV series (now being beamed around the world on Netflix), as well as locations of significance from the city’s past and present.
Back for Dinner at Bishop’s Gate Hotel
We’ll let the pics do the talking on this one. First time trying a tomahawk steak and those parmesan and breadcrumb courgettes…my word!
Look out for the “Good To Go” logo…
…it’s the official UK mark to signal that a tourism or hospitality business is following Government and industry COVID-19 guidelines, putting in place processes to maintain cleanliness and aid social distancing. Bishop’s Gate are on there, with many others.
Day 2 in Derry~Londonderry
Walking off another great feed at breakfast (we’ll do your hunger a favour and not post the pics of glorious french toast and a Full Irish breakfast) - it was lovely just aimlessly dandering the sunny Sunday morning streets.
…especially given we were on our way for a bit more exertion…
Stand Up Paddleboarding with Far & Wild Adventures
Whether “SUP” is something you’ve tried before or haven’t even heard of, gently paddling along the River Foyle under the famous Peace Bridge is something you have to experience.
The wind stayed calm and the swell low, so the expected exertion didn’t come in the end. Still a little bit of sweat as the sun came out though - so a change of clothes and sunblock is recommended! There are toilet/changing facilities at the marina, where we set off from.
Check out Far & Wild Adventures for more info. Michelle was a great guide with genuine enthusiasm for all things outdoors. She spoke our lingo!
Back on dry land and feeling fresh again, we headed over the Peace Bridge in the direction of Ebrington Square…
Lunch at The Walled City Brewery
Again, The Walled City Brewery is somewhere we’ve been numberous times and will keep going back.
Plenty of seats for sitting outside in the sun, as well as a nice, bright and airy layout inside.
Only a half-pint of “Stitch” IPA on this occasion, as we had another actvity ahead of us later on. We’ve tried a number of the unique (and brilliantly named) beers in the past though. A great way to learn your favourite craft beer tastes!
For food, the menu today was focussed around tapas and Sunday roasts. We went for the lighter option (again, great) - but it was hard not to have food envy as you watched the roasts on plates go past (served in massive Yorkshire puddings).
Boom Boarding with Far & Wild Adventures
After a few hours chilling outside in the sun at Ebrington Square, a ten minute walk took us into the middle of St Columbs Park, where we met with Darragh from Far & Wild Adventures.
^This pic is from later in the day heading back across the Peace Bridge
Boom Boarding is essentially skateboarding, but on a bigger board that allows beginners to get up and skating quickly.
Darragh took us through the basics, starting off on short, gentle hills for us to get used to balancing and turning on the board.
Moving on and trying longer, more steeper stretches, we eventually ended up on the banks of the Foyle again, before crossing the Peace Bridge to Guildhall Square.
A unique and fun way to see more of the city. Try it, even if you think you’ve no balance - you’ll be surprised.
Dinner at Soda & Starch
Soda & Starch has been on the list for at least a year. Each time we walk through the beaufiful Craft Village, a mental note is made for next time to sit down for food and drink in the square.
And with another sunset walk (get up to the walls, overlooking the Bogside for brilliant views) and a nightcap in the hotel’s Wig & Gown bar, our weekend in the north west came to an end.
(Well, after another peaceful night’s sleep, Full Irish and morning dander through the city with a coffee that is…)
See you soon, “Legenderry”
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EMBRACE A GIANT SPIRIT
Epic fun without the epic trek. If you’re seeking inspiration for your next trip, visit https://discovernorthernireland.com/ for more ideas on creating your local adventures this year!
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