A beautiful UK train journey has captured the attention of travellers after they realised it was arguably one of the country’s best – and you can ride it for just £9. The scenic voyage takes passengers from the Northern Irish capital of Belfast all the way to the vibrant city of Derry.
Along the way, Brits can expect to enjoy some seriously beautiful countryside, with coastal trails overlooking beaches and rustic farmland. The two-hour trip whizzes past Coleraine before things start to get even more beautiful as the train nips past the coast and Lough Foyle.
Soon, you’ll be trundling past the gorgeous Downhill Beach, where the golden sands and expressive ocean glimmer in your sunglasses. Among the sights will also be some dramatic cliffs upon which the domed Mussenden temple sits precariously close to the edge and exudes charm.
After this there is some quaint farmland before more archaic cliffs where you’ll see cute little wintering geese and whooper swans waddling around the shores of the lough. After a couple of hours of pure Northern Irish charm, you’ll pull into the bustling city of Derry.
Home of the much-loved BBC sitcom Derry Girls, the city is surrounded by historic 400-year-old walls and there are stunning cafes and museums to visit. It is the only entirely walled city on the island of Ireland, and the Museum of Free Derry is a short walk from it.
The museum houses a multi-media exhibition that tells the story of the civil rights movement and the creation of Free Derry in the 1960s and 1970s. The museum is so good that it was awarded Northern Ireland’s most authentic visitor experience in 2018 by Tourism Northern Ireland.
Meanwhile, Derry is home to some brilliant festivals – not least The City of Derry Jazz Festival, which returns on May 2 this year for five days. It is Northern Ireland’s biggest and best jazz festival and is a serious part of the city’s cultural fabric.
Source: express.co.uk