Belfast Castle: Day 2 – Ireland 2014

This page contains affiliate links, and we may receive compensation if you click on a link. You can read our full advertising disclosure here.

After having breakfast at the hotel, we stepped out under overcast skies and began walking to Belfast Castle. Our roughly 3.5-mile walk from the hotel to the castle was pleasant enough. There were tons of cathedrals and churches to take in and it was a great way to immerse ourselves in the city. The main road that we walked was rather busy, but as soon as we turned off onto the road to the castle, it was like a whole other world. It was almost instantly quiet, but for the birds and the sound of running water coming from a nearby creek.

The winding road up to the castle was serene and lush. There were a few benches dotted along the drive, and we quickly took advantage. It was one of those moments where we couldn’t believe where we were. Fancy that, taking a break from our walk, sitting at the heels of Belfast Castle!

Belfast Castle

Once we made it up the hill of the drive, Belfast Castle greeted us through the gate. The Scottish Baronial-style castle is built out of sandstone and is perched partway up Cave Hill, about 400 feet above sea level. The current castle was finished in 1870, with pieces like the back staircase added on in subsequent years.

A fun part of the grounds includes a garden where there are several cats hidden throughout. We enjoyed our hunt to find them all when we first arrived. After strolling through the garden, we took in the rest of the grounds. Instantly, I fell in love with the back staircase because, seriously, it’s gorgeous. Quite understandably, it is now a popular spot for wedding portraits. We sat for a bit in the garden and took in the lovely views before moving on.

We didn’t really know what to expect when we visited since it was on somewhat of a whim that we had decided to check it out, so we tentatively went inside and looked around. No one told us to get out, so we assumed it was ok to do so. The inside of the castle was lovely and we took our time poking around through the rooms that we were able to see. Eventually, we found our way down to the Cellar Restaurant.

We decided to go ahead and eat lunch, which was delicious. While eating, our waitress asked if we were going to trek up Cave Hill. We didn’t know that was an option, so she happily filled us in on where to start and a bit of the history. It turns out that Cave Hill is quite the place.

Cave Hill

Cave Hill has a long history and is a prominent piece of Belfast. The hike up to the top isn’t too strenuous and we thoroughly enjoyed it. The trail wasn’t very crowded, although we did see quite a few school kids, maybe high school or middle school age. It was refreshing to see them taking in the trails on their own. There was a teacher stationed every so often on the trail where the students had to check-in, but for the most part, they were left to enjoy it on their own and with their friends. Here in the States, I doubt this would ever have been an option. It was nice to see the kids out and about, enjoying nature.

Speaking of nature, we were getting a lovely dose of it! It was misty all morning, but the closer we got to the top, the more it started to rain. We’ve heard that you can see the coast of Scotland from Cave Hill on a clear day, but for us, we couldn’t even see all of Belfast! The fog had really set in, and I must admit, I loved every second. We were cold and wet and in absolute paradise.

McArt’s Fort

If memory serves correctly, McArt’s Fort is pretty much the tippy top of Cave Hill. It is the remnants of an old ring fort and a decent-sized one at that. We took it in just as the rain was starting in earnest. We stayed for a while, walking the edges of the fort and taking in the views. Even through the fog, it was incredible to look down on Belfast and the surrounding area.

Visiting Belfast Castle Today

From looking at the Cave Hill website, it seems that there is much more to do today at Belfast Castle and Cave Hill than when we visited. Listed as activities, you can spend the day enjoying an adventure playground, archaeological sites, gardens, an eco-trail, orienteering routes, food and drink at Belfast Castle, and of course, plenty of walking trails.

Day 2, Coming To A Close

We rambled our way over the countryside, back down to Belfast Castle, and then into the city streets and to our hotel. In all, we clocked in 13.5 miles of walking for the day. By the time we got back to the hotel, we were ready for a hot shower and a hot meal. When we got down to the dining area, we were pleased to find nine others from our group already sitting down to eat. We joined in and got down to meeting everyone, most of which have become incredibly close friends over the years. With Day 2 finished, the reunion was about to begin.
Cheers,
Lydia and Billy