Northern Highlights Full-day Guided Tour In Northern Ireland

AVOID AVOID AVOID My wife and I booked a tour of Northern Ireland after docking in Belfast on a cruise, expecting a professional and enjoyable experience. Unfortunately, it quickly turned into a complete disaster. About an hour into the tour, we were stopped by law enforcement officers and informed that the driver, Fergal, was operating illegally and that his so-called "luxury vehicle" was also not legally compliant. This was incredibly embarrassing, stressful, and completely ruined what should have been a memorable day. To make matters worse, we were forced to abandon the tour and arrange alternative transport. We were placed in a local taxi to continue our sightseeing and had to pay for the tour again out of our own pocket. The biggest shock came when we discovered that using a local taxi for the same itinerary was approximately $500 cheaper than the tour we had originally booked. No visitor should have to endure the experience we went through. We felt misled, overcharged, and extremely disappointed. I would strongly advise others to avoid booking with this operator and to consider local taxi services instead. Don't be conned into paying premium prices for a service that may not even be operating legally.

Our guide Fergal took us on a wonderful personalized tour of Northern Ireland. He took us to all the highlights and added additional locations based on our preferences. He is highly knowledgeable and gave us a lot of background on the places we visited. We would highly recommend him and this tour

What a great trip! The driver did a great job showing the country side and stopping at multiple castles and tailored our trip to what we wanted to experience.

Fergel was knowledgeable, fun, and accommodating. We had the best time. He was able to show us everything we were looking for. Great conversation and just a blast all the way around. 100% recommend and will definitely hire him again when we come back. He made the trip very memorable.

Incredible scenery, and our host Fergal was an expert in his field and enjoyable to be with. We weren’t expecting a private tour in a gorgeous jaguar sedan so that was a bonus and Fergal had that car hugging every turn on the narrow and windy backroads. He also made great use of the shorter daylight time. This trip was beyond our expectations and couldn’t have been any better. The host/guide/driver is outstanding, the scenery is one beautiful scene after another, and the route was well planned and full of history. I especially liked that Fergal spoke just the right amount of the time and was very perceptive in knowing when and what to say. He reads his audience well.

My full-day Northern highlights guided tour with host Fergal was truly an experience I will never forget. I so enjoyed the sights, the beauty of Northern Ireland, the small towns, the wonderful stories that Fergal told, the coastal areas and seas, the castles, waterfalls, history of this great place and more. Fergal is a wonderful guide, full of knowledge of his beloved home country. It was a pleasure to spend the day with him, learning about Northern Ireland in a peaceful manner, visiting places that many large buses cannot go. I highly recommend Fergal's tour. It is well worth it! Thank you, Fergal, for a great day!

If you want to avoid the crowd and experience the coastal route scenery, this is very much recommended. At your leisure and a good time spend learning the history and geography with Fergal. An obvious comparison would be with the 'Bus Tours' to Giant Causeway and Game of thrones route. I understand that there will be quite a bit of walking involved with the Bus tours as drop off points are not always closer to the point of interest. regarding this tour, I must say that the route taken is not same as the bus route, and hence do your (re)search and choose which sites you would prefer to visit.

Fergal was an excellent tour guide. He was entertaining, knowledgeable, and attentive to our needs. He stopped at the best sights and added a stop that was special for me. It was a wonderful way to spend the day. We had sunshine all day.

Fergal is a wealth of knowledge of northern Ireland. We had a delightful day in his company as he tour us around Belfast, Giants Causeway and other northern Ireland highlights. I highly recommend his tour!

Fergal is happy to go at your pace and take you anywhere along the route you’d like to stop. We saw all of the North that we wanted to see and had a lovely dinner along the way. Great excursion and we would recommend it!

Fergal was very prompt and knowledgeable for our tour. He took us to some interesting out-of-the-way spots that you wouldn't know to look for. One thing to know is that if you have specific places on the tour that you would like to visit it's important to communicate that at the beginning because there isn't enough time to go everywhere! We did not make it to the bridge or Glenariff Forest, among other places, but we really enjoyed the Giant's Casueway and other places that we did visit. We also really appreciated that Fergal got us back to our bus on time despite some traffic delays.

Had a wonderful time with Fergal! It says a lot about his hospitality that we met for the first time and felt totally comfortable for 8hrs in his company. The tour along the coast and the Antrim Glens was just gorgeous and somehow Fergal magically made the rain disappear whenever we were outside. He brought us to several hidden gems that I was not familiar with and threw in a little bonus trip to Royal Portrush to see The Open preparations when he heard my husband was a golfer. Also brought us somewhere to explore some Nashville/Antrim history. I 100% recommend a tour with InSite if you’re visiting Northern Ireland, which is a beautiful place!

This tour of the Northern Ireland coast from Belfast was the absolute highlight of our 2-week trip this June. Fergal is a gem of a person and even better tour guide, navigating those winding and narrow coastal roads with ease. He accommodated our request to stop at Bushmills for a whiskey tasting, which was appreciated. This tour combined history, lush landscapes which were a feast for the eyes, great seafood chowder and a pint at O'Connor's - just as advertised, the "Northern Highlights" in their glory. It also was a treat that the weather was superb after some rainy days in Scotland. I cannot recommend Fergal and this tour enough.

Fergal, our guide, is an absolute delight and a fount of knowledge. A true local gentleman. His attention and care for our time was spot on. You’ll see hidden gems not seen on big bus tours. Pick up and drop off right on time with no effort required. Do yourself a favor if you have a group of 2-3 people and look him up.

A terrific way to see Northern Island for the first time. Fergal was both knowledgeable and personable. I feel like we got a good briefing on political history and nature. PS the car was very comfy.

We had an absolutely fantastic day with Fergal as our guide. I wouldn’t have missed this tour for anything. Fergal was a wealth of knowledge and he was able to get us around this beautiful country to see places we never would have known about. This was absolutely a five star day. Thank you Fergal!!!

Fergal was a wonderful guide. He is very knowledgeable, knowing the area history and the perfect spots to stop and take pictures. One destination we chose was the Harley Davidson Belfast. Seeing the County of Antrim was important to me because my great great grandfather moved to Canada from Antrim. He designed our tour to suit us. Lunch was a small town pub and when it was time for tea he was happy to find a charming restaurant off the beaten path. I would recommend a day with Fergal. Definitely a five star day.

This is the VERY BEST TOUR of the Antrim Coast! Fergal is charming, friendly, knowledgeable, and an all around wonderful person. We had a wonderful day! Fergal’s tour takes you to many of the places other tours include and then many additional stops as well. I was hesitant to book at first because of the 11 AM start. All of our other full day tours in Ireland began 8/9 AM. The day was full and the time flew by. Fergal got us to the Giants Causeway at the end of the day after the tour buses had departed, and the crowds had dissipated, making our visit extra special! Lunch was lovely. Each new stop was better than the last. Don’t hesitate, book now, it will definitely become your best tour too! Thank you Fergal for the warm Irish welcome and for giving us a day that we will remember and be talking about for a long time.

Mr. Kearney was a wonderful and very knowledgeable tour guide. I would tell anyone to book a trip with Mr. Kearney, he will take you to the best parts of Northern Ireland with beautiful views. He has some great stories to tell and has good conversations. Out of the 15 days my family and I spent in Great Britain this tour was the best we had. I will book another trip with Mr. Kearney when I come back to Northern Ireland.

Got to see everything we wanted to plus an extra stop at royal port rush golf course! Better than we could have hoped for! Fergal was an amazing guide!

We had a wonderful day with Fergal and saw far more than we could have if we had driven ourselves. Fergal is incredibly knowledgeable and generous with his time. Would highly recommend this tour.

This Viator tour is truly an amazing experience! It was beyond our expectations. From the moment Fegal promptly picked us up at our hotel, he made us feel very comfortable. Fergal reviewed with us what sites meant the most to us to see. He wanted to make sure he knew so he could make adjustments to our day, based on the weather, to ensure we would make it to those specific locations at the best time. It all worked out perfectly. When a few rain drops did fall, we were inside enjoying a tasty lunch together in Bally Castle. Fegal immersed us into Northern Ireland land - we drove through the countryside and communities- saw beaches and cliffs- castles and locations where Game of Thrones had been filmed. It was a full day and worth beyond what we paid. To have this private tour with Fegal was the highlight of our trip! We feel we have gained a friend too! Thank you Fegal ! Till we meet again !

What a beautiful, scenic and informative day out on the coast with Fergal. He was extremely professional, courteous and knowledgeable. Worth every penny. Thank you for making me feel extra special and looked after on my birthday. The small tweaks to our itinerary based on what you thought we would like was such a treat and did not go unnoticed. You are a true master of your craft because the timing was just perfect at every turn! Dodged crowds and traffic.

This was my favorite experience in Northern Island. Fergal knows all the magnificent sites and speaks deeply about each. The tour is thoughtfully planned, comfortable and fun. Great experience, great value, great conversation.

We had a fantastic day,saw parts of Ireland that we would never have found on our own Fergal our guide was knowledgeable and good company

This was a perfect day trip. We took the train from Dublin into Belfast and Fergal was great at communicating the night prior on exact pick up spot and was right on time. Fergal knows the ins and outs and little tricks to ensure the day is spent to its fullest. We saw some of the most beautiful areas in Ireland and Fergal was knowledgeable, safe and was able to give us fun tidbits of information throughout the drive. If you only have a day to spend, this is the way to do it. Taking the bus tours would have never done Northern Ireland justice. I recommend spending the extra money and spending the day with Fergal.

Amazing one day excursion. Fergal was kind enough to start our tour by taking a run through Belfast since our cab murals tour had fallen through the previous day. The drive along the causeway coast and glens was superb. He took us closer to sites that were not otherwise reachable by large coaches. We stopped at a lovely place for lunch, with falls in the backyard. He picked us up at our airb&b in Belfast and dropped us at our unit in Derry. If you have limited time, this is the best way of seeing the region. Cheers, Claude

This was our first trip to Ireland and our guide, Fergal, made this an experience we will always remember. The personnel attention provide to us throughout the day was exceptional. Our main interest was to see the beauty of Ireland outside of the city of Belfast. The sites visited included Carrickfergus Castle, the Andrew Jackson cottage and US Rangers museum, the Barbican of Glenarm Castle, Glenariff water falls, Giants Causeway and Dunluce Castle. Plus a few short stops in between to take in the views. We enjoyed a wonderful lunch at O’Connors Bar in BallyCastle. If this sounds like what interests you, then you will not be disappointed.

Excellent experience! Fergal, our driver was prompt, courteous and very knowledgeable. He selected a number of unique stops, and was very helpful organizing our Giants Causeway visit to maximize our time there. His Jaguar sedan was an unexpected delight. Highly recommend his tour.

Spectacular day with Fergal. He was knowledgeable, well paced and quite flexible. Very comfortable car. His route was adapted to our needs and timed to visit the Giants Causeway at the ideal time. Well done and well worth the private tour.

Fergel was fantastic!! We had the best experience with him. Lunch was amazing and we got to see everything on the itinerary. We highly recommend him for any tour in or around Northern Ireland.

Our tour guide and driver Fergal was excellent. He was very knowledgeable and had a great sense of humor. He had all our stops well planned. I told him I was interested in photography so he made a few stops for photos. Fergal is also interested in photography so he pointed out some good shots. The causeway was great as was the rope bridge and short stops in small villages.

Fergal was exceptionally knowledgeable and seemed to be able to make small changes in the tour to meet our individual interests. He has a friendly personality, a very comfortable car, and is a good driver. We felt we got a great overview of Northern Ireland. It was well worth the money to have such a personal guided tour—we highly recommend this experience!

Fergal is a wonderful person and guide. He adapted to our needs and we saw insider knowledge of the beauty that is Ireland. When we are back here we will use his company to see more of Ireland.

Fergal was a wonderful tour guide. His luxury car was comfortable and elegant to ride in. He was attentive to our every need finding a pharmacy when we needed one being very aware of our needs and our time schedule. When he learned of my husband‘s military career, he added an extra stop to our itinerary, that he thought my husband would enjoy. He was accommodating to my desire to take frequent pictures and provided many locations and special angles to do such. He didn’t chat our heads off, but gave pertinent information about what we were seeing and it’s history It was a delightful day in every way. Highly recommend him!

We had a wonderful day touring Northern Ireland with Fergal. He picked us up at the port, we toured Belfast, then headed out to see Giant’s Causeway, castles, Royal Portrush Golf Club, and beautiful coastal and countryside views. We stopped at a restaurant which kindly opened up a bit early for us, and had great food. Fergal rearranged our itinerary to accommodate my husband who had injured his knee, and couldn’t walk far at each stop. Fergal was full of knowledge and was also fun! We will look forward to touring with him again when next we are in Ireland. Thank you, Fergal, for showing us your beautiful country! (I tried to add pictures, but it was not cooperating. Trust me though- you will see gorgeous views in vibrant colors!)

Fergal has an excellent company. He is very knowledgable,personable and very accommodating. He adapted this tour to suit our needs/wants(more time at stops and a detour to The Dark Hedges ) .The Antrim Glens are not easy to see by transit(my sister and I don't drive) so this was a super fantastic choice, and no need to memorize the history,as Fergal knew plenty! This trip allowed my sister(who has mobility issues) to accomplish her lifelong dream--Thank you Fergal! The only thing I would want to change was the weather--but who can do that!! Even with rain,mist and wind the stops were fantastic--I think next holiday there I should spend more time in Glenariff--hiking! I would hire this again,well worth it! Karen and Heather

We were picked up for our private tour in Fergals's pristine black Jaguar. We spent a great day with Fergal learning about all the local history and visiting places that the tour busses just don't see. We only saw a couple of them them once we reached Giant's Causeway. Even that was great though, since he times the tour so that you reach there when there is low "traffic". Would highly recommend this tour.

Fergal and the tour locations competed for winner of the most fabulous award! We had such a wonderful time - being able to take a private tour was a splurge for us but entirely worth it. Fergal's knowledge seemed to have no bounds, which we took advantage of as we badgered him with questions. We learned so much and enjoyed such beautiful locations...we can't wait to return.

We chose this tour b/c of the itinerary AND the reviews of Fergal, the guide. It was a rousing success in both. And all the better with the perfect weather. Set out from our hotel at 11:00 a.m. Fergal took us first to Stormont in Belfast, seat of the gov’t in the North. Fergal knows his history and puts it across in context, makes it a story, and therefore memorable. Highlights: Carrickfergus for Andrew Jackson’s family historic site and, especially, the Rangers’ Museum (a MUST). The Int’l Appalachian Trail spur; Fall of the Hoof (inspiration to CS Lewis); a picnic overlooking the sea; view of the Rope Bridge (view = enough for us); the Giant’s Causeway. Fergal knew that a late-day arrival there is much less crowded. The day was full to the brim, but leisurely, too. His is a kind and generous person, and he adjusted the sites to a few of our preferences. The roads are in good shape, but narrow. Would be challenging for the typical American driver, used to the right-hand side of the road. All the more reason to hire this marvelous, expert guide, sit back, and relax.

Fergal gave us the stories and history to go along with the scenery. We loved Giants Causeway, the castles and the views during the day. We really enjoyed the day with Fergal!

This was an exceptional day tour, thanks to the expertise of Fergal, our tour guide. He made our visit to Northern Ireland so much more interesting with the places he took us to. Fergal is well versed in the history and was able to make it come alive with each stop along the tour. He was attentive to our requests and customized the tour while adding relevant suggestions. It was an amazing time exploring the beauty of the region and Fergal provided professional level photo-taking from our cell phone at each stop. Highly recommend Fergal and InSite Tours with no reservation! Totally deserving of a 5/5 Star Review!

We had an exceptional day viewing all of the highlights of the North with a very knowledgeable host in Fergal. We learned so much about the history of the area, but most of all enjoyed hearing about it from someone who has lived in, and loved, this part of the world all his life. Fergal went the extra mile to explain the scenery and provide additional descriptions to me as a blind person which made me feel included in the whole experience and as well, he very competently drove us through towns where my wife's grandmother grew up so that we could get a feel for these areas. Overall, we would recommend this tour to anyone who wants something special and to be able to set your own pace for the day to take in everything this region has to offer. We cannot speak highly enough of Fergal and his consideration of us as tourists.

Lovely experience. Our ship was going to be late to port and we were able to talk with the operator on Whatsapp to arrange and updated pickup time. He then changed our route to accommodate the limited schedule. Such a knowledgeable person with so much experience in the industry. You couldn't ask for a better person to take you through this beautiful area.

My husband and I took this tour on our 20th anniversary. I picked this tour because it included both the Giants Causeway and the forest that inspired Narnia. Those were my favorite moments, but there was so much more. Fergal is an excellent tour guide. He took us to the Causeway near the end of the tour, so there would be less people and we could enjoy it more . He took time to listen to what we were interested in and catered to us . I would definitely use him again . We saw so many castles . One unexpected highlight was a visit to Andrew Jackson Cottage and Army Ranger Museum. I learned about what my ancestors life would have been like and why they settled where they did in the states. I wasn't expecting that connection. I also have a relative that served in England in WWII, so the Rangers Museum wad amazing to me. I learned souch ftom George . The whole day with Fergal was great. Definitely recommend.

Fergus was a great guide. We enjoyed our tour to the glen's, giants causeway, and small seaside towns immensely. He was very friendly and easy to talk to. We appreciated his local knowledge and him taking us to out of the places that felt like they were just for us. It was a wonder day that we will never forget.

We were traveling in Ireland and the UK for 12 days. We did many tours and this was our absolute favorite. Fergal picked us up in his jaguar sedan which was extremely comfortable and he took us all over Northern Ireland along the coast. It was absolutely beautiful. He was extremely knowledgeable, and took us too many places including castles and the awesome water falls. He also took us to O’Connor’s pub for a late lunch since we had a big breakfast. I had my first Guinness there and the food was delicious. Definitely have him take you there. Fergal is super nice and personable and fun 😀

We were met at the cruise terminal by Fergal. It was great getting into a private vehicle being whisked away instead of an overcrowded bus. Fergal definitely knows the area and is flexible in getting you to places you want to see. He was able to get into areas more timely and knew how to avoid the crowds. The weather was rather cool and windy, but it seems this is more normal climate for the area than we expected for beginning June. The little jackets we had were not enough. Bring a heavier jacket than you think as you can leave it in the car. One of us got terribly sick and cold (cruise bug or just a plain cold), and Fergal was accommodating by having a spare pullover shirt available to put on for the cold weather. Also, making a quick pit stop at a convenience store for some cold tablets and cough drops to continue our cruise journey. So, yes very accommodating to fit your needs. Very compassionate and ensuring guests are comfortable and welcomed. This is a fantastic tour and highly recommended. You can see old castles, coastlines and unique features throughout the Irish countryside and coastal areas. Due to time, we had packed so much into one day, we missed lunch or getting a bite to eat. We felt terrible Fergal didn't get a sit-down food break with us and we ended up grabbing some snacks to munch on during the drive. Found out Tayto brand snacks are his favorite, so we had a case sent to him with a nice tip later after the trip for all the extra attention we had during the tour. If in Northern Ireland, definitely find Fergal at InSite Tours and just go! You will have a fabulous time and memories forever.

A day of chasing rainbows! We dodged morning rain during our trip out of Belfast and saw nearly a dozen rainbows during a day of great weather on a private tour of the Giant’s Causeway and Antrim Coast. Truly mind-blowing scenery along the northern tip of of the Irish Island. Our guide, Fergal, was an excellent companion for the journey and transported us in comfort and style, offering tremendous insight to make the day a memorable pleasure. He made the most of opportunities for us to see unique and impressive sights. Thoroughly enjoyed the experience. Very special day that will always be with us.