Hostels Open Near Northern Ireland Tourist Sites

It will be easier to explore Northern Ireland this year, thanks to two new youth hostels and accommodation and transportation packages for independent budget-minded travelers.

The 68-bed Mill Rest Hostel is about three miles from the northern coast at 49 Main St., 011-44-28-2073-1222, www.hini.org.uk/millrest.html, in the village of Bushmills, which is 64 miles from Belfast. It can house independent travelers, families and groups. Rooms have two to six beds, and the hostel has a kitchen for guests, restaurant, foreign currency exchange desk and bike shed. The lobby has a fireplace and lounge. Buses stop 150 feet from the hostel, and the closest rail station, at Port- rush, is five miles away.

Just four miles from Bushmills, overlooking a white sand beach, is the affiliated Whitepark Bay Hostel, 157 Whitepark Road, Ballintoy, 011-44-28-2073-1745, www.hini.org.uk/whitepark.html.

Both hostels are close to many north coast activities and attractions: the smallest church in Ireland (12 by 61/2 feet) at Portbraddan or the Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge, a 60-foot span that bounces and swings 80 feet above the sea and connects to a small island salmon fishery. The rope bridge is raised for the salmon fishing season from April to September. Also worth visiting is the town of Ballycastle, known for the popular Ould Lammas Fair, which dates to 1606 and is held each year on the last Monday and Tuesday in August.

One site that brings thousands to the area each summer is the Giants Causeway, a World Heritage Site of 40,000 basalt columns (some 40 feet tall) that stand in the sea, forming what look like steppingstones for a giant. Most are hexagonal, created by volcanic cooling and contraction. A legend says they were created by the giant Finn McCool, who fell in love with a female giant on the island of Staffa, off Scotland, and used the stones to step across the sea.

Trails traverse the scenic, rugged coastline, taking hikers to sandy bays, small harbors and castle ruins. Just east of the causeway, perched on a cliff, are the ruins of 16th century Dunluce Castle. In October 1588, just off the causeway, the Spanish ship Girona was wrecked. Only five of 1,300 people aboard survived.

The village of Bushmills is on an ancient route known as the Great Road, which led to Tara, the royal capital of Ireland. Celtic kings would have traveled this route, crossing the River Bush at this point. Now travelers go there to tour the oldest legal distillery in the world. Staff at the hostels can direct you to pubs in the region, some of which host traditional Irish music sessions.

The new 70-bed Bridges Hostel, 011-44-28-6634-0110, www.hini.org.uk/bridges.html, which will open this month, is at the William Jefferson Clinton International Peace Centre on Belmore Street in Enniskillen. The hostel has an art gallery on the main floor, a kitchen for guests, a restaurant, laundry, bike shed, foreign currency exchange, lounge and dining room. Guest rooms can accommodate two to six travelers.

Enniskillen is 80 miles from Belfast and 100 miles from Dublin. The bus station is within easy walking distance, but the closest rail station is in Sligo, 45 miles away. The region is renowned for its lakes, forest parks and nature reserves, where there are opportunities to windsurf, canoe and hike.

Independent budget travelers can explore Northern Ireland with a Go as You Please Pass for about $116. It’s valid for seven consecutive days of unlimited transport on Citybus, N.I. Railways and the Ulsterbus in Northern Ireland, including the Centrelink service between all main bus and rail stations in Belfast. The pass includes six vouchers valid for an overnight stay at any of the Hostelling International facilities in Northern Ireland. However, if you stay more than one night at the hostel in Belfast, there is a $4.25 supplement. For more details log on to www.hi ni.org.uk or call the Belfast Youth Hostel, 22-32 Donegal Road, Belfast; 011-44-28-9031-5435, www.hini.org.uk/belfast.html.

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Lucy Izon is a Toronto-based freelance travel writer and author of “Izon’s Backpacker Journal.” Her Internet site is www.izon.com.