Your Northern Ireland Road Trip Guide

There's no need to fly anywhere for a great road trip. Northern Ireland has coastlines, castles, forests and cities packed into a space small enough to explore over a weekend or stretch into a full week away. Whether you're planning a family adventure or a couple of days off the beaten track, here's how to make the most of it, plus everything you need to check before you set off.

WHERE TO GO

From the coast to the countryside, there's plenty within easy reach. A few favourites to build your route around:

• Giant's Causeway
• Old Bushmills Distillery
• Mussenden Temple and Dunluce Castle
• Titanic Belfast
• Seamus Heaney HomePlace
• Lough Neagh
• The Jungle NI
• Galgorm Resort and Spa
• Ulster American Folk Park

• Pickie Fun Park
• Murlough National Nature Reserve
• Derry Walls
• Kinnego Marina
• Antrim Castle Gardens
• Let's Go Hydro
• Mourne Mountains
• Glenariff Forest Park

GET YOUR CAR READY BEFORE YOU GO

Before any long journey, it's worth spending ten minutes making sure your car is ready for the road. Run through this list before you set off:

1. Tyre pressures
2. Windscreen wipers and screenwash
3. Oil level
4. Lights
5. Engine coolant
6. Tyre tread depth
7. Fuel level
8. Emergency supplies
9. Regular servicing

If you'd rather leave it to the experts, our service teams in Belfast and Lisburn are on hand to run through all of this for you. Book your car in with us and you'll get a year's free breakdown recovery included, so you're covered if anything unexpected happens on the road. We offer approved servicing for KGM, SEAT, Mitsubishi, MG, Chevrolet, Fiat and Renault.

KEEPING EVERYONE ENTERTAINED ON THE WAY

Long journeys with the family in tow can test everyone's patience. A little planning goes a long way toward making the drive part of the fun:

• Turn the backseat into a movie theatre
• Pack a treasure chest of small surprises
• Bring along kid-friendly books
• Download some offline-friendly apps
• Turn snack time into an activity
• Bring an art kit
• Try a road trip bingo card
• Play a few classic car games
• Plan your pit-stops in advance
• And don't forget the snacks

NEED SOMETHING WITH MORE PULLING POWER? 

If a caravan or trailer is part of your road trip plans, you'll want a car built for the job. The KGM range is well known for its towing capability, and it's a big part of why so many families choose it for trips further afield.

Tow capacity varies across the range, from the Tivoli up to the Rexton, which is rated to pull more than many larger vehicles on the market. The KGM range is available exclusively at SERE Motors, Boucher Road, and as Northern Ireland's only KGM dealership, our sales team can help you find the right model for the way you tow.

However you're spending your time off this year, we hope it's full of good weather, easy roads and a few new memories. Safe travels.