Delightful Derry & Irish Coffee

This leisurely spin though Derry passes top landmarks, visits the Tower Museum and finishes with music and Irish coffee. Driving from the pier along the Foyle River, you can’t miss Old Town: it’s surrounded by monumental 26-foot ramparts and gates. Never breached since they went up in the early 1600s, these fortified walls are among the best-preserved in Europe. Across the river, Iskaheen View provides sweeping panoramas of the entire city, the bay and the hills of Donegal in the distance. During your city survey, you’ll see the historic and cultural sights like an old workhouse for the poor, a former British army barracks and the powerful political street murals painted by loyalists protesting British policies. You’ll also get a glimpse of the shipyards where so many left Ireland during the Great Famine. Londonderry’s own turbulent history comes fully to life as you tour the Tower Museum, with its exhibits covering everything from the city’s founding through 1972’s infamous Bloody Sunday, when British troops fired on civil rights protesters as they marched through Bogside. For a calmer perspective of the local culture, a visit to Guildhall, for an Irish coffee and traditional music fits the bill. Guildhall, originally built in 1887 by The Honourable The Irish Society. The red sandstone building is of neo-gothic architecture, with Tudor overtones.

• Wear weather-appropriate clothing; include a light raincoat or umbrella.
• Flat, comfortable walking shoes are recommended.
• Bring a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen as needed.