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Visitor Information: The RPS Gallery and coffee shop will be closed on Saturday 7 December

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Northern Ireland: Belfast and Beyond

To book your place, please go to https://events.rps.org/4LrdQ66/5a2NN272Cib

16th - 20th June 2025

Join the RPS Travel Group for our first trip to Northern Ireland | Belfast and Beyond.

This is a hybrid trip with some organised elements, lots of suggestions for photographic routes and ample opportunity to explore the two cities by yourself.

The trip is limited to eight Travel Group Members and will be based in the centre of Belfast.

This RPS Travel Group Trip will include a pre and post trip zoom meeting.

This itinerary has been prepared by our Travel Log Editor, Patricia Mackey ARPS, who lives in Northern Ireland and gained her ARPS with images taken locally.

Participants should aim to get to Belfast for Sunday 15th June or early on Monday 16th.

The trip starts at 9am on the Monday 16th June 2025.

Monday 16th June

Belfast Murals, entries & pubs

A morning Black Taxi tour will provide opportunities to photograph nationalist, loyalist and re-imagined murals that are a legacy of Northern Ireland’s history. In the afternoon we will go on a walking tour, which can be done as a group or on your own. We will meet again for dinner.

Tuesday 17 June

Kingdom of Down area

We head south out of the city to the Mournes area. Our exact itinerary may be weather dependant. This will be a day to experience scenic Northern Ireland with potential stops at Inch Abbey, Dundrum Bay, Newcastle (for lunch), Bloody Bridge and Spelga Reservoir. See how the Mountains of Mourne really do sweep down to the sea. The group will stay together, but ample time will be given for solo photography. If there is anything in particular you want to see we may be able to incorporate this into the schedule.

Wednesday 18 June

Derry Walls and Bogside

An early start will find us on the train to Derry. We plan to leave Belfast at 7:20am and return on the 6pm train. Maps will be provided to show you the best photographic locations and you can choose to explore on your own or with the group. The Guildhall and Peace Bridge are a must see! Walk the city walls and photograph the famous murals of the Bogside including the iconic ‘You are now entering Free Derry’ wall.

Thursday 19 June

Titanic, the Docks and the Maritime Mile

Today is about Belfast’s shipping history. You will have an opportunity to photograph the iconic yellow cranes at the famous Harland & Wolff Ship yards. You will see the Thompson Dock where Titanic was built. Those who want can visit the Titanic Museum, the Nomadic and the Pump House.

An after dinner walk through Belfast’s Cathedral Quarter to see the entries and alleyways in a different light.

Friday 20 June (Trip ends at lunch time)

St George’s Market Area

The last official day of the trip will be spent at St George’s Market and the surrounding area. Those who are early risers can get photos of the stall owners arriving, the rest of us will see you there after breakfast!

Activities will be suggested for the days spent in Belfast. Group dinners will be arranged.

TRAVEL

Participants are responsible for booking their own transport to Belfast and for booking their accommodation. Advice can be provided on the best way to get from the airport. Belfast City Airport is 5 minutes by bus from the city centre) or Belfast International Airport is 40 minutes by bus from the City Centre. The Stenaline Boat terminal is 5 minutes by bus from the City Centre.

ACCOMMODATION

The group hotel will be Bullitt Hotel, 40a Church Lane, Belfast, BT1 4QN. Rooms (B&B) are £139pp per night. Rooms at this rate can only be held until 20 March 2025, a £50 deposit is required at the time of booking with the hotel.

Please book directly with the hotel by phoning 028 90 120 228 and quoting Royal Photographic Society Travel Group.

Other hotels are available within the Belfast city centre area.

COSTS AND DEPOSIT

As this is a hybrid trip organised by the RPS Travel Group rather than a Travel Agency, costs may change (slightly) based on whether all eight places available are booked.

To secure your place a £150 deposit is required. 

The deposit will be used for the cost mini bus to the Mournes and the Black Taxi Tour. If less than eight people book the trip we may need to gather additional money to cover this. Any additional costs will be known by the end of March when booking for the trip closes.

During the trip participants will be required to pay directly for their return train to Derry - £20pp (may increase in April 2025) - purchase on day, entrance to any museums and all food and drink.

STAYING LONGER

If you want to stay on in Belfast after the trip, you may be able to photograph a Band Parade on the Friday night or Saturday. These won’t be known until nearer the time. Photographing these is entirely at your own risk

Everyone should have their own travel insurance for this trip. The RPS Travel Group can not be held liable for any incidents that happen as a result of you joining this trip. Everyone is expected to take personal responsibility for their own wellbeing and should consider this when deciding on how to take photographs at the locations that we will visit.