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Geography School Trips & Tours to Northern Ireland

With its remarkably diverse landscape of breathtaking coastlines and spectacular countryside, Northern Ireland’s North Coast is the ideal geography school trip destination to study both physical and human geography. The area is filled with field trip opportunities for budding geographers, with glens, lush forest parks, secluded coastal tracks and many quaint fishing villages. Popular geography visits for school groups include the spectacular Giant’s Causeway and Portstewart Strand - which offers a fantastic opportunity for data collection and fieldwork techniques. 

On a geography field trip to Northern Ireland’s North Coast, your pupils will get the chance to study coastal processes, volcanism, geology, glaciation, the impact of tourism and conservation in a fascinating area of outstanding natural beauty.

 

Sample itinerary

Our sample itinerary provides you with an idea of the visits you can cover during your trip. We can tailor-make an itinerary to support your specific learning outcomes.

Morning Afternoon Evening
1 Transfer by coach Portstewart Strand & Dunluce Castle Free time
2 Giant's Causeway Whiterocks and Downhill Demense Bowling
3 Dark Hedges, Glenariff Forest Park Titanic Belfast Museum Coach back to school
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
Morning Transfer by coach
Afternoon Portstewart Strand & Dunluce Castle
Evening Free time
Morning Giant's Causeway
Afternoon Whiterocks and Downhill Demense
Evening Bowling
Morning Dark Hedges, Glenariff Forest Park
Afternoon Titanic Belfast Museum
Evening Coach back to school

On-tour support

Get even more from your trip with an NST Field Studies Guide contact us for a price

On-tour support includes...


Top visits for geography trips in Northern Ireland

Giant’s Causeway

This is the must see visit of the tour! Students will take a short walk down to the Causeway to marvel at the 400,000 interlocking basalt stone columns left by volcanic eruptions over 60 million years ago. Here, your groups can immerse themselves in the geology of the area: investigating intrusive and extrusive volcanic features, coastal processes and landforms, and also consider the human impact of the site. Students can then explore the state of the art visitor centre where they can explore the interactive exhibition.

Portstewart Strand

The magnificent two-mile Strand of glistening golden sand is one of Northern Ireland’s finest beaches for sand dune succession studies. This is an ideal site for students to discuss and demonstrate fieldwork techniques and to collect data on succession. Key themes such as tidal flow and coastal erosion, coastal protection and the impact of tourism can all be studied here.

Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge

Carrick-a-Rede is a Site of Special Scientific Interest with unique geology, flora and fauna. This visit offers students a unique cliff-top experience to traverse the 30m deep and 20m wide chasm by a rope bridge. Students will see examples of volcanic features and coastal processes, views across to Rathlin Island and, on a clear day, even the coast of Scotland!

Glenariff Waterfalls and Forest Park

The diversity of topography, woodland and habitats found within the forest provide a superb area for geography studies. Both physical and human geography can be investigated at Glenariff from glaciation and glacial features to tourism and human impact.

Dunluce Castle

Possibly the most picturesque ruin in Northern Ireland, students can make a photo stop at Dunluce Castle, or spend time discussing the coastal erosion evident from the stunning viewpoint of the ruins.

Whiterocks Beach

Whiterocks Beach enjoys a stunning coastal location. The soft, sedimentary rocks have been carved through centuries into a labyrinth of caves and arches allowing for the investigation of landforms such as sea stacks and arches.

Downhill Demesne

Dramatic cliff-top views, ruins and a temple give avid geographers everything they need for an inspiring visit. Land management, invasive species and geology can all be experienced here.

Titanic Museum

Visit the world’s largest Titanic visitor experience at this fascinating museum in Belfast. Students don’t just learn, they become enthralled by full scale replicas and visually stunning displays through nine interactive galleries.

Geography Walking Tours

Your Field Studies Guide will tailor make a geography walking tour to suit your pupils key study requirements. They will lead and deliver educational content on a full or half day itinerary.


Evening activites

  • A quiz or disco at your hotel (most hotels can provide a room for groups to use in the evenings)

Study themes

Human: 

  • Impact of tourism
  • Site management
     

Physical: 

  • Geology
  • Coastal processes & landforms
  • Volcanic features
  • Glaciation

Transport

Available from any location in Ireland, our executive coaches are fitted with seatbelts, toilet facilities, air conditioning, DVD and reclining seats.

Coach


Giving you full support throughout

Before your tour

  • Your own dedicated NST contact
  • Bespoke tour itineraries
  • Unrivalled local knowledge & expertise
  • Curriculum linked visit programmes
  • Great value for money - no hidden costs
  • Free group leader inspection visits
  • Risk assessment guidance
  • Safety assured, transport, accommodation and visits

Whilst you're away

  • Free educational resources
  • Group-friendly accommodation
  • Exceptional standards of coaching
  • On-tour support from our reps on the ground
  • Support & assistance from our specialists guides throughout your tour
  • 24/7 support just a call away
  • Extensive group travel insurance

On your return

  • Priority rebooking services
  • Rewarding your loyalty with our reward scheme
  • You say, we listen - we're committed to continuously improving our tours
  • School travel company of choice since 1996