Episode 1/22

@ Belfast Port
Saphira begins his tour of "Northern Ireland" by downloading a map of specially chosen locations!
Map of Northern Ireland
Welcome to Northern Ireland! The official flag of this country is the Union Flag, but St Patrick's Saltire (a red diagonal cross on a white field) represents Northern Ireland on the Union Flag. After arriving at the busy port of Belfast, home of the Titanic, the pets will have an extremely varied trip, viewing not only Neolithic sites and a wonder of the world dating back 50 million years, but they will also enjoy lots of bracing fresh air, viewing castles and coastlines! In the evenings, perhaps they will enjoy some legendary Northern Irish music with traditional meals in the local taverns.
Belfast Port
Welcome to Northern Ireland! Céad Míle Fáilte One hundred thousand welcomes! Your journey begins in the capital city of Belfast. Northern Ireland separated from The Republic of Ireland in 1921 because its citizens wanted to remain part of the United Kingdom. Of historical note, you are following the route that many from Scotland traveled when leaving their country for what they hoped was a better life for their families. People often emigrated to the Ulster area of Northern Ireland, then eventually to Canada and the United States. Descendants of those people are often referred to as Ulster-Scots.

Episode 2/22

@ Belfast Shipping Hub
"Hey, did you know those two Harland & Wolff cranes in Belfast have names, Lilly?" asked Saphira. "They're called Samson and Goliath, and they're the biggest free-standing cranes anywhere in the world!"
Belfast Shipping Hub
The port of Belfast is a busy shipping hub, handling a large majority of the sea trade of the entire island of Ireland. Hundreds of shipping containers line the dock ready to be transported.

Episode 3/22

@ Harland & Wolff Shipyard
"I guess it's a complex culture in Northern Ireland, isn't it, Skye?" mused Saphira.
"You mean it shares the culture of Ireland and the culture of the United Kingdom, Saphira? Is it the best of both worlds, do you think?"
Harland & Wolff Shipyard
The Harland & Wolff Shipyard in Belfast is most famous for building ocean liners for the White Star Line in the early 1900s, including the ill-fated Titanic. A nearby visitor attraction named Titanic Belfast provides a place to reflect on one of the most tragic ocean liner stories in history.
While the shipyard has not been involved in shipbuilding in recent years, it has instead focused on ship repair and offshore construction. The yellow gantry cranes nicknamed Samson and Goliath, have become city landmarks.

Episode 4/22

@ Belfast City Centre
"Today's trivia question, Escargot!" announced Saphira. "What is the highest mountain in Northern Ireland?"
"I know this, Saphira! Slieve Donard, at 850 metres (2,790 feet) near Newcastle, County Down."

Belfast City Centre
Northern Ireland: Belfast City Centre. On the left (building with the clock and vertical pillars) is the former Sinclair’s department store at the corner of Royal Avenue and (lower) North Street, completed in 1926 to a design by James Scott, architect and civil engineer. The present Art Deco facade was added in 1935. On the right-hand side is the Castle Court Shopping Centre (the buildings with the white vertical lights).

Episode 5/22

@ Castlewellan Forest Park
"I've bought so many souvenirs already my backpack's almost full!" said Edwina.
"Me too!" said Saphira. "It's great on this tour, isn't it?"
Castlewellan Forest Park
Castlewellan Forest Park contains three distinct attractions and a lake. They are: the 18th-century National Arboretum, which contains over 700 varieties of taxa; Castlewellan Castle, built in 1858; and Peace Maze, which contains a hedge maze made of 6000 yew trees, the second-longest hedge maze in the world. and a lake. Castlewellan is a small town in County Down, Northern Ireland.

Episode 6/22

@ Newcastle, County Down
“Shall we stop and have our lunch here, Saphira?” asked dora .
“Yes, it seems a good spot, dora! Let's perch on those tree stumps there!"
Newcastle, County Down
Residents of Newcastle like to refer to their little town as the activity resort of Northern Ireland. One of Newcastle's prominent features in the Mourne Mountains is Slieve Donard, Northern Ireland's highest mountain. It is a popular destination for tourists and locals for walking and hiking. Newcastle is also famous for Mourne Granite, which has been used to make paving stones in many cities around the world. Mourne granite was used to make the base of the 9/11 memorial in New York.

Episode 7/22

@ Mourne Wall
“Oh hello, Saphira!” cried Auntie Mame. “Didn’t we bump into each other at the fairground back in September? This is quite the change of scene, isn't it!”
"It certainly is, Auntie Mame!" responded Saphira.
Mourne Wall
Mourne Wall in County Down was built to keep livestock from contaminating water supplies in the Silent Valley Reservoir which supplies Belfast. The drystone granite wall took 18 years to build, extends 22 miles across 15 mountains, and is 1.5 meters high (4 ft 11 in) and almost 1 meter (over 2 ft) thick.

Episode 8/22

@ Ballykeel Dolmen
Laveme studied the map. “We've got a very varied route here, haven't we, Saphira?” she said.
“We certainly do, Laveme! Stand by with the gloves and scarves, and perhaps the wellington boots and a waterproof hat for the other side!"
Ballykeel Dolmen
Ballykeel Dolmen known locally as the "Hag's Chair" is a neolithic burial site that has a huge capstone supported by three upright stones. It is located in Newry, County Down, and is dated between 4000 to 2500 BC. Dolmens have been called fanciful names and locals have woven magical tales of fairies, giants, and witches around the ancient stones.

Episode 9/22

@ Narrow Water Castle
Snuggles looked up from their map and surveyed the current stop. “Would you fancy living here, Saphira?”
"Well, it's certainly a bit different to where we live," said Saphira. "But I could get used to it, I daresay!"
Narrow Water Castle
Narrow Water Castle is a typical example of the tower houses found throughout Ireland from the 15th until the 17th century. Tower houses are normally three or more stories high and often have chambers within the walls containing stairs, closets, and latrines. The 16th-century castle ruins are near Newry on the County Down bank of the Clanrye River.

Episode 10/22

@ Ballymacdermot Court Tomb
Iben looked up from their map and surveyed the current stop. “Would you fancy living here, Saphira?”
"Well, it's certainly a bit different to where we live," said Saphira. "But I could get used to it, I daresay!"
Ballymacdermot Court Tomb
Ballymacdermot Court Tomb, located near Ballykeel Dolmen in County Armagh lies on the southern slopes of Ballymacdermot Mountain close to Newry. It is an extremely well-preserved Neolithic burial site with three chambers. It can be dated between 4000 and 2500 BC. An excavation in 1962 found human cremation remains, flint and ceramics.

Episode 11/22

@ Loughbrickland Sunset
“Oh hello, Saphira!” cried Grace. “Didn’t we bump into each other at the fairground back in September? This is quite the change of scene, isn't it!”
"It certainly is, Grace!" responded Saphira.
Loughbrickland Sunset
Loughbrickland is a small village in County Down. It may be small in size but it is mighty in scenery as is evident by this spectacular sunset.

Episode 12/22

@ Lough Beg
“Some of these places are so quaint!” Cosette said.
“Yes," said Saphira, "and then the next stop has something really awe-inspiring!"
Lough Beg
Lough Beg, translated little lake, is a small freshwater lake located on the border between County Londonderry and County Antrim. Due to the area's many rare plants and the lake's use by migrating birds the area was designated as Lough Beg National Nature Reserve. Church Island, located on the lake, isn't actually a true island because it is accessible by foot in the summer. The church on the island is reputed to date back to the time of Saint Patrick when he founded a Christian settlement there. The Bullaun Stone has a hollow that fills with water, which local anecdote claims it was worn by Patrick kneeling on it in prayer. Pilgrims come to the island each year, on the first Sunday in September, to celebrate the feast of Saint Thaddeus.

Episode 13/22

@ Ballymena, County Antrim
"I've bought so many souvenirs already my backpack's almost full!" said Sassy.
"Me too!" said Saphira. "It's great on this tour, isn't it?"
Ballymena, County Antrim
Ballymena is a town in County Antrim, and the eighth largest in Northern Ireland. The town has held two annual fairs and a Saturday market in perpetuity since 1626, a deal struck by the Adair family and King Charles I.

Episode 14/22

@ Ballygally, County Antrim
"Ooh, Tornado! It says here that Ballygally Castle in Co Antrim, now a hotel, is reputedly the most haunted place in Northern Ireland—the ghost of the castle’s first owner is reputed to knock at guests’ doors at midnight!"
"That's not where we're staying tonight, is it, Saphira?" quavered Tornado.

Ballygally, County Antrim
Ballygally or Ballygalley is a village and holiday resort in County Antrim, Northern Ireland which lies on the Antrim coast.

Episode 15/22

@ Ballygally Head
Saphira opened his rucksack to change his hat. Choose a name could see Saphira had a large, floppy sunhat, a balaclava, a rain hat, a woolly bobble hat, a beanie, a deerstalker hat and a swimming cap!
“Did you bring a fez too?” Choose a name asked Saphira.
Ballygally Head
A closeup of Ballygally reveals the quiet seaside village on Ballygally Head.

Episode 16/22

@ Ballygally Shoreline
“Some of these places are so quaint!” Coco said.
“Yes," said Saphira, "and then the next stop has something really awe-inspiring!"
Ballygally Shoreline
As the sun sets we are treated to an even closer look at Ballygally.

Episode 17/22

@ Dunluce Castle
Camo looked up from their map and surveyed the current stop. “Would you fancy living here, Saphira?”
"Well, it's certainly a bit different to where we live," said Saphira. "But I could get used to it, I daresay!"
Dunluce Castle
Dunluce Castle is a ruined medieval castle, once home to Clan McDonnell. The castle is surrounded by extremely steep drops on either side of the basalt outcropping, which no doubt protected the castle and its inhabitants in its heyday.

Episode 18/22

@ Giant's Causeway
"I've bought so many souvenirs already my backpack's almost full!" said Khisanth.
"Me too!" said Saphira. "It's great on this tour, isn't it?"
Giant's Causeway
The Giant's Causeway is an area of about 40,000 interlocking basalt columns, the result of an ancient volcanic fissure eruption. It is located in County Antrim on the north coast of Northern Ireland, Giant's Causeway was named the fourth greatest natural wonder in the United Kingdom. The tops of the columns form stepping stones that lead from the cliff foot and disappear under the sea. Most of the columns are hexagonal, although there are also some with four, five, seven or eight sides.

Episode 19/22

@ Causeway Peninsula
"In our tour guide it says Lough Neagh, splat in the middle of the country, is the largest freshwater lake in both the UK and the British Isles," remarked Noctema.
"Fancy that!" said Saphira.
Causeway Peninsula
This coastal landscape in Northern Ireland looks towards the Atlantic Ocean with the gate lodge ruins on small peninsula at Dunseverick, close to Giants Causeway in County Antrim, Northern Ireland.

Episode 20/22

@ Benone Beach
"Remember when we were touring Scotland we learnt that the pneumatic tyre was invented by a Scotsman, Mystique?" asked Saphira. "It turns out he was in Belfast when he did it!"
"What was his name, Saphira?"
"His name was John Dunlop and he was a veterinary surgeon!"

Benone Beach
Benone Beach (or "Strand"), County Londonderry. Benone Strand, multiple recipient of the European Blue Flag Award, most recently in 2020, is a must-see when visiting the area. With seven miles of golden sand and a magnificent backdrop of mountain and cliff scenery and stunning views across to Donegal, this is an attractive sightseeing environment along with the usual seaside activities including watersports, walking, picnic spots and fishing. The clean, firm, golden sands of Benone Strand are without rocks, shingle or seaweed and are preceded by the glorious natural formations of Benone's sand dunes. Benone is a haven for nature lovers as the entire area is a paradise for the study of botany, entomology, and shells.

Episode 21/22

@ Goldfinch
"You know this game we're going to see tonight, Maude?" asked Saphira. "What exactly is 'hurling'? What do they hurl?"
"I asked the night porter, Saphira. It's named after the hurley, which is a wooden bat two to three feet long, used to hit the ball, or 'hurl', towards the opposing team's goal."
"Sounds exciting, Maude!"
Goldfinch
Goldfinches can be seen anywhere there are scattered bushes and trees, rough ground with thistles and other seeding plants. Likes orchards, parks, gardens, heathland and commons. Goldfinches can be seen all year round. Some leave the UK to winter in France, Spain and Belgium.

Episode 22/22

@ Newtownstewart, County Tyrone
As Saphira's tour of "Northern Ireland" comes to an end, he rests under a shady tree and looks back on a perfect day.
Break of Dawn Beech Tree
Reflecting the colours of the rising sun, this beech tree has become a tourist attraction for travelling pets far and wide.
Newtownstewart, County Tyrone
Northern Ireland: Newtownstewart, County Tyrone, is overlooked by hills called Bessy Bell and Mary Gray and lies on the River Strule below the confluence with its tributary the Owenkillew.
Saphira has completed their tour of "Northern Ireland"! Please select another pet as visitor, so it can also tour part of "The British Isles"!