The National Organizing Committee has planned an exciting programme for ISF World Seed Congress 2011 Accompanying Persons. More details will be distributed by email (for those who provided email addresses) prior to the Congress. Registration for Accompanying Persons includes the Opening Ceremony, Welcome Party, Gala Dinner and the organized tour programme on Monday 30 May 2011. Children under 12 years pay no registration fee and may not attend the Opening Ceremony or Gala Dinner.
Accompanying Persons' Programme
Monday 30 May 2011
Belfast City Tour & Ulster Folk and Transport Museum Visit
(included in Accompanying Person Registration Fee)
Rate for Delegate - GBP 50
| 09:00 h - 11:45 h |
Opening Ceremony and Reception |
| 12:00 h - 13.30 h |
Belfast City Tour |
| 13:30 h - 16:15 h |
Ulster Folk and Transport Museum Visit (Including Afternoon Tea) |
| 16:15 h - 17:00 h |
Coach returns to Belfast |
Please note: There is a choice of two tours on Tuesday 31 May 2011.
Tuesday 31 May 2011 (Option 1)
Strangford Lough and North Down Tour
(Not included in Accompanying Person Registration Fee)
Rate for Accompanying Person and Delegate: GBP 95
| 09:00 h |
Coach departs Belfast |
| 10:00 h - 12:15 h |
Visit historic Mount Stewart house and gardens |
| 12:15 h - 13:00 h |
Scenic drive along the shores of Strangford Lough |
| 13:00 h - 14:15 h |
Lunch in Portaferry Hotel |
| 14:15 h - 15:15 h |
Ferry to Strangford village and travel to Castleward |
| 15:15 h - 16:15 h |
Visit Castleward stately home |
| 16:15 h - 17:00 h |
Coach returns to Belfast |
Tuesday 31 May 2011 (Option 2)
Giant's Causeway Tour
(Not included in Accompanying Person Registration Fee)
Rate for Accompanying Person and Delegate: GBP 95
| 09:00 h |
Depart Belfast |
| 09:00 h - 11:00 h |
Travel along the Antrim coastal route, stopping at Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge |
| 11:00 h - 12:30 h |
Bushmills Distillery visit |
| 13:00 h - 14:00 h |
Lunch in Portrush |
| 14:15 h - 15:00 h |
Giant's Causeway visit |
| 15:30 h - 17:00 h |
Travel back to Belfast by inland route |
For the Cancellation Policy, please click here
Programme Details
Monday 30 May 2011 - Belfast City Tour & Ulster Folk and Transport Museum Tour
You will be collected by a luxury coach outside the Waterfront Hall, and taken on an exciting guided tour of Belfast. You will see all the key Belfast sights including Belfast City Hall, Titanic Shipyards, Stormont and Parliament Buildings, Cathedral Quarter, Crumlin Road Jail and Courthouse, Shankhill Road, Falls Road, Belfast Peace Wall and Queen's University. The next stop will be the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum where you will step back in time and uncover a way of life from 100 years ago. Discover cottages, farms, schools and shops as you wander through the beautiful parkland of the Folk Museum, with costumed visitor guides demonstrating traditional crafts. The open air museumis complemented by the Folk Galleries showing how food, farming, everyday occupations and lifestyles have changed through time. You will have afternoon tea at the Museum and will also have the opportunity to visit the Transport Museum, one of the finest in Europe. Then it will be time to board the luxury coach back to the Waterfront Hall, Belfast.
Tuesday 31 May 2011 - (Option 1) - Strangford Lough and North Down Tour
You will be collected by a luxury coach outside the Waterfront Hall, and you will travel through North Down to the beautiful Mount Stewart House and Gardens. Mount Stewart is one of the most unique and unusual gardens in the National Trust's ownership with the garden reflecting a rich tapestry of design and great planting artistry that was the hallmark of Edith, Lady Londonderry. You can join an engaging tour of the house, revealing its fascinating heritage and historic world-famous artefacts and artwork, buy some local craft products in the shop and enjoy a coffee at the Bay Restaurant. You will then travel along Strangford Lough, through some of the quaint villages and lunch at the historic Portaferry Hotel, in its award winning restaurant. After lunch, you will travel on the Strangford Ferry to the village of Strangford and then visit the Castleward estate with its eccentric 18th-century house with two distinctly different style, classical and gothic! You will have an opportunity to take a guided tour of the house of take a walk through the truly beautiful walled demesne with walking trails, exotic garden, stunning vistas and picturesque farmyard. Then it's back on board the coach bound for the Waterfront Hall, Belfast.
Tuesday 31 May 2011 - (Option 2) - Giant's Causeway Tour
You will be collected by a luxury coach outside the Waterfront Hall and on this guided tour you will travel along the stunning Antrim Coast, an area of immense beauty and breathtaking scenery, stopping off to view the exhilarating Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge. Travelling through the coastal villages and the beautiful Glens of Antrim, you will arrive in Bushmills. You will visit the Old Bushmills Distillery, where you can experience the crafts and skills of making an Irish Whiskey. After the tour, you can enjoy a complimentary glass of the final product, one of Bushmills famous whiskeys. Then you will make the brief journey to Portrush where you will stop for lunch at 55 Degrees North - a restaurant which boasts a stunning coastal location overlooking Portrush's East Strand beach, where you can drink in the beauty of the Causeway Coast. Then after lunch onto the world famous Giant's Causeway site. Often known as the 'eighth wonder of the world', the Giant's Causeway is among the most beautiful and awe inspiring places in the world. The 40,000 basalt columns have entered Irish myth and legend, and stand as testament to Ireland's prehistoric volcanic activity. Then it's back on the coach, taking the inland route back to Belfast's Waterfront Hall.
Wednesday 1 June 2011
Free day. Below are some options of tours which you can organise yourself by making direct contact with the listed operators.
Belfast City Walking Tours
Time
- Historic Belfast Tour-Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday 14:00 h
- The Blackstaff Tour- Saturday 11:00 h
Rate
- Adults, Concessions, Children, Family – GBP 6
Inclusions
Notes
- All Tours depart from Belfast Welcome Centre, 47 Donegall Place, Belfast apart from the additional tour on Saturday which leaves from The Blackstaff Way
Itinerary
Belfast City Walking Tours brings a range of interesting guided walking tours. They specialize in giving the visitor the best introduction to the heart of Belfast.
Belfast developed between three rivers; the Blackstaff, Farset and the Lagan. You are invited to get an insight into the Belfast of the past and learn about the people who lived and worked along the banks of the three rivers and finally to see Belfast in a new and fascinating way.
Belfast City Hall Tour
Time
Rate
Inclusions
Notes
-
They are available on a first-come, first-served basis (no booking needed) and leave from the reception area inside Belfast City Hall.
-
Tours last for approx 1 hour
-
From Monday - Friday, visitors can access City Hall via the front entrance on Donegall Square North, the side entrance on Donegall Square East and the back gate at Donegall Square South.
Itinerary
Led by an experienced guide, they last around one hour and uncover the history of Belfast City Hall, while exploring some of its finest features.
Ulster Museum Welcome Tour
Time
Rate
Inclusions
-
Walking tour covering 5 floors of the Museum
-
Introduces the museum’s collections
-
Led by an Ulster Museum Visitor Guide
Notes
-
Lasts for approximately one hour
-
Sign up at the Ulster Museum Welcome Desk on the day of the tour
-
Maximum of 12 people per tour on a first come first served basis
Itinerary
This walking tour which covers 5 floors of the museum is led by an experienced Ulster Museum Visitor Guide. The beautifully presented exhibits ranged from modern costume design to cultural and natural history. It also includes a very thoughtful and moving display on the Troubles.
Titanic Tour Option 1
Time
- Monday- Sunday
- 12:30 h, 14:00 h and 15:30 h
Rate
- Adult – GBP 10
- Concessions – GBP 8
- Child – GBP 8
- Senior Citizens- GBP 8
- Family -GBP 30 (includes 2 adults and 2 children)
Inclusions
Notes
- Departs from Jetty 2 beyond the sculpture of the big fish.
Itinerary
Scheduled guided Titanic tours take in the historic Harland & Wolff shipyards and the famous Titanic sites around Belfast Harbour. Although many of the riverside Harland & Wolff sheds were demolished in early 2002 and those sites/sights are now gone, their demolition has actually provided a much better view of the Titanic slipways which were previously hidden by these same sheds.
The harbour area itself has always been a romantic and mysterious place, full of interesting sights, sounds and history, an exciting place which reeks of adventure and far off places! As a busy working port, most of it has been inaccessible to the public for many years unless you were employed in the shipping or shipbuilding industries, or were a passenger aboard an incoming or outgoing ferry or liner. This tour is a unique opportunity to experience all those exciting travel urges that seem to grip your senses in such a place!
Titanic Tour Option 2
Time
Rate
Notes
-
Last tour will take place at 15:30
-
Tours should last approximately 3 hours
-
Longer tours are available for those wishing to pass a full day in Belfast. As well as the Titanic tour as outlined above, you will see Northern Ireland's historic Parliament Buildings at Stormont, Belfast Castle on the slopes of the Cavehill and the notorious Falls and Shankill Roads including sections of the Peace Line. You will also pass the former jail and courthouse, connected by an underground tunnel. This tour can be designed to include a lunch break at a city centre restaurant. It lasts approximately seven hours, but can be tailored to suit your itinerary. Cost for a full day tour is dependent on numbers but is approximately £160 for a party of 4.
-
Early booking is preferable
Itinerary
The original & ONLY Titanic themed tour in Belfast guided by the direct descendant of a crew member…
The only Titanic themed tour officially endorsed by the
Belfast Titanic Society, the tour is conducted by Susie Millar, the great-granddaughter of Thomas Millar, who worked in Harland & Wolff on the construction of Titanic & then sailed onboard her as an engineer on the fateful maiden voyage to New York in April 1912.
Locations include, Dunallon - Home of Thomas Andrews, Titanic's Designer
Titanic & Olympic's Slipways
SS Nomadic - Last remaining vessel of the White Star Line
Harland & Wolff Drawing Office - Where Titanic's plans were drawn
Titanic Memorial - Commemorating those who lost their lives from Belfast
Belfast Splash Tour
Time
- Departs daily from Victoria Square Shopping Mall at 10:00 h, 11:30 h, 13:00 h, 14.30 h and 16:00 h
Rate
- Adult – GBP 15
- Concessions – GBP 12
- Child – GBP 10
- Family – GBP 45
Inclusions
- Notable landmark sights include:
The Lagan Lookout Weir, Botanic Gardens, Queens University, Odyssey Arena, Crown Bar, Grand Opera House, Titanic Shipyards, The Europa Hotel and Belfast City Hall.
Notes
- The tour will last for approx. 1 hour.
- Each tour is given by an experienced guide with a background in entertainment.
- Congress delegates will receive 10% discount on Splash Tours if conference pass is shown at departure.
Itinerary
Explore the historic city of Belfast on land and then splash into the River Lagan on the famous amphibious craft affectionately known as 'Duckling'. Belfast Splash Tours ensure a truly memorable sightseeing experience. Each Duck Tour is conducted by experienced tour guides with a background in entertainment.
Value Cabs Tour- Belfast City Tour
Time
- Available 24 hours- 7days a week
Rate
- GBP 24 per hour (price based on 4 sharing)
Where
- Pick up and drop at hotel of your choice
Notes
- Uniformed drivers. Executive and six seaters available.
Itinerary
City Hall, Queen`s University, Parliament Buildings Stormont, Shankill - this also includes murals and the peace line, The Grand Opera House, Botanic Gardens, St.Anne`s Cathedral, Albert Memorial Clock, Belfast Castle, Falls Road - this includes political religious murals and the peace line, The Ulster Hall, The Ship Yard - including the famous Harland & Wolff cranes.
Tours can be pre-booked by telephone +44 (0) 28 9080 9080.
Belfast Zoological Gardens
Time
Rate
Where
- Belfast Zoological Gardens
Antrim Road
Belfast
BT36 7PN
Itinerary
Belfast Zoo is the top fee-paying visitor attraction in Northern Ireland, receiving more than 300,000 visitors a year. Located in north Belfast, the zoo's 55 acre site is home to more than 1,200 animals and 140 species. The majority of our animals are in danger in their natural habitat. The zoo also carries out important conservation work and takes part in European and international breeding programmes which help to ensure the survival of many species under threat.
For more information please contact Belfast Zoo: +44 (0) 28 9077 6277
Belfast Castle
Time
Rate
Where
Itinerary
Belfast Castle is adjacent to one of the highest spots in Belfast, Cave Hill, and offers great views over Belfast Lough and the city itself, especially on clear and sunny days. Belfast Castle Estate is a popular area for walkers, hikers and cyclists, who enjoy way marked trails around the grounds before popping inside for tea or coffee or something light to eat. If you prefer a more challenging route, nearby Cave Hill Country Park leads directly to the summit of Cave Hill itself, with breathtaking views.
