Geography Study Trips to Ireland & Northern Ireland

Curriculum Topics

Ecosystems

Coastal landscapes

Landscapes of the UK

Fieldwork Studies

Changing Cities

Population

Why Ireland & Northern Ireland?

A Geography study trip to Ireland & Northern Ireland is a great way to take learning outside of the classroom. Studies on the UK & Ireland form such a huge part of GCSE & A Level Geography studies. Ireland & Northern Ireland offer an abundance of geographical treasures located on our doorstep. Board a ferry to travel over the Irish Sea and you could be in the heart of Dublin within a couple of hours. Ireland’s scenery is so unique and almost medieval, that even Game of Thrones was filmed there recently.

Geology at its finest

Whether that’s exploring the evolving cities of Dublin and Belfast, studying the eroding coastlines, or completing fieldwork in the mountains, any geography student would take so much from the Emerald Isle. A visit to the Giant’s Causeway even explores volcanic study themes. Visit the 40,000 basalt columns created by a volcanic eruption more than 60 million years ago. Different regions play host to many different types of rocks, all dating back to different geological periods. Because of tectonics and glaciers, the sea level has risen and fallen, and the rocks formed because of this can be seen around the entire coastline.

Human Geography in Ireland & Northern Ireland

But it’s not just the physical geography that can be examined. The human geography changes are just as evident. Our tours offer visits to venues such as the Titanic Museum and the Guinness Storehouse. Here you can see how production and industrialisation has transformed the economic climate. Gweedore in County Donegal is home to multiple ghost villages including Inishirrer Island, a thriving fishing community now abandoned by its inhabitants because of economic downturns. Houses, businesses and entire communities all lay empty, with the surrounding villages determined to make it great again

 

What to do on a study trip to Ireland & Northern Ireland?

There are so many activities for students to expand and explore their Geography knowledge. Here we have just a few excursions we can include in a bespoke itinerary.

Dublin is an atmospheric place. A city tour will show you the historic sights of the city, including Trinity College where famous literary greats graduated including Bram Stoker. Take in the stunning St Patrick’s Cathedral and Dublin Castle. Why not carry out some fieldwork studying the city’s economic changes?

Known as the ‘Gateway to the Glens’. This national park is home to three waterfalls all along a three-mile walkway. Explore the origination of the waterfalls, the changing landscapes, as well as the rivers that run through the forest.

Built in 1500, this castle is an iconic part of the Northern Ireland coastline. Ruined by hundreds of years of coastal erosion, this spectacular fortress is a perfect demonstration of the power of the elements. As the backdrop to the long-abandoned Dunluce Village, visitors can explore the remains of old cobbled streets and settlements. The history behind this castle is almost unbelievable, with links to the Spanish Armada and Elizabeth I. It was once owned by Winston Churchill!

Carrick-a-rede Island is an ancient volcanic plug- hardened lava in the neck of a volcano. Marine erosion has exposed it above water, and even though the eruption was 60,000 years ago, there is still evidence of volcanic ash. Fisherman have been building bridges over to the island for 350 years, due to its appeal to salmon. More recently the National Trust took over building a safe and accessible bridge over the island. An exhilarating experience, a look to the sea below shows caves as well as a hive of marine life. Crossing isn’t compulsory, but once you do, explore the flora and fauna of the island as well as an old fisherman’s cottage.

  #dunlucecastle by @fiutos #ilovecastles . . #castles #wonderful_castles #castlelovers #castlerock #stonewall #romanticcastle #wonderfulcastle #beautifulcastle #gothiccastle #magiccastle #architecture #arcitectural   A post shared by Castles (@wonderful_castles) on

No visit to Dublin is complete without a visit to the iconic Guinness Storehouse in St James’ Brewery. Learn all about the brand history spanning over 250 years and explore the production and worldwide distribution of the product synonymous with Ireland.

The entire west coast of Ireland is known as the ‘Wild Atlantic Way’. The entire coastline has been carved and created by millions of years of erosion, which has caused some of the beautiful landscapes you could ever imagine. We can tailor a tour to any part of the west, whether that is seeing the Northern Lights at Malin Head- the most Northerly point of Ireland or exploring the cliff coasts that span from Galway to Kerry.

Situated in Dublin’s docklands, this interactive experience takes visitors on a journey to discover the story of Irish emigration. See why people left, the world they found, and how they influenced it and the effect this had on the country. Retrace individual stories and their achievements around the world with video, image and sound.

This park prides itself on its conservation of biodiversity and landscape. Offering educational programmes and tours, students can explore the wildlife as well as the monastic ruins, and execute field studies.

This UNESCO heritage site is a place of history and wonder. The 40,000 basalt columns left behind by volcanic eruptions more than 60,000 years ago attract visitors far and wide. Offering guided tours with interactive guides, the local tourism authorities are extremely proud of this geographical monument. A visit here will explore how the columns came to appear on the Northern Ireland coastline, in their unique form.

Situated on the dock where the ill-fated RMS Titanic was built, this interactive exhibition tells the story of the construction of the ship as well as the shipyard’s history. Shipmaking was a huge part of Northern Ireland’s industrial revolution and the story starts right at the beginning. The different exhibition rooms explore different chapters of the story from construction, right through to the exploration of the wreck. A fantastic experience telling such an important story in Belfast’s history.

Originally built in 1796, this prison was built to replace the old dungeons nearby. During the fight for Irish independence, the prison was home to some of the most influential leaders of the revolution. It was viewed as a symbol of oppression for some time, but now is a museum showcasing the history of Irish nationalism.

Example Itinerary 

Our educational travel experts have spent considerable time crafting a ready-made itinerary for your Geography Study trip to Ireland & Northern Ireland, which you will find below entitled ‘Cross the Border’. However, we can also create a tailored itinerary to meet the educational needs of your group.

Day 1: Coach from school and ferry from Holyhead to Dublin. City Tour. Local Dinner Day 2: EPIC Immigration Museum. Wicklow Mountains. Travel to Belfast. Local dinner. Day 3: Belfast coastal tour including Glenariff, Portstewart Strand, Dunluce Castle, Giant’s Causeway and Carrick-a-rede. Local dinner. Day 4: Titanic Museum. Coach back to ferry port. Sail back to Holyhead. Coach back to school.

Getting there

Out of all our destinations, the Emerald Isle is the easiest to get to! We can arrange flights from your local airport with low-cost airlines such as Easyjet, Ryanair and Aer Lingus. If you would prefer the ferry, we can arrange a coach to collect your group from the school gates, take you on tour, and return you home when the tour is finished. We can facilitate any arrangements that suit your group’s best interests.

Where to Stay

An Oige- Dublin International Hostel Hostels are safe and affordable centres for these trips based on the volume of time committed to exploring. This converted convent building provides a fantastic base for schools. It is just a ten-minute walk from The Spire, and breakfast is provided as well as free WI-FI. Clean, safe and in a fantastic location for the city centre.

Belfast International Youth Hostel This hostel is based a short walk from the City Centre and offers a range of rooms from dorms to doubles. A café on the ground floor offers breakfast, lunch & dinner.  Guests have access to free WI-FI when in the public areas. Reception is manned 24/7.

When is the best time of year to visit?

You can visit Ireland and Northern Ireland anytime of the year.

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To find out more, call us on 03333 110335 or email info@msgtours.com

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Our recommendations

Read about where other groups have been to on their study trips here:

The Chase School: Geography Trip to Morocco

Lawrence Sheriff School: Modern Foreign Languages Trip to Cologne

 

Let’s talk.

 

Let’s talk.

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