10 T e Travel Guide Sleep tight


Belfast has a burgeoning dining scene, innovative bars and excellent places to sleep after indulging. Here are some of the city’s best spots for 40 winks. Words: Sarah Barrell


Best for gilded glamour THE MERCHANT HOTEL A 2006 remodelling of Belfast’s 19th-century Ulster Bank, this 62-room Italianate sandstone confection crowning the Cathedral quarter remains the city’s most stylish place to stay. Rooms in the art deco-inspired wing glow with roll-top tubs in baby blue-accented bathrooms, and light bulb-framed dressers hide inside wardrobes. Four- poster beds and damask silk-panelled walls defi ne the original Victorian wing, whose heady opulence is topped by the Great Room, the domed central banking hall that’s a Belfast highlight for afternoon tea. T ere’s private dining in the bank’s underground vault and a spa, while T e Cloth Ear off ers the gregarious Irish pub experience. ROOMS: From £200. themerchanthotel.com


The Palm House at Galgorm Resort PHOTOGRAPH: GALGORM RESORT


Best for water babies GALGORM RESORT T is classic-meets-modern country house retreat off ers as much fun as you can have with your bathing clothes on, with an indoor-outdoor thermal spa surrounded by 163 acres of gardens. Bordered by the River Maine, outside Ballymena, this 125-room rural idyll feels more remote from Belfast than half an hour’s drive. Gnarly trees and fragrant gardens back hot tubs and heated loungers where you can snooze to the sound of a tumbling waterfall. Inside, there are more pools, a snow cave and climate rooms, along with a skin clinic and fi tness room. ROOMS: From £215. galgorm.com


Gear up


Stay safe and dry when riding off-road this winter with our round up of the best mountain biking clothes and accessories


AXS BIKE


SCOTT SPARK RC TEAM ISSUE Serious riders will fi nd this stylish,


lightweight bike a joy to ride over rugged terrain. Created with cross- country mountain bike racing in mind, it combines top carbon engineering with smooth wireless electronic shifting, disc brakes and high-speed suspension. Uphills can be easily tackled with plenty of grip, but it’s a lot of fun downhill, too. £4,999. scott-sports.com


Best for panoramic views GRAND CENTRAL A £30m makeover conjured this 300-room fi ve-star out of an offi ce block, towering 23 storeys over central Belfast. Opened in 2018, it stands head and shoulders above anything else in County Antrim, picture windows framing views out to sea and over the border to Ireland’s Mourne Mountains. T e guest rooms, restaurants and lobby remain business-like, albeit in a plush palate of muted browns, creams and golds, with luxe trimmings such as ESPA bath products. ROOMS: From £130. grandcentralhotelbelfast.com


Grand Central PHOTOGRAPH: JACK HARDY


Promotional Content • Saturday 28 January 2023 Culloden Estate & Spa PHOTOGRAPH: CHRISTOPHER HEANEY


Best for country living CULLODEN ESTATE & SPA T is 92-room landmark in the Holywood hills grew out of a Baronial-style 19th-century bishop’s palace. T e setting, just 10 minutes’ drive from the city, remains palatial: contemporary sculptures from Ireland’s Gormleys art dealers punctuate 12-acre gardens sloping towards Belfast Lough and the estate’s own pub; oil paintings, tapestries and chandeliers defi ne interior decor. A hotel since the 1960s, rolling renovations continue to update, adding wings, enlarging guest rooms (all with King Coil Cloud beds), and revamping the sizeable spa and modest pool. T e original building around reception is most atmospheric, while newer waterfront suites off er VIP lough views. ROOMS: From £200. cullodenestateandspa.com


Best for a bargain THE WARREN T is tastefully converted Victorian end-terrace is the newest addition to Queens Quarter’s growing hotel scene. T ere’s no restaurant, reception or staff on site (a code is supplied for check-in) but you’ll fi nd plenty of places to wine, dine and party nearby. High ceilings, wooden fl oors and gilded mirrors raise this budget off ering to something more boutique, and while the 10 guest rooms vary in size, all are en suite. ROOMS: From £49. thewarrenbelfast. co.uk.


First published in the Nov 2022 issue of National Geographic Traveller (UK). Read the feature in full at nationalgeographictraveller.co.uk/travel


SPECIALIZED MOUNTAIN LINER


BIB SHORTS WITH SWAT T ese mesh bib shorts have fi ve integrated pockets, spare layers and extra gear, so you won’t need a rucksack. An opening underneath the pockets means you don’t have to pull down the straps to take off the shorts. £90. specialized.com


HOPE UNION TC PEDALS


If you’re thinking of upgrading your pedals, these clip-in options are worth investing in. Expertly engineered, they have a large platform that’s easy to clip into, but have great grip when not engaged. T ey’re fully serviceable, rebuildable, supplied with two cleat options and come in six fun colourways. From £139.99. wiggle.co.uk


SHORTY EVO MUDHUGGER


RAPHA TRAIL LONG-SLEEVE TECHNICAL T-SHIRT


Made for high-quality riding


performance, this T-shirt is versatile enough to wear off the bike, too. It’s crafted from a lightweight, sweat- wicking, antibacterial honeycomb fabric to help with temperature regulation. A handy repair kit with colour-matched iron-on patches comes included. £65. rapha.cc


ENDURA MT500 FREEZING


POINT JACKET II T e new MT500 jacket by Endura shields against the cold, wind and rain. PrimaLoft Gold Active Insulation ensures great warmth- to-weight ratio, while the softshell fabric on the arms doesn’t restrict movement. Details include two-way zipped underarm vents and refl ective trims. £164.99. endurasport.com


T is mudguard fi ts on the front wheel to protect you from dirt. World-class downhill racers informed the design, making this piece of kit highly eff ective. T is version has a cable tie fi tting, with optional velcro fi tting packs, but a bolt-on version is also available. £22. themudhugger.co.uk


QUOC GRAN TOURER II


A splashproof upper, stiff midsole and fully recessed MTB/SPD cleat compatibility make this gravel shoe a safe bet. Quoc has married its love of classic design with practicality, including one-way air holes for ventilation, vibration-absorbing insoles and a grippy rubber compound outsole. £190. quoc.cc


First published in the Jan/Feb 2023 issue of National Geographic Traveller (UK). Read the feature in full at nationalgeographictraveller.co.uk/travel


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56