Northern Ireland's most Instagrammable spots have been determined in a study conducted by travel experts Deals Points ahead of Valentine's Day.
The study analyzed tourist destinations in Northern Ireland by the number of Instagram hashtags associated with each location - and the 18th century Mussenden Temple toped the list with 30,892 hashtags.
Mussenden Temple, which is located on seacliffs near Castle Rock, towers over the Atlantic Ocean, boasting commanding views of Downhill Strand and distant views of the Inishowen Peninsula in Co Donegal.
Mussenden Temple and Downhill Beach, Co Derry. (Ireland's Content Pool)
Glenariff National Forest in Co Antrim, which has 22,107 Instagram hashtags, was voted as the second-most Instagrammable hotspot in Northern Ireland for Valentine's Day.
The forest covers over 1,000 hectares and features woodlands, lakes, waterfalls, and plenty of outdoor recreational spaces.
Glenariff, Co Antrim. (Ireland's Content Pool)
Castle Ward in Downpatrick ranked third on the list, primarily due to its connection to the hit HBO series "Game of Thrones."
Constructed in the 1760s, the castle overlooks Strangford Lough and was used as a filming location for Winterfell during the eight seasons of "Game of Thrones."
Castle Ward, Co Down. (Ireland's Content Pool)
The iconic Giant's Causeway in Co Antrim was fourth on the newly-published list.
One of the most popular tourist destinations on the island of Ireland, the Giant's Causeway is an area of around 40,000 interlocking hexagonal basalt columns.
Giant's Causeway in Co Antrim. (Getty Images)
Blackhead Lighthouse Keeper's Houses, situated on the north shore of Belfast Lough in Co Antrim, rounded out the top five.
The cottages were built at the turn of the 20th century and offer panoramic views of the surrounding area.
Blackhead Lighthouse and Gobbins View, Co Antrim. (Ireland's Content Pool)
Most Instagrammable Hotspots to visit this Valentine's Day in Northern Ireland:
- Mussenden Temple - Castlerock, Co Derry
- Glenariff Forest Park - Co Antrim
- Castle Ward - Downpatrick, Co Down
- The Giant's Causeway - Bushmills, Co Antrim
- Blackhead Lightkeepers House - Carrickfergus, Co Antrim
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Deal Points founder Andy Medearis said the new study can help couples choose where to visit on Valentine's Day.
"Everyone loves going on an adventure, but when it comes to planning something special for Valentine’s Day, people want to go the extra mile for their loved ones," Medearis said in a statement.
"Whether that’s because a proposal might be on the cards, or they just want to express how much they love their partner, having the perfect backdrop to commemorate the occasion can make all the difference."
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