Not many people associate the writer C S Lewis, famous for his children’s series of novels, The Chronicles of Narnia, with Belfast.

An even bigger surprise is that there is now a CS Lewis coach tour following in the author’s illustrious footsteps.

I joined the tour on a sunny July Sunday outside the Linen Hall Library, the tour bus packed to capacity with a cosmopolitan crowd of various ages.

The tour guide, Sandy Smith, is highly knowledgeable on Lewis and his work and especially his local roots, and gave a lively and absorbing talk as we explored locations in east Belfast.

Even for Lewis buffs it was an eye-opener. The tour normally lasts about two-and-a-quarter hours, but such was Sandy’s manifest enthusiasm and that of the fans it took about three.

The American lady sitting beside me on the coach seemed impressed by the tour and I think that was the general opinion.

If Belfast is to promote itself as a first-rate tourist destination it needs high calibre attractions like the CS Lewis tour and Sandy’s is second to none.

One intriguing fact I discovered was the origin of the name Narnia, but if you want to know that you’ll have to join the tour! You won’t be disappointed.

Stan Howes

Belfast