> Silent Valley, County Down On a September day, walking the silent valley to Ben Crom.
A long walk but worth it, the peace, beauty and stunning Ben Crom dam.
And you can get the bus back!! Yes.
David and Hilary Dawson |
> Castleward, County Down  From the quirky architecture, to the exquisite gardens, or the beauty of the coastline, Castleward is a great place to relax and watch the seasons go by.
Ann Marie Stewart |
> Slieve Bearnagh, Mourne Mountains, County Down  
My hidden treasure is Slieve Bearnagh in the Mournes Mountains, because only an hour from the car and you find yourself in a different world, where the hills and the sky want to share their secret with you and only you. Regardless of the weather, you find the hills are excellent company. Ann Marie Stewart |
> Portmuck, Islandmagee, County Antrim I understand Northern Ireland has alot of hidden treasures so I have really had to think about this, For me I think a beautiful secluded costal area is the area of Portmuck. We can drive there from Belfast through the scenic countryside and find a little habour with a sand and pebbled beach in the middle of Northern Irelands costal countryside. I really love this little area, it is never crowded and is a great place to go and take a stroll, a great place to go and unwind and a great place to go and have a bit of fun with the family, jumping off the harbour into the sea then taking a walk through the rocks and seeing how far we get. I think this is one of Northern Ireland true hidden treasures... Michael Lynch,
Belfast |
> Slieve Donard, Mourne Mountains, County Down  To me the top of Slieve Donard is a hidden gem (hidden because not everyone can make it to the very top!) but last September after a 6 hour climb, I was presented with an engagement ring and a marriage proposal and therefore quickly became my favourite place in Northern Ireland (Not just because of the amazing views!) The only problem is now everytime I climb a mountain I'll be expecting a diamond!
Gill Crouch |
> Gibbs Island, Killyleagh, County Down 
My favorite Northern Ireland destination is a National Trust island called 'Gibbs Island'. It is a small round shaped island in Killyleagh, Co. Down where I live. The reason i love this place so much is because it is so peaceful and at one with nature. I take my dogs for a walk there most mornings and the scenery is just beautiful, it is surrounded by water and sailing boats as well as local wildlife. It is the perfect place to start your day and it really puts me in touch with nature. Not many people know about this island and I often go for a walk knowing that I have the whole island to myself - well apart from the many birds, rabbits etc that live there, hidden. Laura Skinner
Killyleagh, County Down |
> Walled City of Derry  To walk Derry Walls is to walk history. With the Troubles now being a thing of the past it was fascinating for us to read the many plaques along the wall walk which took us completely through the events which made Derry. Our walk was in the rain, only a light drizzle but even that added to our enjoyment making the whole experience more atmospheric. After a while we stepped off the walk and enjoyed a pint of Guiness in a cozy welcoming pub!
Debra Blakeman-Barratt
Stafford |
> North Antrim Shores Mine's so hidden I'm not even sure where it is - I was flying over the north coast one day, and saw the most incredible strip of yellow sandy beach below me, gleaming in the sun with great Atlantic waves rolling in. Even though I was on a plane... I really wanted to be down there exploring... Fi Cleary
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> Antrim Castle Gardens, County Antrim  My favourite hidden treasure of Northern Ireland lies right on my doorstep, smack in the middle of Antrim Town! I love the Castle Grounds, which are only a few steps out of the town centre and a forgotten gem of nature and history. A beautiful, under used and little known retreat from the bustle of the town.
The gardens, sited on the shore of the Sixmilewater River, include the remains of Antrim Castle, of which only the Italianate Tower remains. Nearby are the ruins of the castle and still to be seen the below stairs accomodation gradualy returning to the earth. There is the "Wilderness" which is an original part of the garden and includes the round pond and meandering walks. The gardens also boast the magnificent 17th century water gardens, the earliest of their kind surviving in the British Isles. Not to mention the variety of wildlife, the parterre garden, the burial ground, the desmesne or the Motte! Of course following the destruction of the castle there is even a ghost said to walk the gardens which simply adds to the romance of the place. This is a lovely spot - often deserted, despite its proximity to the life of the town and my family and I enjoy using the gardens every week. Truly a hidden treasure - even if it is hiding in plain view of the shopping mall! Geraldine Esler
Antrim |
> Gortin Glen, County Tyrone I've been to Northern Ireland quite a few times but the most amazing place I went to was Gortin in Tyrone, we went during the winter time and although it was bitterly cold, it was the most amazing place ever. We walked up the hills and had our lunch overlooking the mountains (hills). The view was breathtaking and I never would have imagined a gem of a place like Gortin could have existed in Tyrone. If you want to go for a breathtaking walk then this is the place to do it, the village of Gortin is a beautiful spot with a lovely little restarant where we had a good warm cup of coffee after, very friendly people and just a lovely day out for parents and kids. Great exercise to be had walking up those hills!
Theresa Hughes
Seefin, Cavan |
> Carrick-a-rede Rope Bridge, County Antrim  I was a child, my Mother and Father used to rise early on Sunday mornings, pack up the car and take us, 'The childer' as we were referred to out on a 'magical tour.' It may have been a drive up the Larne coast were we would shout religiously and, rather strangely, "Ughy Ughy Ughty, Oi, Oi, Oi" as we passed under the old stone bridge or they would drive us to the North coast passed the rippling hills and cragged rocks. My mum would always fain horror as we pulled up to Carrick-a-rede rope bridge and once managed to cross it on her hands and knees to a burst of applause.
I was always awestruck at the melody of the waves, the tiered green giant that sheltered the large cavernous splinters in the rocks and the tiny fisherman's cottage that nestled on the island. My mum used to tell me that fairies lived in the caves and scampered up the rocks at night to keep watch over the island. This was my magical place. I told her that when I was older I was going to move to Portrush so that I could go there every day. I did for a while when I was older and she always laughs about what she calls my childhood whim to this day.
For a while I forgot about this magical place, but a few years ago my husband's seven year old brother came over for a visit from New York. We decided to take him to Carrick-a-rede and to take the more scenic coastal road. He was mesmerised on the journey having never seen a sheep before in the flesh. When we arrived at Carrick-a-rede, he was as mesmerised as I was as a child. He loved the tiny islands, which we nicknamed after him, Lorcan Island, and the large dark caves that meet the sea. I told him what my mum had told me about the legend of the fairies; he was enthralled by the story, the bridge and as captivated by the lonely cottage on the island. We could hardly persuade him to leave!
Carrick-a-rede is the stuff of fantasy, it has been a big part of many childhoods in Northern Ireland.
This extract of poetry reminds me of my childhood adventures to this special place:
“Come Fairies, take me out of this dull world, for I would ride with you upon the wind and dance upon the mountains like a flame!” (William Butler Yeates)
Eliz McIlvenny |
> Cushendun, County Antrim  My favourite Northern Ireland holiday place is Cushendun Co. Antrim. This is a photo of 4 generations of my family at our accommodation with the beach behind us on a 2 week summer holiday. There were 22 of us in total, all staying in 3 houses we had rented right on the beach. The weather was perfect for the whole 2 weeks we could have been abroad and we celebrated my sister's 59th, my stepmum's 60th and a nephew's and bother in law's birthday all of which were in July. We had a fantastic time that all of us will remember for years to come.
Cushendun is definately a hidden gem although it's one I would prefer to keep quiet about as I don't want it to change!
Roberta Shillcock
Shotatton, Shrewsbury |
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