Looking for the perfect short getaway? Join Francesca McKee (@frans_travels) and her boyfriend Eunan as they team up with Discover Northern Ireland for three days of adventure in County Down. In this blog, they’ll take you along on their exciting journey, filled with stunning sights and unforgettable experiences. Read on to discover all the fun they had!
Day One
Short breaks are a favourite of ours, we just love being able to hit the pause button, broaden our minds and get away from it all for a few days, so when this opportunity to explore County Down was presented to us, we knew it was just too good to miss.
We left Belfast mid-morning and an hour later our giant adventure began with breadmaking at Tracey’s Farmhouse Kitchen Experience. It was such a relaxing way to start the trip! We found ourselves in the cosiest kitchen ever and had the best fun making breads with Tracey.
She was so accommodating and had no problem changing the recipes so that they were all gluten free. I loved this experience – I really was living my best Nigella life and by the time we had finished we had made our very own wheaten bread, potato bread and focaccia.
With the sun shining and Strangford Lough looking so stunningly calm, we took to the water as part of the Canoe and Cake experience. With some help from our instructor Joe, we enjoyed the trip discovering the sights and sounds of Ballymorran Bay and some of the little islands dotted around the beautiful Strangford Lough.
When we were finished on the Lough, we made the short stroll back to Tracey’s Farmhouse Kitchen where we were dined on freshly prepared, tasty treats in comfort, in front of a woodburning stove.
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After we’d said our goodbyes to Tracey and Joe, we headed to our home for the weekend - Enniskeen Estate where we were checked into our cosy cabin and wow! - what a view we had. From our bed we could look out and see the majestic Mourne Mountains in the distance – it all looked so peaceful and calming.
We tore ourselves away from the incredible comfort of our cabin to explore Newcastle and went for a walk along the promenade before grabbing a pint in O’Hares and having dinner at the Avoca Hotel.
The food was so yummy. I enjoyed a chicken caesar salad to start, while Eunan chose the Moules Mariniere. For mains Eunan devoured a delicious pizza while I had one of the best chicken burgers I’ve ever tasted. The chips were amazing and the onion rings were massive!
The cocktails are not to be missed either! I had a raspberry and rose clover club and still find myself thinking about how good it was at times.
With our tummies full, we made our way back to our cabin at Enniskeen Estate to prepare for day two of our giant adventure.
Day two
We hadn’t realised just how tired we were until we laid our heads on the pillow. The bed was just so comfy, it took us no time at all to fall asleep and we weren’t woken until the first rays of sunlight crept in through the windows.
I just love waking up when you’re on holiday. You can start the day at such a nice pace and know there is so much to look forward to!
And, as we sat making our way through our delicious breakfast hamper, staring out at the stunning Mourne Mountains, we knew instantly, we’d be hiking soon.
Neither of us are massive hikers and we hadn’t planned on doing this but we’re really glad we did. There are so many stunning routes to be taken across these mountains. We really enjoyed the walk up to Hare’s Gap where we stopped to enjoy a bacon bap (that we brought with us from our breakfast hamper) with a gorgeous view of Ben Crom reservoir.
After we made our way back down the mountains, we changed out of our hiking gear and headed into Newcastle to spend some time at the amusements. It was such great fun, we’re not overly competitive but I did enjoy beating Eunan’s high score at the basketball.
Ahead of our giant adventure, we asked my followers to make recommendations for where to eat and one of the most recommended spots was The Maghera Inn.
We were really looking forward to this so prebooked a table and it didn’t disappoint. The Guinness was great, it had such a cosy vibe and Eunan enjoyed his fish and chips and my chicken stack was so yummy.
After lunch we made our way to Killowen Distillery for a fascinating tour where we learnt all about the distillation process and of course, got to try some of their incredible range of spirits.
The gins were all really full of flavour and the coffee liqueur was stunning, this is a tour you really shouldn’t miss!
I really enjoyed the samples and tasting through the variety of spirits in Killowen, before it was time for our next stop, a short distance away at Nearynogs Stoneground Chocolate for their Master Craft Chocolate Experience. They are Northern Ireland’s first bean to bar chocolate makers and I was in heaven!
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They make so many creative flavours and it was great getting to try them all, they even make a delicious chilli hot chocolate which we enjoyed as the sun was setting. Pro tip - hot chocolate and sunsets really give stunning vibes.
For dinner, we travelled back along the coast to Newcastle or a delicious meal at Great Jones! We had chicken strips and salt’n’chilli squid to start and some beautifully cooked steaks for our mains, the food was delicious - we’ll definitely be back!
With such an action-packed day and the promise of more to come tomorrow, we made our way back to our cosy cabin to wind down and ensure we were rested and ready for the adventures that lay ahead.
Day three
I don’t think waking to these stunning views could ever get old – it’s such a calming vibe and really gives you the chance to reflect and prepare for the day ahead.
Before we departed Enniskeen, we took the chance to rejuvenate at its incredible spa overlooking Slieve Donard. It really is like a private oasis, there’s even an outdoor waterfall shower and an invigorating Riverstone foot spa on the relaxation terrace.
We do love a sauna and this one, with its views of Tollymore Valley really did give such relaxing vibes – we lost track of time just staring out at the stunning beauty of the area.
Keen to end our adventure on a high – we made our way to Castlewellan Forest Park to try out Life Adventure Centre’s e-bikes on Castlewellan’s epic mountain bike trails. It was such a fun experience, and the e-bikes made the hills a breeze, which also meant the photos we took at the top looked much better too!
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Before we made our way home, we stopped off at Finnebrogue Woods’ dog friendly café, Fodder in the Woods for a delicious lunch in stunning surroundings.
We really loved our giant weekend in County Down, there is such a wide variety of things to see and do here and it was amazing to be able to fill literally every moment with something unique and memorable. We honestly can’t wait to return, and show our friends the hidden gems we discovered during this trip.
It’s easy to plan your perfect short break with the help of discovernorthernireland.com. Make sure to check out the Things to Do section for inspiration on activities and attractions, and What's On for upcoming events you won't want to miss. Whatever you get up to, make sure you share your discoveries using #MyGiantAdventure
In Tracey’s Kitchen, people make friends as well as bread. Get ready to roll up your sleeves and start mixing and kneading dough for the soda and wheaten breads you'll be learning to make - and then eating! - all in the comfort of Tracey's delightful farmhouse.
Hidden along the Tollymore river in the Mourne Mountains lies a forest ‘day spa’ & boutique cabins in the woods with wood-fired hot tubs. Discover the Mournes’ best kept secret - where stunning mountain views and soothing river sounds fuse with spectacular wildlife encounters - Native Red Squirrels, Deer and Kingfishers abound.
"Where the Mountains of Mourne sweep down to the sea" (Percy French) The popular song has made the Mournes the best known mountains in Ireland. Distinctive and self contained, they are tucked away in the south east corner of Northern Ireland. Dominated by Slieve Donard, Northern Ireland's highest peak, this area of outstanding natural beauty is a haven for outdoor enthusiasts.
Located in the heart of the Mourne Mountains, Killowen Distillery has a ‘Kult’ following and an epic history, due in no small part to its great whiskeys and gins.
NearyNogs is a small family-run business that produces some of Northern Ireland’s finest, most irresistible chocolate, and they’re ready to welcome you in and show you how it’s made.
Bringing a fresh and exciting spin to the restaurant scene in Newcastle, Co Down – Great Jones Craft & Kitchen deliver a casual dining experience with a focus on quality and style.
Epic adventures are on offer all year round at Life Adventure Centre. Their extensive range of activities include mountain biking, stand-up paddleboarding, wet bouldering, rock climbing, sit on top kayaking, coasteering, electric biking and open canoeing - something for everyone!
