Activities & Attractions in County Down

Things to do in County Down

The very geography of County Down offers variety in itself. There’s the Mourne mountains sweeping down to the sea. There’s Strangford Lough, the largest lough of its kind in Britain and Ireland. The Ards Peninsula has a sea-bitten flavour all of its own. Head inland, into Bronte Country, and everything changes as rock and sand quickly give way to farmland and woods.

It’s no surprise then that there’s also a wide variety of things to do and see in County Down.

Family fun never grows old here

Start with one of Northern Ireland’s most popular, fun-filled attractions. The Let’s Go Hydro Aqua Park just outside Belfast is packed with all kinds of activities, from open water swimming to waterslides, cable water sports, aqua rugby, tubing, wakeboarding and paddle-boarding. They’ve on-site glamping facilities, meaning you can make a weekend of it too.

Clearsky Adventure Centre at Old Castle Ward on the shores of Strangford Lough is another place where the sky’s the limit when it comes to things to do. Set amidst the remains of a medieval fortress, where scenes from both Vikings and Game of Thrones® were filmed, you’ll find yourself spoiled for choice. Axe throwing or archery? Cycling or coasteering? Sea safari or star-gazing from a glamping pod? You couldn’t make it all up and, fortunately, you don’t have to because it’s all there waiting for you.

The jewel in the crown – Hillsborough Castle

(Access is only available to the gardens and café during the winter. The Castle reopens in the spring).

Hillsborough Castle is one of the official Royal Palaces and is well worth visiting. It was built in Georgian style and splendour by Wills Hill and is beautifully set in 100 acres of well-tended parkland and gardens. A guided tour of the castle will trace the history of the palace as you move from one opulent room to another, including the magnificent State Rooms, the Red Room and Throne Room. Outside, you’re able to wander the grounds, discovering the restored Walled Garden, Lost Garden and a myriad of winding avenues, paths and lawns. After all that, head for the on-site cafe and gift shop, which are almost reasons to visit in themselves.

From a palace to a castle

Castle Ward, facing Strangford Lough, also offers another face to the world. It was in fact built in two contrasting styles. Why? Because the couple who built it, Bernard Ward, 1st Viscount Bangor, and his wife, Ann, simply couldn’t agree on the style and décor - and we’re not talking white or magnolia paint here! To compromise, the half of the castle facing the lough is built and decorated in an elaborate Gothic style, while the half facing inland is in a classical Palladian style. If that alone gives you a taste for the place, just wait until you get there. Apart from the house itself, there’s a stable yard which featured heavily in Game of Thrones®, plus cycling, walking, archery, horse-riding and acres of immaculately planted and tended grounds to explore.

Grand indoors to great outdoors – Mournes, Newcastle and more

After all that grandeur, get out and clear your head in the Mourne Mountains, which are perfect for hiking, criss-crossed as they are with countless walking trails and conveniently-placed car parks. Many of the accessible trails and paths will at some point lead you down into Silent Valley or up the slopes of Slieve Donard, or both. Either way, the Mournes make for a breath-taking outdoors experience. Even stepping off a trail to admire the panoramic views across the glittering Irish sea feels like an event in itself. Look out for the Cooley peninsula to the south, the Isle of Man to the north-east, with Mount Snowdon in Wales visible through binoculars on the clearest of days.

It’s a short hop from here to the popular seaside town of Newcastle, with its long silver strand, Royal County Down championship golf course, iconic Slieve Donard hotel and the usual seaside attractions for kids of all ages.

Another option worth exploring is the water, and there’s a lot of it to go around in these parts. Strangford Lough is both immense and intimate at the same time, with harbours, villages, marinas, slipways and quays dotted along its coastline. It’s a great place to take a kayak out for a few hours exploring the many islands, with hire shops and instructors always nearby.

Refuel, revive and imbibe as you explore

County Down plays host to a number of microbreweries, and if craft beer, local gins or homemade wines are of interest, we recommend you add a few of the following to your itinerary.

Shortcross Gin Distillery in Downpatrick, and the Echlinville Distillery out on the Ards peninsula are but a few of the brewers and distillers leading the way in our burgeoning craft drink revival. Each is worth a visit to take in the setting, learn about the perfection of the process, sample the wonderful products, and even take a souvenir - or a bottle - home with you too.

That’s just a whistle-stop tour of some of the highlights of this varied and vibrant county. Hopefully you’ll have found plenty of inspiration above, with more below – so get planning and away you go!

Whilst every effort has been made to ensure information is correct, we strongly advise checking in advance before you travel to your intended destination to ensure its open and book tickets if applicable.

Plan your trip

Stay
What's On
Things to Do
Food & Drink
Shopping

Things to Do Search

Type:

Area:

Or type a Location:

Keyword:

What's On Search

Dates

Start Date:

End Date:

Any date in the future

Type:

Area:

Or type a Location:

Keyword:

Food & Drink Search

Type:

Area:

Or type a Location:

Keyword:

Shopping Search

Type:

Area:

Or type a Location:

Keyword:

Number of results: 334

, currently showing 121 to 140.

Sort By A-Z Lowest A-Z Highest

Newry Leisure Centre

Newry

Address

Newry Leisure Centre, 60 Cecil Street, Newry, County Down, BT35 6AU

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 3031 3190

poolreception@nmandd.org

Type

Type:

Sport/Leisure Centre

Newry Leisure Centre is a new multi-million pound complex located in the city centre and is Northern Ireland’s latest state of the art leisure complex in the heart of Newry City.

More Info
Grey Point Fort

Helen's Bay

Address

Fort Road, Helen's Bay, County Down, BT19 1PU

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 9082 3207

scmenquiries@communities-ni.gov.uk

Price
Free

Type

Type:

Castle / Fort

Situated in Helen's Bay, Grey Point Fort is one of the best preserved early 20th century coastal forts anywhere in the British Isles.

Price
Free

More Info
Greencastle Royal Castle

Kilkeel

Address

Greencastle Pier Road, Kilkeel, County Down, BT34 4LR

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 9082 3207

scmenquiries@communities-ni.gov.uk

Price
Free

Type

Type:

Castle / Fort

Commanding the mouth of Carlingford Lough, the Castle has an eventful history. It was built in the 13th century, taken by Edward Bruce in 1316, attacked at least twice by the Irish in the late 14th century and maintained as a garrison up to 1590.

Price
Free

More Info
Facilities

Parking & Transport
- On site parking
Derry Churches

Portaferry

Address

11 Cloughey Road, Portaferry, County Down, BT22 1NG

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 9082 3207

scmenquiries@communities-ni.gov.uk

Price
Free

Type

Type:

Churches & Sacred Sites

These ruined churches are situated one and a half miles north east of Portaferry on the Tullymally Road, east of the A2 to Cloughey and are signposted from Portaferry.

Price
Free

More Info
Seacourt Print Workshop

Bangor

Address

75 Main Street, Bangor, County Down, BT20 5AF

Telephone
+44(0)28 9146 0595

info@seacourt-ni.org.uk

Type

Type:

Craft Workshops and Courses

Seacourt is a friendly open-access print workshop based in the seaside town of Bangor, Northern Ireland

More Info
Hillsborough Fort

Royal Hillsborough

Address

The Square, Royal Hillsborough, County Down, BT26 6AG

Telephone
0333 320 6000

info@hrp.org.uk

Price
Free

Type

Type:

Historic Sites, Houses, Castles & Buildings

Owned by Historic Royal Palaces, Hillsborough Fort was constructed in the 17th Century, and sits nestled in picturesque parkland in the heart of the town. Built to protect the road leading from Carrickfergus to Dublin, the fort has been a place of…

Price
Free

More Info
Facilities

Provider Preferences
- Free (parking charges may apply)
Ards Arts Centre

Newtownards

Address

Town Hall Arts Centre, Conway Square, Newtownards, County Down, BT23 4NP

Telephone
028 9181 0803

arts@ardsandnorthdown.gov.uk

Type

Type:

Arts Centre

Located in Newtownards’ beautifully restored Georgian Town Hall in the centre of town, the Ards Arts Centres a welcoming space which supports a wide range of community arts activities alongside our own initiatives.

More Info
Mourne Mountain Holidays

Address

45 Newtown Road, ROSTREVOR, Co Down, BT34 3BZ

Telephone
+44 (0) 7754709111

booking@mournemountainholidays.com

Type

Type:

Mountain Bike Operators

Mourne Mountain Holidays provides mountain bike guiding and lessons in the Mournes.

More Info
Holywood Maypole

Holywood

Address

High Street/Shore Street, Holywood, County Down, BT18 9AB

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 9127 0069

bangorvic@ardsandnorthdown.gov.uk

Price
Free

Type

Type:

Historic Sites, Houses, Castles & Buildings

Holywood's most well known feature is the town's Maypole, the only surviving in Ireland. Early maps show a Maypole has stood on the site since the 1620s and today is still the focus of the May Day Celebrations and Fair in the town.

Price
Free

More Info
Slieve Donard Tour - Mountain Ways Ireland

Newcastle

Address

Slieve Donard, Newcastle, County Down, BT33 0GR

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 3057 0220

info@mountainwaysireland.com

Type

Type:

Guided Tour

This is the one that everybody wants to do.Let Mountain ways Ireland guide you, 853 m up to the roof of Ulster.For the first part we trace cascading river pools and channels through a fragrant pine forest.
The Mountain rises beyond!

More Info
Maghera Church And Round Tower

Newcastle

Address

Carrigs Road, Newcastle, County Down, BT33 0JT

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 9082 3207

scmenquiries@communities-ni.gov.uk

Price
Free

Type

Type:

Historic Sites, Houses, Castles & Buildings

Maghera Church and Round Tower is of major historical importance and is among many important heritage sites throughout County Down.

Price
Free

More Info
Crawfordsburn Country Park, Glen Walk

Address

Co Down

Type

Type:

Walking & Hiking

Gently undulating walk through mature beech wood, closely following the course of the Crawford's Burn.

More Info
Facilities

Provider Preferences
- Free (parking charges may apply)
Somme Museum

Newtownards

Address

233 Bangor Road, Newtownards, County Down, BT23 7PH

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 9182 3202

claire@sommeassociation.com

Type

Type:

Visitor Centres & Museums

The Museum examines Ireland's role in the 1st World War with special reference to the cross-community involvement in the 3 local volunteer Divisions: the 10th and 16th (Irish) Divisions and the 36th (Ulster) Division.

More Info
Facilities

Parking & Transport
- On site parking
Facilities

Establishment Features
- Wifi
Clanrye River

Newry

Address

C/O Newry Visitor Information Centre, Begenal's Castle, Newry, County Down, BT34 2BY

Telephone
+44 (0)28 3083 3077

newryvic@nmandd.org

Type

Type:

Coarse Fishing

The Clanrye River is a medium sized river (12 miles, 5-20m) with good brown trout fishing. Pike and small minnow frequent the waters and in the summer months you will find a run of sea trout.

More Info
Facilities

Parking & Transport
- On site parking
Comber Non-Subscribing Presbyterian Church

Comber

Address

The Manse, 15 Windmill Hill, Comber, County Down, BT23 5EQ

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 9187 2265

Price
Free

Type

Type:

Churches & Sacred Sites

Comber Non-Subscribing Presbyterian Church was built on a site donated by James Andrews and the stained glass windows in the church depict family members. Members of the Andrews family are also buried in the graveyard.

Price
Free

More Info
Facilities

Provider Preferences
- Free (parking charges may apply)
Parking & Transport
- On site parking
Newcastle Golf Centre

Newcastle

Address

39 Castlewellan Road, Newcastle, County Down, BT33 0JY

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 4372 5328

michaelmcpolin@castledara.com

Type

Type:

Mini Golf and Pitch and Putt

Newcastle Golf Centre is fun for all the family from the beginner to the professional with Adventure Golf, Driving Range with automatic power tees, and 18 hold adventure golf course. Disabled access and refreshments on site.

More Info
Tollymore Forest Park - Arboretum Path

Address

Co Down

Type

Type:

Walking & Hiking

Follow the blue waymarker arrows along this trail, passing along the lower edge of the arboretum. The trail gently descends through a stand of semi-mature broad leaved trees before entering the forest plots area.

More Info
Facilities

Provider Preferences
- Free (parking charges may apply)
Discover Early Christian Down

Downpatrick

Address

Down County Museum, The Mall, Downpatrick, County Down, BT30 6AH

Telephone
+44 (0) 330 137 4049

mail@downcountymuseum.com

Type

Type:

Historical Tours

Discover Early Christian Down. Special tours for groups.
Explore the legacy of St Patrick. Discover the history of Down’s ancient high crosses. See real Early Christian artefacts from local Patrician sites.

More Info
Kiri Cottage Crafts

Ardkeen

Address

Kiri Cottage, 6 Loughdoo Road, Ardkeen, County Down, BT22 1HJ

Telephone
+44 (0)7968 342 928

kiricottagecrafts@aol.com

Type

Type:

Craft Workshops and Courses

Spinner, dyeing and knitting expert Christine Casey will help you find pleasure in the possibilities of wool. She empowers people with the knowledge, and hands on skills to go home and make. People with all level of skill can benefit from a trip to…

More Info
Downpatrick Racecourse

Downpatrick

Address

24 Ballydugan Road, Downpatrick, County Down, BT30 6TE

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 4461 2054

info@downpatrickracecourse.co.uk

Type

Type:

Equestrian

Downpatrick Racecourse is the oldest racecourse in Ireland, dating back to 1685. Today, we host 10 fixtures each year with our feature being the Randox Ulster National which this year takes place on Sunday 2nd April. The Racecourse is a hub of…

More Info
Facilities

Parking & Transport
- On site parking