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.

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Number of results: 334

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Mayobridge Golf Club

Mayobridge

Address

50 Crossan Road, Mayobridge, County Down, BT34 2HY

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 3085 0295

info@mayobridgegolf.com

Type

Type:

Parkland Golf Course

This 18 hole par 67 course is located in idyllic scenery with spectacular panoramic views of the Mourne Mountains and surrounding countryside. Mayobridge has been created to follow the contours of the land giving a mixture of par 3s, 4s and 5s.

Dates

From:

1 Jan 2025to31 Dec 2025

More Info
Facilities

Catering
- Restaurant on Premises - The Oak Tree Restaurant open Friday – Sunday. Family Friendly, Outdoor area, All welcome.
Downpatrick Presbyterian Church

Downpatrick

Address

27 Fountain Street, Downpatrick, County Down, BT30 6AW

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 4461 5201

owenpatterson@yahoo.co.uk

Price
Free

Type

Type:

Churches & Sacred Sites

Built 1954 to the designs of S. McIlveen of Ferguson and McIlveen, Belfast. This is a rebuilding of an earlier church on the site, dating from 1826.

Price
Free

More Info
Facilities

Parking & Transport
- On site parking
Whitewater Brewery Tours and Tap Room

Castlewellan

Address

Lakeside Brae, Clarkhill Road, Castlewellan, County Down, BT31 9RH

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 4377 8900

brewery.whitewater@gmail.com

Price
Price £20.00 Per Ticket

Type

Type:

Brewery/Distillery Tour

Join us for a look around our brewery, see how we make some of our award winning brews, then head back to the Tap House where you can try some ales and hear some tales.

Price
Price £20.00 Per Ticket

More Info
Facilities

Parking & Transport
- On site parking
Facilities

Catering
- Restaurant on Premises
Ulster Flying Club

Newtownards

Address

61 Portaferry Road, Newtownards, County Down, BT23 8SG

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 9181 3327

fly@ulsterflyingclub.com

Type

Type:

Microlight Flying

The Ulster Flying Club offers the opportunity to embark on an unforgettable adventure over the picturesque landscapes of Ards & North Down. Take to the skies in either our Microlight C42 or Cessna 172, you will soar above this stunning region,…

Dates

From:

1 Jan 2025to31 Dec 2025Open 09:00 - 17:00

More Info
Facilities

Provider Preferences
- Free (parking charges may apply)
Parking & Transport
- On site parking
Facilities

Establishment Features
- Wifi
Eastwell Farm Alpacas

Carrowdore

Address

6 Ballyblack Road East, Carrowdore, County Down, BT22 2HH

Telephone
+44 (0) 7734 905 152

eastwellfarm@gmail.com

Price
Price £5.00 to £20.00 Per Ticket

Type

Type:

Guided Tour

Whether you're on holiday, celebrating a special occasion, looking for a unique adventure with the kids or just mad about alpacas, this experience will be one to remember and a great activity for all to enjoy. All visits are personal and cater to…

Dates

From:

1 Jan 2025to31 Dec 2025Various Opening Times

Price
Price £5.00 to £20.00 Per Ticket

More Info
Facilities

Parking & Transport
- Car parking
Tripadvisor Traveller Rating
88 reviews
Mountpanther Farm Park

Clough

Address

39 Dundrum Road, Clough, County Down, BT30 8SJ

Telephone
07715 644145

info@mountpanther.com

Type

Type:

Open Farm

We are a family run farm park based just outside Newcastle, County Down. Established in 2017, we have been providing families with unforgettable experiences and lasting memories for over 5 years now.

More Info
Facilities

Parking & Transport
- Car parking
- On site parking
Rostrevor - Cloughmore Stone

Address

Co Down

Type

Type:

Walking & Hiking

Walks though a woodland with steep climbs and hills in places

More Info
Facilities

Provider Preferences
- Free (parking charges may apply)
Raholp Church

Downpatrick

Address

Bannaghan Road, Downpatrick, County Down, BT30 7JS

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 9082 3207

scmenquiries@communities-ni.gov.uk

Price
Free

Type

Type:

Churches & Sacred Sites

Restored ruins of a sixth century church of St. Tassach, said to have given the last rites to St. Patrick. Entrance through pillars.

Price
Free

More Info
The Market Cross

Newtownards

Address

High Street, Newtownards, County Down, BT23 7HZ

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 9182 6846

ardsvic@ardsandnorthdown.gov.uk

Price
Free

Type

Type:

Historic Sites, Houses, Castles & Buildings

At the east of High Street in Newtownards the Market Cross was built in 1636 but was destroyed by Commonwealth troops in 1653.

Price
Free

More Info
Facilities

Provider Preferences
- Free (parking charges may apply)
Historical Walk Through Dromore

Dromore

Address

Church Street, Dromore, County Down, BT25 1RZ

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 406 20232

tic@banbridge.gov.uk

Type

Type:

Walking Route - Medium (5-20 miles)

This is an interesting 5 mile self guided, mainly on road walk, in and around the historic town of Dromore, taking in some very pleasant countryside. The town dates back to the 6th century when St. Colman founded a monastery near the site of the…

More Info
Bike Mourne

Address

Various Locations, Castlewellan/Rostrevor/Newcastle, County Down

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 4377 0714

hello@bikemourne.com

Type

Type:

Cycling and Mountain Biking

Experience the Mournes by bike on road, track and trail with the guided and self-guided bike and electric bike tours or do it yourself with bike and electric bike hire. Explore the majestic mountains, dramatic coasts, stunning landscapes,…

More Info
Facilities

Parking & Transport
- On site parking
Facilities

Establishment Features
- Wi-fi available
Corrog Wood

Address

Co Down

Type

Type:

Walking & Hiking

Short walk through a recently planted deciduous woodland.

More Info
Facilities

Provider Preferences
- Free (parking charges may apply)
Welig Heritage Crafts - Willow Sculpture

Newtownards

Address

63 Cloughey Road, Nunsbridge, Newtownards, County Down, BT22 1NH

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 4277 1542

clivelyttle@btinternet.com

Type

Type:

Craft Workshops and Courses

Welig Heritage Crafts produce traditional willow basketry, bespoke baskets and sculptural pieces; gardenware, living willow installations and rustic furniture. we also undertake other traditional countryside skills like chair seating and drystone.

More Info
Facilities

Parking & Transport
- On site parking
Groomsport Golf Centre

Groomsport

Address

101 Springwell Road, Groomsport, County Down, BT19 6LX

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 9147 3586

info@groomsportgolfcentre.com

Type

Type:

Driving Range

Groomsport Golf Centre has been established for 22 years, we have 16 inside floodlit bays and over 100 yards of outside hitting bays. Our shop is well stocked with the latest brands at the best prices with our speciality being the golf trolley market

More Info
Tripadvisor Traveller Rating
194 reviews
Seaforde Gardens and Tropical Butterfly House

Seaforde

Address

Seaforde, Seaforde Demesne, Seaforde, County Down, BT30 8PG

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 4481 1225

info@seafordegardens.com

Type

Type:

Nature and Wildlife

Seaforde Gardens, Maze and Tropical Butterfly House promises a truly plant rich and nature-filled experience for visitors. Situated in the historic Demesne of Seaforde in County Down, which has been a family home for almost 400 years, visitors will…

More Info
Tripadvisor Traveller Rating
9 reviews
Hillsborough Forest

Royal Hillsborough

Address

22 Large Park, Royal Hillsborough, County Down, BT26 6AL

margaret.mcavoy@lisburncastlereagh.gov.uk

Type

Type:

Forest Parks

The looped walk around the forest lake is a popular choice among bird-watchers, dog walkers, photographers and nature-lovers. Enjoy free entry to the forest, with on site parking available, and almost 200 acres with way-marked routes providing a…

More Info
Facilities

Parking & Transport
- Car parking - Substantial free parking is available for 137 cars. There are 6 dedicated marked bays available for disabled visitors. Overflow parking is also available during weekends and school holidays. Bicycle racks are available for visitors who wish to cycle to the park, however bicycles are not permitted on the forest trails.
Cloghy Rocks

Downpatrick

Address

61 Shore Road, Strangford, Downpatrick, County Down, BT30 7NW

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 9185 3621

nieainfo@daera-ni.gov.uk

Type

Type:

Nature and Wildlife

Cloghy Rocks is a wonderful location as a number of seals are often spotted here. There are a lot of different habitats which makes this area home to a variety of small shellfish and worms.

More Info
Facilities

Provider Preferences
- Free (parking charges may apply)
Parking & Transport
- On site parking
Tripadvisor Traveller Rating
65 reviews
Redburn Country Park

Holywood

Address

Old Holywood Road, Holywood, County Down, BT4 2HL

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 9185 3621

nieainfo@daera-ni.gov.uk

Price
Free

Type

Type:

Country / Royal Park

Redburn Country Park is set on an escarpment above Belfast Lough. There are 7km of pathways with spectacular views of Belfast and the south Antrim hills.

Price
Free

More Info
Facilities

Provider Preferences
- Free (parking charges may apply)
Parking & Transport
- On site parking
Donaghadee Town Trail

Address

Co Down

Type

Type:

Walking & Hiking

This urban walk provides an opportunity to learn more about the buildings, monuments and streetscapes which have given the town its historical character.
Millisle Beach is a nearby attraction.

More Info
Facilities

Provider Preferences
- Free (parking charges may apply)
Central Mournes

Address

Co Down

Type

Type:

Walking & Hiking

A circular route in the central Mournes taking in sites such as Annalong Wood, Slievelamagan, Ben Crom Reservoir, Cove Mountain and Annalong Valley, with views over the Irish Sea and to the Isle of Man.

More Info
Facilities

Provider Preferences
- Free (parking charges may apply)