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: 331

, currently showing 181 to 200.

Sort By A-Z Lowest A-Z Highest

Hillmount BBQ Academy

Gilnahirk, Belfast

Address

56/58 Upper Braniel Road, Gilnahirk, Belfast, County Antrim, BT5 7TX

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 9044 8213

alan@hillmount.co.uk

Type

Type:

Cookery School

Hillmount offers one of the largest BBQ Showrooms in Ireland with trained specialists to help you make the right decision when choosing your BBQ. View our full range of gas and charcoal grills online at www.hillmount.co.uk.

More Info
Facilities

Parking & Transport
- On site parking
Drumawhey Junction Railway

Donaghadee

Address

60 Upper Gransha Road, Donaghadee, County Down, BT21 0LZ

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 9446 1272

trains@drumawhey.com

Type

Type:

Miniature Railway

This 7 1/4" gauge miniature railway has about 2km of track with a variety of routes including bridges, cuttings, embankments, gradients and a twin-track tunnel. There is a station, picnic tables and the ticket office includes a small shop.

More Info
Facilities

Parking & Transport
- On site parking
Mourne Gullion Strangford Geopark

Downpatrick

Address

Downpatrick, County Down, BT30 6GQ

Telephone
+44 (0) 33 0137 4000

susan.mcclay@nmandd.org

Type

Type:

Forest Parks

Mourne Gullion Strangford Geopark is a UNESCO Global Geopark and recognised Area of Outstanding Beauty that seamlessly blends stunning landscapes, rich geological history, and vibrant cultural heritage.

More Info
Ultimate SUP NI

Donaghadee

Address

114 Killaughey Road, Donaghadee, County Down, BT21 0BE

Telephone
+44 (0) 7717 777 995

ultimatesupni@gmail.com

Type

Type:

Canoeing

Ultimate SUP NI provides efoiling lessons and experiences along side its very popular Paddle Boarding (SUP) school.

More Info
Facilities

Parking & Transport
- Car parking
- On site parking
- Parking (free)
Tripadvisor Traveller Rating
31 reviews
Tyrella Beach

Clough

Address

Clanmaghery Road, Clough, County Down, BT30 8SU

Telephone
+44 (0) 330 137 4046

delamont.park@nmandd.org

Type

Type:

Beach

Tyrella beach and conservation area is a small, enclosed dune complex within Dundrum Bay. It is a wide, flat, sandy beach two kilometres long and backed by 25 hectares of mature dunes in a conservation area.

More Info
Facilities

Provider Preferences
- Free (parking charges may apply) - Parking Charges apply from Easter to September (weekends only) & July & August (daily) 10am - 6pm. www.visitmournemountains.co.uk/parking
Parking & Transport
- Parking (charge) - Parking Charges apply from Easter to September (weekends only) & July & August (daily) 10am - 6pm. www.visitmournemountains.co.uk/parking
Mourne Road Tours - Craft Brewery Tour

Castlewellan

Address

Drumee Gardens, Castlewellan, County Down, BT31 9EJ

Telephone
+44 (0) 7368 529 714

info@mourne-road-tours.co.uk

Type

Type:

Brewery/Distillery Tour

Northern Ireland has become one of the most prominent players in the craft beer and gin boom across the world, and this exciting tour will take you to visit three of the region’s biggest players in the industry.

More Info
Island Hill & North Strangford Nature Reserve

Address

County Down

Type

Type:

Walking & Hiking

Accessible at low-tide, this walk around Rough Island provides magnificent views of Strangford Lough and is an excellent view point for bird watching.

More Info
Facilities

Provider Preferences
- Free (parking charges may apply)
Comber Town Trail

Address

Co Down

Type

Type:

Walking & Hiking

A walking trail of Comber town, County Down. This circular route will take the walker on a journey to discover more about buildings, monuments and streetscapes which have given the town its historical character.

More Info
Facilities

Provider Preferences
- Free (parking charges may apply)
Discover the Old Gaol of Down

Downpatrick

Address

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

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 4461 5218

mail@downcountymuseum.com

Type

Type:

Historical Tours

Discover the old Goal of Down, 1796-1830, Find out about its prisoners. Investigate 1798 and Thomas Russell. Follow the story of transportation to Australia. Explore the story with an expert guide.

More Info
Pirates Adventure Golf

Dundonald, Belfast

Address

111A Old Dundonald Road, Dundonald, Belfast, County Antrim, BT16 1XT

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 9048 0220

info@piratesadventuregolf.com

Type

Type:

Mini Golf and Pitch and Putt

Set in fully landscaped surroundings players must plot their way round the fun and exciting challenges of each hole and enjoy specifically designed special effects, which are unique to Pirates Adventure Golf.

More Info
SOAK Seaweed Baths

Newcastle

Address

5 South Promenade, Newcastle, County Down, BT33 0EX

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 4372 6002

info@soakseaweedbaths.co.uk

Type

Type:

Spa and Well-being

Soak offers customers a unique experience, a place to be spoiled or to simply ease the body and soothe the mind. Relax in a silky hot seaweed bath in our award winning bathhouse or Revive with a sensual spa treatment in our bespoke treatment rooms.

More Info
Walk the Mournes

Warrenpoint

Address

56 Burren Road, Warrenpoint, County Down, BT34 3SA

Telephone
+44 (0) 7974768831

peter@walkthemournes.com

Type

Type:

Historical Tours

If these mountains could speak, they’d tell tales of hermits, smugglers and fugitives... Join Peter for an unforgettable walking experience amongst the most fabulous scenery.

More Info
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
Annalong Cornmill

Annalong

Address

Marine Park, Annalong, County Down, BT34 4QG

Telephone
+44 (0) 33 0137 4046

annalong.cornmill@nmandd.org

Type

Type:

Industrial Heritage

Annalong Cornmill has been beatifully restored and is situated by the pretty Annalong Harbour, near the foothills of the Mourne Mountains.

More Info
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)
Ballyquintin Farm

Address

Co Down

Type

Type:

Walking & Hiking

A coastal grassland walk on the tip of the Ards Peninsula

More Info
Facilities

Provider Preferences
- Free (parking charges may apply)
Bloody Bridge River Walk

Newcastle

Address

Bloody Bridge Car Park, Newcastle, Co Down, BT33 0LA

Telephone
+44 (0) 33 0137 4046

visitorservices@nmandd.org

Type

Type:

Walking & Hiking

This scenic walk leads from the Bloody Bridge car park along the edge of the Bloody Bridge River and back again.

More Info
Facilities

Provider Preferences
- Free (parking charges may apply)
Parking & Transport
- Car parking
Down Leisure Centre

Downpatrick

Address

114 Market Street, Downpatrick, CountyDown, BT30 6LZ

Telephone
+44 (0) 33 0137 4026

downleisurecentre@nmandd.org

Type

Type:

Sport/Leisure Centre

State of the art facility including 25m 6 lane pool, learner pool, gym & vitality health suite.

More Info
Facilities

Parking & Transport
- On site parking
Mourne Alpacas Trekking and Cria Watch Experiences

Dromara

Address

60 Levallyreagh Road, Dromara, County Down, BT25 2DG

Telephone
+44 (0)7918 719 595

bookings@mournealpacas.com

Type

Type:

Guided Tour

Trek with one alpaca, walking in pastures with over 100 more. Your experience includes a fascinating talk about the life of alpacas in our very large breeding herd, followed by a trek leading your own or walking with a friend leading an alpaca,…

Dates

More Info
Facilities

Parking & Transport
- Parking (free)
Facilities

Accessibility
- Ramp / Level Access
- Ramp to main entrance
Facilities

Establishment Features
- Wi-fi available
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