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: 332

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Struell Wells

Downpatrick

Address

14 Struell Wells Road, Downpatrick, County Down, BT30 6RA

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 9082 3207

scmenquiries@communities-ni.gov.uk

Price
Free

Type

Type:

Historic Sites, Houses, Castles & Buildings

Struell Wells was built around a stream flowing through a secluded valley. It was a popular place of pilgrimage from the 1600s until the 1840s.

Price
Free

More Info
Facilities

Parking & Transport
- On site parking
Kilkeel Harbour

Kilkeel

Address

The Nautilus Centre, Rooney Road, Kilkeel, Down, BT34 4AG

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 4176 2525

kdakilkeel@hotmail.com

Type

Type:

Sea Fishing

Kilkeel Harbour was developed in the 1800s and is now home to Northern Irelands largest fishing fleet. In the ealy days schooners exported granite, potatoes and grain and imported coal, bricks etc.
It is also home to `Salt n Pepper' the resident…

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Delamont Long Walk

Killyleagh

Address

Delamont Country Park, 90 Downpatrick Rd,, Killyleagh, Down, BT30 9TZ

Telephone
03301374366

visitorservices@nmandd.org

Type

Type:

Walking & Hiking

One of the Delamont Country Park Walks. All walks are wheelchair accessible and two mobility rambler scooters are available for use in the park. Car park charge at weekends and daily during the Summer Season.

More Info
Facilities

Parking & Transport
- Car parking
Legends of Lecale Peninsula

Downpatrick

Address

9 Crossmore Road, Downpatrick, County Down, BT30 7TA

Telephone
+44 (0) 7835 441 933

duane@lecalepeninsula.com

Type

Type:

Sightseeing

Storyteller Duane Fitzsimons’ tours of the Home of Saint Patrick are filled with amazing legends, artefacts, and folklore.

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Clearsky Adventure Centre

Strangford

Address

Castle Ward Demesne, Strangford, County Down, BT30 7LT

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 4372 3933

fun@clearsky-adventure.com

Type

Type:

Activity Centre

Newcastle and Castlewellan Bike Hire
We have a wide range of bikes available for hire. Mountain bikes, electric e-bikes, tandem bicycles, kids bicycles. You name it, we should have it.
Free delivery and shuttle bus service.

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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

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Tripadvisor Traveller Rating
61 reviews
Fort Evergreen Pet & Play Farm

Warrenpoint

Address

29 Rath Road, Warrenpoint, County Down, BT34 3RX

Telephone
+44 (0) 7775 350 292

fortevergreentrips@gmail.com

Type

Type:

Open Farm

Our play farm offers a huge indoor soft play area with four dragon slides and a massive free-fall slide, Busy-Bee barrel train ride, zipline & outdoor adventure fort including slides, net bridges & climbing walls. Interact with our amazing animals…

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Facilities

Parking & Transport
- Parking (free)
Facilities

Catering
- Restaurant on Premises
Ballyhafry & Beyond by Electric Bike– Bike Mourne

Rostrevor

Address

Rostrevor Forest Park, Rostrevor, County Down, BT33 3AA

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 4377 0714

hello@bikemourne.com

Type

Type:

Cycling Tour

Experience Mourne by road with our Self-Guided Tour of the townlands of Ballyhafry, Ballymagreehan, Ballymaginaghy & Beyond by Electric Bike.

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Facilities

Parking & Transport
- On site parking
Tripadvisor Traveller Rating
13 reviews
Helen's Bay Beach

Helens Bay

Address

Crawfordsburn Country Park, Helens Bay, County Down, BT20 5ED

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 9127 0069

bangorvic@ardsandnorthdown.gov.uk

Price
Free

Type

Type:

Beach

Beautiful sandy beach with excellent facilities, all within twenty minutes drive of Belfast.

Price
Free

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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
Kirkistown Castle Golf Club

Cloughey

Address

142 Main Road, Cloughey, County Down, BT22 1JA

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 4277 1233

office@kirkistowncastlegolfclub.com

Type

Type:

Links Golf Course

Kirkistown Castle Golf Club is situated in the sleepy little village of Cloughey on the eastern seaboard of the Ards Peninsula in County Down, N.Ireland. It is the nearest links golf course to the city of Belfast (about 45 minutes by road)

More Info
Facilities

Catering
- Restaurant on site
Ballyquintin Point

Portaferry

Address

8 Ballyquintin Road, Portaferry, County Down, BT22 1RG

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 4461 5520

nieainfo@daera-ni.gov.uk

Price
Free

Type

Type:

Nature and Wildlife

Ballyquintin Nature Reserve includes Ballyquintin Point at the tip of the Ards Peninsula, County Down where the Irish Sea enters Strangford Lough.

Price
Free

More Info
Facilities

Provider Preferences
- Free (parking charges may apply)
Killard National Nature Reserve

Address

Co Down

Type

Type:

Walking & Hiking

Situated at the mouth of Strangford Lough, opposite Ballyquintin. The rich wildlife include orchids and other rarities, and interesting rock formations can be seen.

More Info
Facilities

Provider Preferences
- Free (parking charges may apply)
Meelmore and Meelbeg

Address

Co Down

Type

Type:

Walking & Hiking

A moderate circular walk in the High Mournes, summiting two of the seven highest peaks in the region, Slieve Meelmore and Slieve Meelbeg.

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Facilities

Provider Preferences
- Free (parking charges may apply)
Rollo Gillespie Monument

Comber

Address

Comber Square, Comber, County Down, BT23 5DX

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 9182 6846

ardsvic@ardsandnorthdown.gov.uk

Price
Free

Type

Type:

Historial figure

Situated in The Square in Comber, it was erected in 1845 to commemorate the bravery of Major General Robert 'Rollo' Gillespie born in the town in 1766.

Price
Free

More Info
Facilities

Provider Preferences
- Free (parking charges may apply)
Hen, Cock and Pigeon Rock

Newry

Address

Newry, Co Down

Type

Type:

Walking & Hiking

A circular route in the western Mournes

More Info
Facilities

Provider Preferences
- Free (parking charges may apply)
Edenmore Golf & Country Club

Craigavon

Address

67A Steps Road, Donaghcloney, Edenmore, Magheralin, Craigavon, Co Armagh, BT66 7NZ

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 9261 9241

info@edenmore.com

Type

Type:

Parkland Golf Course

Set deep in the Lagan Valley, Edenmore Golf & Country Club is just 20 minutes from Belfast. The Club has a range of facilities for all visitors, including an 18 hole championship Golf Course, Spa, Restaurant, Fitness Suite and onsite accommodation.

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Facilities

Catering
- Restaurant on site
Down Cathedral and Saint Patrick's Grave

Downpatrick

Address

35 English Street, Downpatrick, County Down, BT30 6AB

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 4461 4922

info@downcathedral.org

Type

Type:

Cathedral

Down Cathedral, a Cathedral of the Church of Ireland with magnificent stain glass windows, box pews and beautiful organ case was built in 1183 as a Benedictine Monastry. The patron saint, Patrick is believed to be buried in the nearby graveyard.

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Facilities

Provider Preferences
- Free (parking charges may apply)
Parking & Transport
- On site parking
Bradshaws Brae Driving Range

Newtownards

Address

115 Old Belfast Road, Newtownards, County Down, BT23 4TS

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 9181 3484

info@bradshawsbraedrivingrange.co.uk

Type

Type:

Driving Range

18 covered floodlit bays, 10 outside bays.
Also Explanar Teaching centre, resident PGA professional Gordon Fairweather.

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Dundrum Heritage Trail

Newcastle

Address

Newcastle Visitor Information Centre, Newcastle, County Down, BT33 0AA

Telephone
+44 (0) 330 137 4046

newcastle.vic@nmandd.org

Type

Type:

Historical Tours

Dundrum Heritage Trail takes you on a journey through the village and tells the story of the commercial and maritime heritage - Trail map available to download at www.visitmournemountains.co.uk or from Newcastle Visitor Information Centre.

More Info