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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Nautilus Centre

Kilkeel

Address

Nautilus Centre, Rooney Road, Kilkeel, Co Down, BT34 4AX

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 4176 2525

mscskilkeel@gmail.com

Type

Type:

Visitor Centres & Museums

The Nautilus Centre overlooks Kilkeel's busy and picturesque fishing port and houses the Mourne Maritime Visitor Centre, Kilkeel Visitor Information Centre, Tracing Your Mourne Roots Exhibition and the Mourne Seafood Cookery School.

More Info
Facilities

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

Establishment Features
- Wifi
Blackwood Golf Centre

Bangor

Address

150 Crawfordsburn Road, Bangor, County Down, BT19 1GB

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 9185 2706

info@theblackwoodgc.com

Type

Type:

Parkland Golf Course

Premier pay and play golf facility with open Stableford every Friday. Visitors are always most welcome to come along and play the course..

Dates

From:

1 Jan 2025to31 Dec 2025

From:

1 Jan 2025to31 Dec 2025

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Harry Ferguson Memorial Garden

Dromore

Address

39 - 45 Magheraconluce Road, Dromore, County Down, BT26 6FL

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 9269 2110

b.forsythe@hotmail.co.uk

Price
Free

Type

Type:

Historial figure

The Harry Ferguson Memorial Garden is set opposite the Ferguson Homestead and exhibits a life size bronze statue of Harry Ferguson.

Price
Free

More Info
Ballymacormick Point

Bangor

Address

Bangor, Co Down

Type

Type:

Walking & Hiking

Rocky coastal path with some steep steps.

More Info
Facilities

Provider Preferences
- Free (parking charges may apply)
Clandeboye Golf Club

Conlig

Address

51 Tower Road, Conlig, County Down, BT23 7PN

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 9127 1767

office@cgc-ni.com

Type

Type:

Parkland Golf Course

36 Holes. There are two courses in wooded undulating parkland/heathland with clusters of gorse bushes and copses ready to claim the wayward shots.

Dates

From:

1 Jan 2025to31 Dec 2025

More Info
Facilities

Catering
- Restaurant on site
Delamont Strangford 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.

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Facilities

Parking & Transport
- Car parking
Slieve Donard from Bloody Bridge

Address

Co Down

Type

Type:

Walking & Hiking

This walk begins in the Bloody Bridge car park (on the coast), follows the Bloody Bridge River and then follows the Mourne Wall to the summit of Slieve Donard (850m).

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Facilities

Provider Preferences
- Free (parking charges may apply)
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
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…

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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.
Mrs C's Home Kitchen

Dundrum

Address

56 Dromara Road, Dundrum, County Down, BT33 0NS

Telephone
+44(0)7954 049 307

stcampbell50@btinternet.com

Type

Type:

Cookery School

Mrs C’s Home Kitchen is the place to enjoy a wide range of foodie experiences. Under Mrs C’s careful guidance, you might want to learn to make traditional breads, recipes that have endured for hundreds of years. Or perhaps you would like to learn…

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Facilities

Accessibility
- Ramp / Level Access
- Ramp to main entrance
Mourne Mountains Cycle Route

Newcastle

Address

Newcastle Visitor Information Centre, 10-14 Central Promenade, Newcastle, County Down, BT33 0AA

Telephone
+44 (0) 330 137 4046

newcastle.vic@nmandd.org

Type

Type:

Cycle Route

Cycing in the Mourne Mountains - start at the northern side of the resort of Newcastle and cycle along the A50 towards the market town of Castlewellan. Before Castlewellan, turn left onto Tollymore Road and then right onto Middle Tollymore Road.

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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
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.

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Fairy Glen - linear walk

Address

Co Down

Type

Type:

Walking & Hiking

The Fairy Glen in Rostrevor provides a pleasant venue for a short stroll. From the centre of Rostrevor village, go down Bridge Street. The Fairy Glen is on the left immediately after the bridge beside the entrance to Kilbroney Park.

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Facilities

Provider Preferences
- Free (parking charges may apply)
Strangford Lough Lookout

Newtownards

Address

Mount Stewart, Portaferry Road, Newtownards, County Down, BT22 2AD

Telephone
02842787769

strangford@nationaltrust.org.uk

Price
Free

Type

Type:

Nature and Wildlife

The Lookout is a wildlife interpretative centre, showcasing the wildlife around the Strangford Lough area. Telescopes and remotely controlled camers allow close up views of basking seals and breeding seabird colonies.

Price
Free

More Info
Facilities

Provider Preferences
- Free (parking charges may apply)
Parking & Transport
- On site parking
Rostrevor Mountain Bike Trails

Rostrevor

Address

Shore Road, Rostrevor, County Down, BT34 3AA

Telephone
+44 (0) 330 137 4046

Type

Type:

Mountain Biking Trails

Rostrevor Mountain Bike Trails offer challenging climbs with some serious descents and Ireland's first two official downhill trails and other trails suitable for families to use.

More Info
Facilities

Parking & Transport
- Parking (free)
Tripadvisor Traveller Rating
26 reviews
Kiltonga Nature Reserve

Newtownards

Address

Belfast Road, Newtownards, County Down, BT23 4TT

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 9182 6846

ardsvic@ardsandnorthdown.gov.uk

Price
Free

Type

Type:

Nature and Wildlife

In July 2000, Kiltonga Nature Reserve became the first site in the UK to be awarded BT Millennium Miles Status. Almost 1000 metres of walkway were upgraded to enable disabled access to the reserve.

Price
Free

More Info
Facilities

Provider Preferences
- Free (parking charges may apply)
Parking & Transport
- On site parking
Tripadvisor Traveller Rating
377 reviews
Let's Go Hydro Resort & Spa

Carryduff

Address

1 Mealough Road, Carryduff, County Down, BT8 8GB

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 9081 4662

info@letsgohydro.com

Type

Type:

Water Sports

If you enjoy water-based fun, then Let’s Go Hydro is a must visit. The impressive outdoor attraction, including an inflatable floating obstacle course, provides fun for all. The course features an XXL Tower, slides, climbing wall, hurdles, wiggle…

More Info
Facilities

Parking & Transport
- On site parking
Kiltybane Lake

Cullyhanna

Address

Kiltybane Road, Cullyhanna, County Down, BT35 0LQ

Telephone
+44 (0) 33 0137 4046

visitorservices@nmandd.org

Type

Type:

Coarse Fishing

This is a natural lake, part bog with good clear springs in its centre. Species: Rainbow trout, brown trout.

More Info
Facilities

Parking & Transport
- On site parking
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