Official tourism website for Northern Ireland

Dunluce Castle
Causeway Coastal Route

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Castles & Historic Sites

Castles are for keeps in Northern Ireland

With more castles than a summer of Sundays, Northern Ireland is a mecca for those who like their history filled with towers, turrets and tales of yore. As well as these fine structures, you’ll find a wealth of ruins and remains dotted throughout this historic land.

Northern Ireland has some of the finest examples of old monasteries, churches, abbeys and high crosses that you are likely to find anywhere. Finding the time to see it all might be your only problem.

History and heritage in Royal Hillsborough

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

Originally completed in the 1790s, the magnificent Hillsborough Castle is the official residence of the Royal Family when they visit Northern Ireland. Take a tour through the elegant staterooms and into the majestic throne room and drawing room while finding out every inch of its fascinating history with your well-informed guide.

Not too far from Royal Hillsborough, castle chasers will find Brownlow House. Known locally as ‘Lurgan Castle’, it was built in 1833 and really has a tremendously quirky character. Its array of intricate chimney pots, each a different design, are surmounted by a beautiful lantern-shaped tower and the whole site commands superb parkland and lake views. There are some great stories of American and British troops stationed here during World War 2 and you can discover more about them over a tasty cup of tea and delicious scone in the excellent tearoom.

Set within the grounds of the impressive 820 acre demesne there are more than 30 kilometres of walks and trails within Castle Ward in County Down. The Castle Trail takes you to Audley’s Castle, which fans of Game of Thrones® will recognise as Robb’s Camp. This is a great spot in County Down to get away from it all and dig into a bit of history at the same time.

County Down is also home to two of the best-preserved abbeys in Northern Ireland. At the south east edge of Newtownards the substantial remains of Grey Abbey date from 1244. It went through quite a history before falling into disuse in the 18th century. Today, you’ll find the remains in the beautiful parkland setting of the nearby Rosemount House.

A little further south, John DeCourcy, of Carrickfergus Castle fame, also built Inch Abbey. According to the history texts he was compelled to do so for his part in the destruction of another abbey. Paying his dues you might call it.

The high cross tells the story

Up the road on the western bank of Lough Neagh sits one of Ireland’s oldest High Crosses. Standing six metres high, the Ardboe Old Cross dates from the tenth century. The twenty-two panels depict stories and scenes from the Old Testament and New Testament and are stunningly beautiful in their simplicity.

Antrim Castle to Carrickfergus Castle

Following the banks of Lough Neagh to the north, you’ll arrive at the 400-year-old Antrim Castle and Gardens which are famed for the layout of their grounds. This is a very pleasant place to spend an afternoon or take an early morning stroll.

Carrickfergus Castle, to the east, has been guarding Belfast Lough since 1177. It is just as imposing today as it must have been back then and it is certainly as impressive. This is one of the finest examples of a medieval Norman Castle on the whole island and it is worth investing a little on either the guided or self-guided tours on offer.

The picturesque Glenarm Castle watches over an area of outstanding natural beauty in the Glens of Antrim, and is still a working farm estate. It has been occupied as the family seat of the McDonnells, Earls of Antrim, for some 400 years. The castle opens only occasionally to the public, but you can enjoy the glorious walled garden all year round.

As you travel along the Causeway Coastal Route, you are sure to come across the magnificent Dunluce Castle. This is one of Northern Ireland’s most famous and most photographed landmarks. The medieval ruin stands on the edge of a cliff and can be approached only by a bridge. Dating from 1500, it has a fascinating history. Would you believe that at one point it was owned by Winston Churchill and it is said that this place was highly influential in stories of C.S. Lewis. Well worth a trip.

From here, walkers will enjoy the wonderful cliff walk to Dunseverick Castle near the village of the same name. This place dates back to the time of Saint Patrick so it is of little surprise that only ruins remain. This one is more about the journey than the destination.

The turrets of Tyrone

In County Tyrone you can stretch your legs and take in some turrets at Benburb Castle, a plantation bawn built in 1611. Today, there are a number of trails to explore in the Benburb Valley Park where the River Blackwater has carved out a beautiful gorge through the countryside.

Between the lakes, castle walls will rise

Perched dominantly on the banks of Lough Erne, Enniskillen Castle in County Fermanagh, harks back to the might of the ruling Gaelic Maguires. They were the first occupants of this imposing structure almost 600 years ago and their story is an important part of the history of the whole island of Ireland. You can find out more about that story in the castle’s Inniskillings Museum.

Hidden away in the stunning Fermanagh Lakelands, you’ll come across the island of Devenish. This is home to the ruins of a parish church, St Mary’s Augustine Priory and an impressive round tower.

The island has been raided by Vikings and devastated by fires before re-flourishing in the Middle Ages as a centre of learning and literature. This spot is well looked after and gives a great insight into the monastic sites dotted around the island.

An unassuming but ancient capital in Armagh

If you’re passing through Armagh be sure to climb to the top of the ancient “Emain Macha” or Navan Fort. In early Irish history and legend this spot was the earliest provincial capital of Ulster. Today it is a large earthwork on top of a drumlin but as you look around you, you can imagine it as the site of ancient pagan ritual and ceremony.

With castles and heritage sites like these for starters, who knows where your journey into the past will take you in Northern Ireland?

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Number of results: 172

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Carleton's Cottage

Augher

Address

Springtown Road, Augher, County Tyrone, BT77 0EA

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 8772 8600

tourism@midulstercouncil.org

Price
Free

Type

Type:

Historic Sites, Houses, Castles & Buildings

Visit the childhood home of the much-loved Victorian novelist William Carleton, well versed in Irish folklore and described by Yeats as ‘the greatest novelist of Ireland’.

Price
Free

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Craigmore Viaduct

Bessbrook

Address

Belfast to Dublin railway line, Bessbrook, County Armagh, BT35 6JR

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 3031 3170

visitorservices@nmandd.org

Price
Free

Type

Type:

Railway

This 18 arch viaduct, close to Newry, is a prominent feature of the south Armagh landscape.

Price
Free

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Holywood Motte

Holywood

Address

Brook Street, Holywood, County Down, BT18 9BB

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 9082 3207

scmenquiries@communities-ni.gov.uk

Price
Free

Type

Type:

Historic Sites, Houses, Castles & Buildings

Holywood Motte is an Anglo-Norman castle mound, which probably had a ditch round its base and a timber palisade round the summit.

Price
Free

More Info
Facilities

Provider Preferences
- Free (parking charges may apply)
Monea Castle

Enniskillen

Address

Castletown Road, Enniskillen, County Fermanagh, BT74 8EQ

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 9082 3207

scmenquiries@communities-ni.gov.uk

Price
Free

Type

Type:

Castle / Fort

Built for Malcolm Hamilton and completed in 1618, it has a Scottish look about it, with corner turrets at one narrow end of a rectangular four-storey building and with two massive full-height round towers having angular tops guarding the entrance.

Price
Free

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Facilities

Parking & Transport
- On site parking
St Patrick's Cathedral (Roman Catholic)

Armagh

Address

Cathedral Road, Armagh, County Armagh, BT61 7QY

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 3752 2813

armaghparishoffice@gmail.com

Price
Free

Type

Type:

Cathedral

This imposing cathedral, on an elevated site, was started in 1840, but work was suspended during the Great Famine of 1845-48 and recommenced in 1854 when J. J. McCarthy was appointed architect. It was dedicated for worship in 1873.

Price
Free

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Facilities

Parking & Transport
- On site parking
- Parking (free)
Tripadvisor Traveller Rating
36 reviews
Wellbrook Beetling Mill

Cookstown

Address

20 Wellbrook Road, Cookstown, County Tyrone, BT80 9RY

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 8674 8210

wellbrook@nationaltrust.org.uk

Price
Price £3.75 to £18.75 Per Ticket

Type

Type:

The National Trust

Wellbrook is nestled in an idyllic wooded valley. As you come over the hill and see the river, the mill, its water wheel and traditional cottage, it looks as if nothing could disturb the tranquillity.

Price
Price £3.75 to £18.75 Per Ticket

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Facilities

Parking & Transport
- On site parking
Cockle Row Cottages

Groomsport

Address

The Harbour, Main Street, Groomsport, County Down, BT19 6JR

Telephone
+44 (0)28 9109 3038

bangorvic@ardsandnorthdown.gov.uk

Type

Type:

Visitor Centres & Museums

Take a step back in time with a visit to the lovingly restored Cockle Row Cottages located beside the harbour, Groomsport.

Dates

From:

5 June 2026to14 Sept 2026Various Opening Times

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Facilities

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

Castlecaulfield

Address

Castle Grove, Castlecaulfield, County Tyrone, BT70 3NL

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 9082 3207

scmenquiries@communities-ni.gov.uk

Price
Free

Type

Type:

Castle / Fort

Ruins of mansion built by Sir Toby Caulfield in 1619. Gatehouse with murder-holes and Caulfield arms. Plaque to poet Charles Wolfe (1791-1823) at nearby Anglican church.

Price
Free

More Info
Facilities

Parking & Transport
- On site parking
Tripadvisor Traveller Rating
232 reviews
Scrabo Tower

Newtownards

Address

203A Scrabo Road, Newtownards, County Down, BT23 4SJ

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 9082 3207

scmenquiries@communities-ni.gov.uk

Price
Free

Type

Type:

Tower

At the top of Scrabo Hill, overlooking Strangford Lough and the whole of North Down, is Scrabo Tower. The tower, which was built in 1857, is one of Northern Ireland’s best known landmarks and the views from the top are spectacular.

Price
Free

More Info
Facilities

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

Enniskillen

Address

Portora, Enniskillen, County Fermanagh, BT74 5GH

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 9082 3207

scmenquiries@communities-ni.gov.uk

Price
Free

Type

Type:

Castle / Fort

Portora Castle guards a former crossing point where the river joins Lough Erne. Built in 1613 by Sir William Cole, it consisted of a 3 storey house across the breadth of the bawn which was defended by 4 circular towers.

Price
Free

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Clonlum Cairn

Meigh

Address

Ballintemple Road, Meigh, County Armagh, BT35 8LQ

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 9082 3207

scmenquiries@communities-ni.gov.uk

Price
Free

Type

Type:

Archaeological sites

This unusual megalithic monument is set on the eastern edge of a low ridge, overlooked by Slieve Gullion to the west and around 750m south of the badly disturbed remains of Clonlum court tomb.

Price
Free

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Coleraine Town Hall

Coleraine

Address

The Diamond, Coleraine, County Londonderry, BT52 1DE

visitor.information@causewaycoastandglens.gov.uk

Price
Free

Type

Type:

Historic Sites, Houses, Castles & Buildings

Coleraine Town Hall presides over the central shopping piazza in Coleraine. Designed by Thomas Turner, the Town Hall, which is of major historical significance, was built in 1859 by McLaughlin & Harvey for £4,147(over £7m today).

Price
Free

More Info
Facilities

Provider Preferences
- Free (parking charges may apply)
Dromore Motte and Bailey

Dromore

Address

Mount Street, Dromore, County Down, BT25 1FA

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 9082 3207

scmenquiries@communities-ni.gov.uk

Price
Free

Type

Type:

Historic Sites, Houses, Castles & Buildings

Dromore Mound or Dromore Motte and Bailey as it is commonly known is the best preserved and most impressive Anglo-Norman motte and bailey structure in Ulster. It was built by Sir John de Courcy after the Norman Conquest in the 13th Century.

Price
Free

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Larne's Jurassic Coastline - Waterloo Bay

Larne

Address

Waterloo Bay, The Promenade, Larne, County Antrim, BT40 1AB

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 9335 8222

visitorinfo@midandeastantrim.gov.uk

Price
Free

Type

Type:

Archaeological sites

Explore Waterloo Bay in Larne, the most accessible locality for fossil hunting and geological interest anywhere on the island of Ireland.

Price
Free

More Info
Facilities

Parking & Transport
- On site parking
Killevy (Killeavy) Old Churches

Killeavy

Address

Church Road, Killeavy, County Armagh, BT35 8LF

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 9082 3207

scmenquiries@communities-ni.gov.uk

Price
Free

Type

Type:

Churches & Sacred Sites

The site contains two early churches situated back to back. Even earlier, it was the site of a monastery founded by St. Moninna (517) as one of the most important monasteries for nuns in Medieval Ireland.

Price
Free

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Ardboe High Cross

Ardboe

Address

Battery Road, Ardboe, County Tyrone, BT80 0HU

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 9082 3207

scmenquiries@communities-ni.gov.uk

Price
Free

Type

Type:

Historic Site

A 10th Century Cross situated on a rocky height on the shores of Lough Neagh. It is a national monument which is believed to be the first High Cross of Ulster. The cross stands 18.5 feet high and 3.5 feet wide.

Price
Free

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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

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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
Dan Winter's Cottage

Loughgall

Address

1 Derryloughan Road, Loughgall, County Armagh, BT61 8PH

Telephone
+44(0) 7714 849 729

cwinter1795@gmail.com

Type

Type:

Historic Sites, Houses, Castles & Buildings

Dan Winter’s Cottage, focal point of the Battle of the Diamond and birthplace of the Orange Order. It was in this cottage that Dan Winter and his family stood to protect their hearth and home. The original lead balls are still embedded within the…

Dates

From:

1 Jan 2026to31 Dec 2026Various Opening Times

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St. Patrick's Church, Benburb (Clonfeacle Parish)

Benburb

Address

Clonfeacle Road, Benburb, County Tyrone, BT71 7LQ

Telephone
+44 (0) 7851 448 041

benburbgroup@armagh.anglican.org

Type

Type:

Churches & Sacred Sites

Situated in the village of Benburb, this Grade A listed early 17th century church is documented as being the oldest church in the north-west of Ireland still in regular use. Visitors may participate in a “Stories behind the Stones” talk and tour,…

Dates

From:

1 Jan 2023to31 Dec 2030

More Info