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: 174

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St Columb's Cathedral

Derry~Londonderry

Address

London Street, Derry~Londonderry, County Londonderry, BT48 6RQ

Telephone
07794666754

Price
Free

Type

Type:

Cathedral

Dominating the skyline on all approaches to the city of Derry~Londonderry is Saint Columb's Cathedral, which has stood on its prominent site inside the famous walls of Derry since 1633.

Dates

From:

2 Apr 2025to28 June 2025Various Opening Times

From:

1 July 2025to30 Aug 2025Various Opening Times

From:

1 Sept 2025to27 Sept 2025Various Opening Times

Price
Free

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Ederney Covered Wishing Well

Ederney

Address

Ederney Village, Ederney, County Fermanagh, BT93 0BN

Price
Free

Type

Type:

Historic Sites, Houses, Castles & Buildings

Situated about 100 metres outside Ederney Village on the Main Road to Omagh, this unusual covered Wishing Well is the only one of its kind in the local area.

Price
Free

More Info
Facilities

Provider Preferences
- Free (parking charges may apply)
Tripadvisor Traveller Rating
54 reviews
Sentry Hill Historic House & Visitor Centre

Newtownabbey

Address

40 Ballycraigy Road, Newtownabbey, County Antrim, BT36 4SX

Telephone
0300 123 7788

culture@antrimandnewtownabbey.gov.uk

Type

Type:

Visitor Centres & Museums

Sentry Hill is a 19th century farmhouse in the Parish of Carnmoney, County Antrim. The house and its contents provide a rare insight into life in rural Ulster during the 19th and early 20th centuries.

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Antrim Old Courthouse

Antrim

Address

Market Square, Antrim, County Antrim, BT41 4AW

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 9442 8331

info@antrimandnewtownabbey.gov.uk

Type

Type:

Historic Sites, Houses, Castles & Buildings

The Old Courthouse is most certainly one of the jewels in Antrim’s crown. Its opening has created a fantastic opportunity to host a range of performing arts events on a year round basis in the new multi-purpose auditorium.

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Facilities

Establishment Features
- Wifi
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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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

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Facilities

Provider Preferences
- Free (parking charges may apply)
Ballymacdermot Court Tomb

Newry

Address

Bernish Road, Newry, County Armagh, BT35 8QA

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 3031 3170

visitorservices@nmandd.org

Price
Free

Type

Type:

Archaeological sites

This monument is an extremely well preserved Neolithic burial site with three chambers. It can be dated between 4000 and 2500 BC.

Price
Free

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Coyles Cottage

Moortown

Address

57 Annaghmore Road, Moortown, County Tyrone, BT80 0JA

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 8673 7564

Type

Type:

Historic Sites, Houses, Castles & Buildings

A Fishermans Thatched Cottage, approximately 250 to 300 years old. The nearby Gort Moss Walk commences here. The house can be visited at any time and interior access is available on Sundays in July and August. Open for groups on request.

More Info
Facilities

Provider Preferences
- Dogs accepted by arrangement
Facilities

Parking & Transport
- On site parking
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

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Facilities

Parking & Transport
- On site parking
Greencastle Royal Castle

Kilkeel

Address

Greencastle Pier Road, Kilkeel, County Down, BT34 4LR

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 9082 3207

scmenquiries@communities-ni.gov.uk

Price
Free

Type

Type:

Castle / Fort

Commanding the mouth of Carlingford Lough, the Castle has an eventful history. It was built in the 13th century, taken by Edward Bruce in 1316, attacked at least twice by the Irish in the late 14th century and maintained as a garrison up to 1590.

Price
Free

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Facilities

Parking & Transport
- On site parking
Ring of Gullion

Killeavy

Address

89 Drumintee Road, Killeavy, County Armagh, BT35 8SW

Telephone
+44 (0) 330 137 4046

Type

Type:

Landscape/View

Slieve Gullion Forest Park is in the heart of the Ring of Gullion. The Ring of Gullion is a unique geological landform – unparalleled elsewhere in Ireland or the UK – and was the first ring dyke in the world to be geologically mapped. The ring of…

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First Presbyterian Church

Belfast

Address

41 Rosemary Street, Belfast, County Antrim, BT1 1QB

Telephone
07740 362 093

firstchurchbelfast@gmail.com

Price
Free

Type

Type:

Churches & Sacred Sites

Thomas Andrews, who attended this delightful church with his wife Helen, must have loved its boat-like interior and beautiful woodwork. Dating from 1781, it is Belfast’s oldest place of worship.

Price
Free

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Facilities

Parking & Transport
- On site parking
Beaghmore Stone Circles

Cookstown

Address

Blackrock Road, Cookstown, County Tyrone, BT80 9PB

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 9082 3207

scmenquiries@communities-ni.gov.uk

Price
Free

Type

Type:

Historic Site

Mysterious complex of 7 Bronze Age stone circles and alignments. It's where megalithic tombs and the mysterious Beaghmore stone circles stand as silent witnesses to the settlements that thrived here 6,000 years ago.

Price
Free

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Facilities

Parking & Transport
- Parking (free)
Tripadvisor Traveller Rating
41 reviews
Ardress House

Portadown

Address

64 Ardress Road, Portadown, County Armagh, BT62 1SQ

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 8778 4753

ardress@nationaltrust.org.uk

Type

Type:

The National Trust

Ardress is nestled in the apple orchards of County Armagh and offers afternoons of fun and relaxation for everyone. Built in the 17th century as a farmhouse, Ardress was remodelled in Georgian times.

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Facilities

Provider Preferences
- Dogs accepted by arrangement
Facilities

Parking & Transport
- On site parking
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

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Tripadvisor Traveller Rating
1130 reviews
Belfast Castle Estate

Belfast

Address

Antrim Road, Belfast, County Antrim, BT15 5GR

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 9077 6925

bcr@belfastcastle.co.uk

Price
Free

Type

Type:

Public Park

Belfast Castle estate is situated on the lower slopes of Cave Hill Country Park in North Belfast. It contains both parkland and mature mixed woodland and offers superb views of the city from a variety of vantage points.

Price
Free

More Info
Facilities

Catering
- Licensed
Facilities

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

Catering
- Restaurant on Premises - Reopened May 2024 Opening hours Sunday - Thursday 12pm-7pm Friday and Saturday 12pm-8pm Booking essential (For menus and to book visit www.belfastcity.gov.uk/belfastcastle/eat-drink/cellar-restaurant )
Facilities

Establishment Features
- Wifi - Belfast Public Wifi on site
- Wi-fi available
Museum at The Mill

Newtownabbey

Address

Mossley Mill Civic Centre, Carnmoney Road North, Newtownabbey, County Antrim, BT36 5QA

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 9034 0129

Type

Type:

Industrial Heritage

Museum at The Mill invites visitors of all ages to explore the history and heritage of Mossley Mill, a flax spinning mill in County Antrim which dates back to the early 1800s.

More Info
Facilities

Provider Preferences
- Free (parking charges may apply)
Tripadvisor Traveller Rating
500 reviews
Mussenden Temple and Downhill Demesne

Castlerock

Address

Mussenden Road, Castlerock, County Londonderry, BT51 4RP

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 7084 8728

downhilldemesne@nationaltrust.org.uk

Type

Type:

The National Trust

Mussenden Temple is located in the beautiful surroundings of Downhill Demesne near Castlerock in County Londonderry. Awe inspiring views, colourful gardens and woodland walks.

More Info
Facilities

Parking & Transport
- On site parking
St Eugene’s Cathedral

Derry~Londonderry

Address

Creggan Street, Derry~Londonderry, County Londonderry, BT48 9AP

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 7126 2894

cathedral@derrydiocese.org

Price
Free

Type

Type:

Cathedral

St Eugene's Cathedral is the Roman Catholic Cathedral located in Derry City. It is the Mother Church of the Derry Diocese, which stretches from Malin Head to Omagh and from Killygordon to Bellaghy.

Price
Free

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Movilla Abbey

Newtownards

Address

Movilla Road, Newtownards, County Down, BT23 8EZ

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 9082 3207

scmenquiries@communities-ni.gov.uk

Price
Free

Type

Type:

Abbey / Priory

Movilla Abbey, Methodist and Church of Ireland.
As important as Bangor, Movilla was associated with Saint Finian of the 6th-century. As with many early monasteries, it was refounded as an Augustinian abbey in the Norman 12th century.

Price
Free

More Info