Outdoors, Nature & Wildlife

Right across Northern Ireland, from the mountains of Mourne to the Fermanagh Lakelands, the Causeway Coast to the glens of Antrim, and even amongst the streets and lanes of Belfast, you’ll find plenty of places to feel the sun and the wind on your face, and get as close to our abundant wildlife as you dare. Let’s go! 

Life’s a beach in Northern Ireland 

Everyone loves a good beach. Like a natural outdoor activity centre, they offer sun, sea, sand and surf all in the one place, for everyone. Fortunately Northern Ireland is coming down with awesome sandy beaches that stretch like a necklace all around the coast. The Causeway Coast has almost too many to choose from: Portstewart (the granddaddy of the them all), Benone, Castlerock, Whiterocks, Whitepark Bay, Portballintrae, Ballycastle, Carnlough and more. So why not visit them all, one by one, and take in the other sights as you go? 

Bring your sunshades, buckets and spades along to County Down in the east and you’ll find the extensive sandy beach at Newcastle. It’s right in front of the town itself, and not far away are Tyrella and Murlough beaches. These can be a little quieter when Newcastle gets busy on the best summer days and bank holidays. 

Forest parks 

If the coasts are lined with sandy beaches, inland you’ll find forest parks almost everywhere you go. Many of them are part of country and National Trust estates. Alongside their carefully managed wildernesses with trees as far as the eyes can see, you’ll often discover magnificent architectural gems with intriguing histories, tasty tea rooms and activities to keep everyone entertained. 

County Fermanagh has some of the most impressive of these forest parks, including Crom Estate and Lough Navar Forest. The Florence Court Forest Park is surrounded by lush parkland and thick woodland with Benaughlin mountain rising in the background. Outdoors take a gentle walk or long cycle along 10 miles of trails and see fascinating industrial heritage features, including the water-powered sawmill and blacksmith's forge. The park’s gardens are home to the mother of all Irish yew trees, as well as the kitchen garden which is being restored to its 1930s character.  

Exploring the underworld – caves 

Ely Lodge Forest is part of the Cuilcagh Lakelands UNESCO Global Geopark, recognised by UNESCO as an area of exceptional landscape, flora and fauna. Here you can leave that above-ground landscape behind, descending instead into a world of echoing chambers,  subterranean rivers, twisting and turning passages, silent pools, stalactites and water-hewn limestone formations. Explore this remarkable system on foot, by boat and by torchlight on one of the many guided tours. 

Back towards the urban jungle – Belfast and Cave Hill 

There’s a cave of a completely different variety just outside Belfast – Cave Hill Country Park. Not only is this a wonderful haven for nature and wildlife just outside the city, but it offers an extraordinary panoramic view too. Named after the series of five, shallow caves on its cliff face, you’ll find a lot more to do here than walking up to admire that famous view. There’s an adventure playground and outdoor activity centre, archaeological sites, a visitor centre and café, gardens, and an eco-trail across the flanks of the hill. No visit here is complete without spending some time atop Napoleon’s Nose, a jagged rocky outcrop from where the landmarks of the city below can be picked out one by one. 

Botanical Belfast 

There are more mannered forms of nature to be found within the city limits, at the Botanic Gardens. A wonder of Victorian design and planning, the Botanic Gardens were established in 1828 by the Belfast Botanic and Horticultural Society. Today not only is it one of the city’s most popular meeting and strolling places, it’s also home to an extraordinary collection of exotic and tropical plants housed within its iron and glass Palm House and Tropical Ravine. 

Wing it to Belfast Lough for wildlife 

If its birds you’re after, then Belfast's Window on Wildlife has got all you need. This RSPB-managed collection of mudflats, watermeadow and river lough is right in the heart of Belfast Lough and is home to more than 100 species of birds. Alongside the countless waders, dibbers and sedge warblers, are konik ponies, a walking trail and a pair of hides from which the birds and other wildlife which can be closely observed. Expert staff will help you spot and identify every animal you see and tell you more about this unique project. 

Into the heart of the country – the Sperrins 

Away from it all, yet at the heart of it all, are the glorious Sperrins. Mile after mile of seemingly untouched rolling hills, shallow valleys and mountains. The skies here seem to go on forever, and so do the many walking, cycling and horse-riding trails that criss-cross the tens of thousands of open acres here. 

Barnes Gap, Gortin Glen, Owenkillew and Glenelly are just some of the landmark hills and valleys here, but there are also places seemingly untouched by human-hand to be discovered here. There are marked trails for walkers and cyclists of all abilities here, and even the drive around the Sperrins has been dubbed one of the Top 101 Scenic Drives in the World by none-other than National Geographic. 

We’ve only scratched the surface of the great outdoors in Northern Ireland. Whatever you’re into, you could spend months and years wandering our mountains, coasts, valleys, lakes, rivers, cities and towns and still feel you’ve got so much left to see and do here.