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Down attractions

Belfast » Northern Ireland Highlights & Hidden Gems » Co. Down attractions

Ards Peninsula

Ards Peninsula
Stretching from the market town of Newtownards and separating the shores of Strangford Lough and the Irish Sea, this gently undulating landscape is a scenic mix of pretty villages, romantic seascapes and unspolit coastline. Read_on (No Comments)

Banbridge District

Banbridge District
Banbridge District encompasses the four main towns of Banbridge, Dromore, Gilford and Rathfriland. The main Banbridge TIC is housed within the gleaming F. Read_on (No Comments)

Bangor, Holywood & Groomsport

Bangor, Holywood & Groomsport
Stretching along the Belfast Lough shoreline, and spreading across fifty square miles, North Down Borough's outdoor highlights include sandy beaches, country parks, quaint villages and historic sites. Read_on (No Comments)

Castle Ward

Castle Ward
The romantic Strangford Lough setting hints at the real life love story so intrinsic to the look and feel of this mid-Georgian mansion. Read_on (No Comments)

Crawfordsburn Country Park

Crawfordsburn Country Park
Glorious beaches, magical woodland and 3.5km of rugged coastline encompass one of  NI's prettiest parks.Hugging the Belfast Lough coastline between Holywood and Bangor, the Park is a great place to walk, relax and watch locals throw sticks for their dogs. Read_on (1 Comment)

Down Cathedral

Down Cathedral
Dating back to 1220, Down Cathedral is the site of St. Patrick's grave, and the first Kodak moment for any green-gilded pilgrim. Read_on (No Comments)

Down County Museum

Down County Museum
Once the Gaol of Co. Down (1796-1830), this revamped gem of a museum delivers a fascinating mini Alcatraz-style glimpse into its precarious past. Read_on (No Comments)

Downpatrick & Co. Down Railway

Downpatrick & Co. Down Railway
Railway buffs will relish this homage to the great era of the steam and diesel train. Yep, there's nothing quite so evocative as a trip on a steam train on a glorious sunny afternoon. Read_on (1 Comment)

Exerience Ards Tours

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This series of guided tours, organised by Ards Tourism, explores the heritage, history and scenic beauty of Strangford Lough and the Ards Peninsula. Read_on (No Comments)

Exploris

Exploris
Nestled on the shores of Strangford Lough marine nature reserve, Exploris - the Northern Ireland Aquarium reflects its fabulous location with exhibits focusing on the Lough and the Irish Sea. Read_on (No Comments)

Funny Farm Adventures

Funny Farm Adventures
Transforming a field of maize into an amazing maze is trickier than losing the 'i'. In this, NI's only maize maze, over 1000 canes are plunged into the six acre field at marked satellite points. Read_on (2 Comments)

Hillsborough and Moira

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These two Georgian village gems offer an altogether more sedate ambience a world away from Lisburn city. Lying just south of Lisburn, Read_on (No Comments)

Hillsborough Castle

Hillsborough Castle
This late 18th Century mansion house is the official residence of both the NI Secretary of State and HM The Queen. The Read_on (1 Comment)

Inch Abbey

Inch Abbey
The extensive remains of this Cistertian Abbey, founded in 1180 on the site of a former monastery by John de Courcy, are worth visiting not least for their tranquil islet location and distant views of Down Cathedral. Read_on (No Comments)

Nendrum Monastic Site

Nendrum Monastic Site
The Strangford Lough island setting of this ancient monastic site is as dramatic as it is historic. Traditionally founded in the 5th Century by St. Read_on (No Comments)

Paint Me Glaze Me

Paint Me Glaze Me
Swirl sophisticated patterns onto your blank ceramic canvas to create an object of unique beauty or grab a specially moulded pottery piece and paint in your fave cartoon character. Read_on (1 Comment)

Portaferry

Portaferry
Home to Exploris aquarium and NI's most scenic ferry ride, Portaferry is a picturesque village perched at the end of the Ards Peninsula. Read_on (No Comments)

Seaforde Gardens and Tropical Butterfly House

Seaforde Gardens and Tropical Butterfly House
Watch exotic butterflies waft amid tropical plants, eyeball a salient selection of spine-tingling insects, get lost in Ireland's oldest maze then treat yourself to a slab of chocolate fudge cake at this privately owned 400-year-old demesne. Read_on (No Comments)

St. Patrick Centre

St. Patrick Centre
This big, bold showpiece presents an extremely thorough exploration of the life and times of St. Patrick, even touching on the lack of hard evidence surrounding his story. Read_on (No Comments)

Ark Open Farm

Ark Open Farm
Pretty pink piglets, loveable llamas, ravishing reindeer and shaggy highland sheep are just some of the fabulous animals at Ark Open Farm. Read_on (No Comments)

Lisburn City

Lisburn City
Lisburn was granted city status by the Queen in 2002. Situated just 10 miles south of Belfast, it is regarded by many as Northern Ireland's fastest growing metropolis. Read_on (No Comments)