Activities in County Down
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Bluelough Mountain & Water Sports Centre
If you fancy a shot at hill walking, rock climbing, canoeing or a range of other outdoor activities, Bluelough Mountain & Water Sports Centre offers one-day, have-a-go sessions for individuals, couples and families (around £60 to £100 per person), as well as Sunday afternoon taster sessions. They also rent canoes for £30/45 per half-day/day.
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Royal County Down Golf Course
Stretching north of town is the Royal County Down Golf Course, whose challenging Championship Links – venue for the 2007 Walker Cup – is full of blind tee shots and monster rough, and is regularly voted one of the world's top 10 golf courses. It's open to visitors on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday.
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Mount Pleasant Pony Trekking & Horse Riding Centre
Sedate outdoor activities are offered by the Mount Pleasant Pony Trekking & Horse Riding Centre, which caters for both experienced riders and beginners, and offers various guided treks into the park. Short rides, beach rides and pony trekking can also be arranged.
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Hotrock
If the weather is wet, you can still go rock climbing at this indoor climbing wall; you can hire rock boots and harness for £3.50. The entrance is on the B180, 2km west of the Tollymore Forest Park exit gate.
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Pickie Family Fun Park
Apart from strolling along the seafront, Bangor's main attraction is this old-fashioned seaside entertainment complex that's famous for its swan-shaped pedal boats, complete with kids adventure playground, karts and miniature steam train.
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Castlewellan Forest Park
A less rugged outdoor experience is offered by Castlewellan Forest Park, with gentle walks around the castle grounds and trout fishing in its lovely lake (a three-day permit costs £8.50).
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Mourne Cycle Tours
Provides mountain- and touring-bike hire (from £10/15/80 per half-day/day/week) and can arrange self-guided tours and family cycling weekends, including accommodation.
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Surfin' Dirt
A three-hour beginner's session, including board, safety gear and instruction, at this mountain-boarding track costs £17.50. It's off the B180, 3km west of Bryansford village.
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Tropicana
A family entertainment centre with outdoor heated fun pools, giant water slides and paddling pools for toddlers.
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Soak
If it's too cold for outdoor bathing, you can simmer away in a hot seaweed bath at nearby Soak.
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Blue Aquarius
Blue Aquarius offers pleasure cruises around Bangor Bay, departing from the marina pontoon next to the Pickie Family Fun Park. In July and August there are family-friendly fishing trips departing at 9.30am and 7pm daily from the Eisenhower Pier (the right-hand side of the harbour, looking out to sea).
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Rock Pool
At the south end of the seafront, this outdoor seawater swimming pool dates from the 1930s.
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Mount Pleasant
More sedate outdoor activities are offered by this horse-riding and pony-trekking centre, which caters for both experienced riders and beginners, and offers various guided treks into the park. Short rides, beach rides and pony trekking can also be arranged.
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Local Walks
Walk up to Windmill Hill above the town, topped by an old windmill tower, for a good view over the Narrows to Strangford. The Vikings named this stretch of water Strangfjörthr, meaning 'powerful fjord', because when the tide turns, as it does four times a day, 400,000 tonnes of water per minute churn through the gap at speeds of up to eight knots(15km/h). You get some idea of the tide's remarkable strength when you see the ferry being whipped sideways by the current.
Portaferry hit the headlines in 2008 when SeaGen – the world's first commercial-scale tidal energy turbine, built at Belfast's Harland & Wolff shipyard – was installed in the Narrows. The generator is clearly…
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Life Adventure Centre
If you fancy a shot at hill walking, rock climbing, canoeing or a range of other outdoor activities, this centre offers one-day, have-a-go sessions for individuals, couples and families (around £60 to £100 per person), as well as Sunday-afternoon taster sessions. It also rents canoes for £30/45 per half-day/day.
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John Murray
Also organises fishing and birdwatching trips from May to September, along with pleasure cruises. Book in advance.
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Granite Trail
Beginning across the road from the harbour, the Granite Trail is a waymarked footpath that leads up a disused funicular railway line that once carried granite blocks to the harbour. The view from the top is worth the steep, 200m climb.
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Des Rogers
Fishing and birdwatching trips from May to September, as well as pleasure cruises on the lough. Book in advance.
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