Things to do in County Down
-
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.
reviewed
-
Dufferin Arms
This comfortably old-fashioned pub (and the larger Stables Bar downstairs) serves decent pub grub, while the cosy, candle- lit Kitchen Restaurant offers a more intimate atmosphere. Bands play on Friday and Saturday nights from 9pm, with folk and bluegrass sessions on Saturday afternoons from 4pm.
reviewed
-
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.
reviewed
-
Maud's
Maud's is a bright, modern cafe with picture windows framing a stunning view across the river to the Mournes. It serves breakfast, good coffee, a range of tempting scones and sticky buns, plus salads, crêpes, pizzas and pastas; there's a kids menu, too.
reviewed
-
Café Ceol
Bangor's biggest and busiest nightclub has a sleek cocktail bar, an intimate lounge and a stylish club venue, Mint, which features hip hop and R&B on Thursday, resident DJ on Friday, and commercial dance, house, funk and R&B on Saturday.
reviewed
-
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.
reviewed
-
Portaferry Castle
Portaferry's castle is a small 16th-century tower house beside the tourist information centre, which, together with the tower house in Strangford, used to control sea traffic through the Narrows.
reviewed
-
Brass Monkey
Newry's most popular pub, with Victorian brass, brick and timber decor, serves good bar meals ranging from lasagne and burgers to seafood and steaks. At weekends you can get a full Irish fried breakfast for £5 (9am till noon).
reviewed
-
Café Krem
A friendly, community atmosphere and the best coffee in town make Café Krem stand out from the crowd. There's also wicked hot chocolate, tasty soups, sandwiches, pasta and panini, and a couple of big, soft sofas to sink into.
reviewed
-
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).
reviewed
Advertisement
-
Strand Restaurant & Bakery
The Strand has been around since 1930, and dishes up great homemade ice cream and cakes, as well as serving all-day breakfast (£2 to £5), lunch and dinner in its traditional, seaside, chips-with-everything restaurant.
reviewed
-
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.
reviewed
-
Sea Salt
Both delicatessen and bistro, Sea Salt serves everything from a morning cappuccino to a lunchtime seafood platter, with an evening menu that ranges from Spanish tapas to themed menus from around the world.
reviewed
-
Ballycopeland Windmill
Approximately 1.5km northwest of Millisle is Ballycopeland Windmill, a late-18th-century corn mill that remained in commercial use until 1915 and has been restored to full working order.
reviewed
-
Mourne Café
A new venture by the owners of the Mourne Seafood Bar, this informal, family-friendly cafe dishes up a kids menu (mains £5) as well as seafood chowder and beer-battered haddock and chips for mum and dad.
reviewed
-
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.
reviewed
-
Phezulu
The upstairs bistro of the Red Berry, Phezulu boasts a South African– inspired menu with dishes such as Cape Malay Curry and boerewors (pork and coriander sausages) with mash and gravy.
reviewed
-
St Malachy's Parish Church
St Malachy's is one of Ireland's most splendid 18th- century churches, with twin towers at the ends of the transepts and a graceful spire at the western end. A tree-lined avenue leads to the church from a statue of Arthur Hill, fourth Marquess of Downshire, at the bottom of Main St.
reviewed
-
Red Berry Coffee House
A chilled-out fairtrade coffee shop that serves big breakfasts (including a stack of pancakes with bacon and maple syrup) till 11.30am, and deli sandwiches and salads thereafter.
reviewed
-
Dundrum Castle
Dundrum Castle, founded in 1177 by John de Courcy of Carrickfergus, overlooks the sheltered waters of Dundrum Bay, famous for its oysters and mussels.
reviewed
Advertisement
-
Newry and Mourne Museum
With exhibits on the Newry Canal and local archaeology, culture and folklore, the museum is housed in Bagenal's Castle, the town's oldest surviving building. Recently rediscovered, having been incorporated into more recent buildings, the 16th-century tower house was built for Nicholas Bagenal, grand marshal of the English army in Ireland. The castle also houses the tourist office.
reviewed
-
Hillsborough Fort
Close to the church, Hillsborough Fort was built as an artillery fort by Colonel Hill in 1650 and remodelled as a Gothic-style tower house in 1758.
reviewed
-
Tropicana
A family entertainment centre with outdoor heated fun pools, giant water slides and paddling pools for toddlers.
reviewed
-
Soak
If it's too cold for outdoor bathing, you can simmer away in a hot seaweed bath at nearby Soak.
reviewed
-
Lidl Supermarket
Campers can stock up on provisions at the Lidl Supermarket in the red-brick former train station beside the bus station.
reviewed