Counties Down & Armagh

County Down's treasures fan out beyond Belfast. Strangford Lough's sparkling, island-fringed waters stretch south, with the bird-haunted mudflats of Castle Espie and Nendrum's ancient monastery on one shore, and the picturesque Ards Peninsula on the other. The Mourne Mountains' velvet curves sweep down to the sea near Downpatrick and Lecale, the old stamping grounds of Ireland's patron saint. To the south of the Mournes, the coastal road passes the picturesque coastal towns of Rostrevor and Warrenpoint, the respective hosts of summer folk and blues festivals.

Down's neighbour County Armagh is largely rural, from the low, rugged hills of the south to the apple orchards and strawberry fields of the north, with Ireland's ecclesiastical capital, the appealing little city of Armagh, in the middle. South Armagh is a peaceful backwater with enchanting scenery ideal for walkers and cyclists.

Explore Counties Down & Armagh

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Top attractions

These are our favorite local haunts, touristy spots, and hidden gems throughout Counties Down & Armagh.

  • Historic Building

    Mount Stewart

    The magnificent 18th-century Mount Stewart is one of Northern Ireland’s grandest stately homes. Entertaining tours tell the story of the house and its…

  • Archaeological Site

    Navan Fort

    Perched atop a drumlin, Ulster's most important archaeological site is linked in legend with the tales of Cúchulainn and named as capital of Ulster and…

  • Forest

    Kilbroney Park

    This 16-sq-km forest park has walking paths offering awesome views, as well as Northern Ireland's best downhill mountain-biking trails. Arriving by car,…

  • Historic Building

    Castle Ward Estate

    Famed for its role as Winterfell in Game of Thrones, 1760s-built Castle Ward House has a superb setting overlooking the bay west of Strangford. The estate…

  • Forest

    Slieve Gullion Forest Park

    A 10km scenic drive through this forest park provides picturesque views over the surrounding hills. From the parking and picnic area at the top of the…

  • Library

    Armagh Robinson Library

    A first edition of Gulliver's Travels, published in 1726 and annotated by Swift himself, is the most prized possession of the wonderful Armagh Robinson…

  • Museum

    St Patrick Centre

    This magnificent glass-and-timber heritage centre houses a multimedia exhibition called 'Ego Patricius', charting the life and legacy of Ireland's patron…

  • Aquarium

    Exploris

    This excellent aquarium has displays of marine life from Strangford Lough and the Irish Sea as well as tropical fish, otters and a reptile centre with an…

  • Cathedral

    St Patrick's Roman Catholic Cathedral

    Huge twin towers dominate the approach to Armagh's Roman Catholic Cathedral, built between 1838 and 1873 in Gothic Revival style. Inside it seems almost…

  • Wildlife Reserve

    Castle Espie Wildfowl & Wetlands Centre

    Situated 2km southeast of Comber, off the Downpatrick road (A22), Castle Espie is a haven for huge flocks of geese, ducks and swans. The landscaped…

  • Historic Building

    Hillsborough Castle

    The British monarch's official Northern Ireland residence is this rambling, late-Georgian mansion, which was built in 1797 for Wills Hill, the first…

  • Forest

    Tollymore Forest Park

    This scenic forest park, 3km west of Newcastle, offers lovely walks and bike rides along the River Shimna and across the Mournes' northern slopes…

  • Wildlife Reserve

    Murlough National Nature Reserve

    At the Murlough National Nature Reserve, footpaths and boardwalks meander among the grassy dunes leading to a wide sandy beach with great views back…

  • Cathedral

    Down Cathedral

    According to legend, St Patrick died in Saul, where angels told his followers to place his body on a cart drawn by two untamed oxen, and to bury the saint…

  • Monastery

    Grey Abbey

    This Cistercian abbey was founded in 1193 by Affreca, wife of Norman knight John de Courcy, the builder of Carrickfergus Castle, in thanks for surviving a…

  • Monument

    Legananny Dolmen

    Ulster's most famous – but rarely visited – Stone Age monument is a strangely elegant tripod dolmen (tomb chamber), that looks as if a giant's hand has…

  • Christian Site

    Struell Wells

    These supposedly curative spring waters are traditionally associated with St Patrick – it is said he scourged himself here, spending much of the night…

  • Park

    Scrabo Tower & Country Park

    Newtownards is overlooked by Scrabo Hill, 2km southwest of town. It was once the site of extensive prehistoric earthworks, which were largely removed…

  • Nature Reserve

    Oxford Island

    Despite its name, this nature reserve is not an island but a peninsula of land on Lough Neagh's southern edge. The reserve protects a range of habitats –…