Activities & Attractions in County Down

Things to do in County Down

The very geography of County Down offers variety in itself. There’s the Mourne mountains sweeping down to the sea. There’s Strangford Lough, the largest lough of its kind in Britain and Ireland. The Ards Peninsula has a sea-bitten flavour all of its own. Head inland, into Bronte Country, and everything changes as rock and sand quickly give way to farmland and woods.

It’s no surprise then that there’s also a wide variety of things to do and see in County Down.

Family fun never grows old here

Start with one of Northern Ireland’s most popular, fun-filled attractions. The Let’s Go Hydro Aqua Park just outside Belfast is packed with all kinds of activities, from open water swimming to waterslides, cable water sports, aqua rugby, tubing, wakeboarding and paddle-boarding. They’ve on-site glamping facilities, meaning you can make a weekend of it too.

Clearsky Adventure Centre at Old Castle Ward on the shores of Strangford Lough is another place where the sky’s the limit when it comes to things to do. Set amidst the remains of a medieval fortress, where scenes from both Vikings and Game of Thrones® were filmed, you’ll find yourself spoiled for choice. Axe throwing or archery? Cycling or coasteering? Sea safari or star-gazing from a glamping pod? You couldn’t make it all up and, fortunately, you don’t have to because it’s all there waiting for you.

The jewel in the crown – Hillsborough Castle

(Access is only available to the gardens and café during the winter. The Castle reopens in the spring).

Hillsborough Castle is one of the official Royal Palaces and is well worth visiting. It was built in Georgian style and splendour by Wills Hill and is beautifully set in 100 acres of well-tended parkland and gardens. A guided tour of the castle will trace the history of the palace as you move from one opulent room to another, including the magnificent State Rooms, the Red Room and Throne Room. Outside, you’re able to wander the grounds, discovering the restored Walled Garden, Lost Garden and a myriad of winding avenues, paths and lawns. After all that, head for the on-site cafe and gift shop, which are almost reasons to visit in themselves.

From a palace to a castle

Castle Ward, facing Strangford Lough, also offers another face to the world. It was in fact built in two contrasting styles. Why? Because the couple who built it, Bernard Ward, 1st Viscount Bangor, and his wife, Ann, simply couldn’t agree on the style and décor - and we’re not talking white or magnolia paint here! To compromise, the half of the castle facing the lough is built and decorated in an elaborate Gothic style, while the half facing inland is in a classical Palladian style. If that alone gives you a taste for the place, just wait until you get there. Apart from the house itself, there’s a stable yard which featured heavily in Game of Thrones®, plus cycling, walking, archery, horse-riding and acres of immaculately planted and tended grounds to explore.

Grand indoors to great outdoors – Mournes, Newcastle and more

After all that grandeur, get out and clear your head in the Mourne Mountains, which are perfect for hiking, criss-crossed as they are with countless walking trails and conveniently-placed car parks. Many of the accessible trails and paths will at some point lead you down into Silent Valley or up the slopes of Slieve Donard, or both. Either way, the Mournes make for a breath-taking outdoors experience. Even stepping off a trail to admire the panoramic views across the glittering Irish sea feels like an event in itself. Look out for the Cooley peninsula to the south, the Isle of Man to the north-east, with Mount Snowdon in Wales visible through binoculars on the clearest of days.

It’s a short hop from here to the popular seaside town of Newcastle, with its long silver strand, Royal County Down championship golf course, iconic Slieve Donard hotel and the usual seaside attractions for kids of all ages.

Another option worth exploring is the water, and there’s a lot of it to go around in these parts. Strangford Lough is both immense and intimate at the same time, with harbours, villages, marinas, slipways and quays dotted along its coastline. It’s a great place to take a kayak out for a few hours exploring the many islands, with hire shops and instructors always nearby.

Refuel, revive and imbibe as you explore

County Down plays host to a number of microbreweries, and if craft beer, local gins or homemade wines are of interest, we recommend you add a few of the following to your itinerary.

Shortcross Gin Distillery in Downpatrick, and the Echlinville Distillery out on the Ards peninsula are but a few of the brewers and distillers leading the way in our burgeoning craft drink revival. Each is worth a visit to take in the setting, learn about the perfection of the process, sample the wonderful products, and even take a souvenir - or a bottle - home with you too.

That’s just a whistle-stop tour of some of the highlights of this varied and vibrant county. Hopefully you’ll have found plenty of inspiration above, with more below – so get planning and away you go!

Whilst every effort has been made to ensure information is correct, we strongly advise checking in advance before you travel to your intended destination to ensure its open and book tickets if applicable.

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Eddie Irvine Sports

Bangor

Address

41 Balloo Road, Bangor, County Down, BT19 7PG

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 9145 1457

info@raceschoolireland.com

Type

Type:

Zorbing

Race around an indoor karting track designed by Formula One superstar Eddie Irvine. Enjoy the adrenaline rush as you make your way around the track racing your friends.

More Info
Facilities

Parking & Transport
- On site parking
Finnebrogue Woods Gourmet Wild Food and Foraging

Downpatrick

Address

26 Killyleagh Road, Downpatrick, County Down, BT30 9BL

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 4410 3104

gowild@finnebroguewoods.com

Price
Price £80.00 Per Ticket

Type

Type:

Craft Workshops and courses

On your foraging walk through the woods with our resident expert Bushman Rob, you will be safely guided through identifying and collecting seasonal wild edibles of greens, herbs, vegetables, fungi and berries. With Rob's expert eye you will explore,…

Dates

From:
23 Sept 2025

Price
Price £80.00 Per Ticket

More Info
Facilities

Parking & Transport
- Car parking
- On site parking
- Parking (free)
Tripadvisor Traveller Rating
45 reviews
Ulster Transport Museum

Holywood

Address

153 Bangor Road, Cultra, Holywood, County Down, BT18 0EU

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 9042 8428

info@nationalmuseumsni.org

Price
Price £11.50 Activity

Type

Type:

Visitor Centres & Museums

Celebrate the history of invention and innovation through engineering, design, and technology at the Ulster Transport Museum. Check out the famous DeLorean, a Ferguson tractor and the motorbikes of some of Northern Ireland's biggest road racing…

Dates

From:

1 Oct 2024to1 Mar 2025Various Opening Times

From:

1 Oct 2024to1 Mar 2025Various Opening Times

Price
Price £11.50 Activity

More Info
Facilities

Parking & Transport
- On site parking
Facilities

Leisure Facilities
- Wifi
Pirates Adventure Golf

Dundonald, Belfast

Address

111A Old Dundonald Road, Dundonald, Belfast, County Antrim, BT16 1XT

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 9048 0220

info@piratesadventuregolf.com

Type

Type:

Mini Golf and Pitch and Putt

Set in fully landscaped surroundings players must plot their way round the fun and exciting challenges of each hole and enjoy specifically designed special effects, which are unique to Pirates Adventure Golf.

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The Market Cross

Newtownards

Address

High Street, Newtownards, County Down, BT23 7HZ

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 9182 6846

ardsvic@ardsandnorthdown.gov.uk

Price
Free

Type

Type:

Historic Sites, Houses, Castles & Buildings

At the east of High Street in Newtownards the Market Cross was built in 1636 but was destroyed by Commonwealth troops in 1653.

Price
Free

More Info
Facilities

Provider Preferences
- Free (parking charges may apply)
Ballyquintin Farm

Address

Co Down

Type

Type:

Walking & Hiking

A coastal grassland walk on the tip of the Ards Peninsula

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Facilities

Provider Preferences
- Free (parking charges may apply)
Goward Dolmen

Hilltown

Address

Goward Road, Hilltown, County Down, BT34 5YL

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 9082 3207

scmenquiries@communities-ni.gov.uk

Price
Free

Type

Type:

Historic Sites, Houses, Castles & Buildings

Goward Dolmen is situated approx 0.4km south of the B8 Castlewellan/Hilltown road on the north west slopes of the Mourne Mountains and is a fine portal tomb surrounded by trees.

Price
Free

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Kiri Cottage Crafts

Ardkeen

Address

Kiri Cottage, 6 Loughdoo Road, Ardkeen, County Down, BT22 1HJ

Telephone
+44 (0)7968 342 928

kiricottagecrafts@aol.com

Type

Type:

Craft Workshops and courses

Spinner, dyeing and knitting expert Christine Casey will help you find pleasure in the possibilities of wool. She empowers people with the knowledge, and hands on skills to go home and make. People with all level of skill can benefit from a trip to…

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Scrabo Hill

Address

Co Down

Type

Type:

Walking & Hiking

A walk around Scrabo Hill, part of Scrabo Country Park

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Facilities

Provider Preferences
- Free (parking charges may apply)
Mourne Wall Challenge

Address

Co Down

Type

Type:

Walking & Hiking

Challenging circular walk following the length of Mourne Wall

More Info
Facilities

Provider Preferences
- Free (parking charges may apply)
Tollymore Forest Park - River Trail

Address

Co Down

Type

Type:

Walking & Hiking

Having descended the Azalea Walk to the Shimna River, the trail turns upstream along the attractive tree lined river bank past the Hermitage to cross the river at Parnell's Bridge. The 10 metre cascade fall is most spectacular.

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Facilities

Provider Preferences
- Free (parking charges may apply)
Explore Game of Thrones® Territory by Campervan

Belfast

Address

Cyril Johnston Complex, Ballynahinch Road, Belfast, County Antrim, BT8 8DJ

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 9081 3057

enquiries@bunkcampers.com

Type

Type:

GoT Self Guided Tours

Are you a Game of Thrones® fan? You can now embark on an adventure through Westeros with Bunk Campers. Discover Game of Thrones® filming locations from the comfort of a campervan, which gives you all the time and flexibility you need.

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Whitewater Brewery Tours and Tap Room

Castlewellan

Address

Lakeside Brae, Clarkhill Road, Castlewellan, County Down, BT31 9RH

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 4377 8900

brewery.whitewater@gmail.com

Price
Price £20.00 Per Ticket

Type

Type:

Brewery/Distillery Tour

Join us for a look around our brewery, see how we make some of our award winning brews, then head back to the Tap House where you can try some ales and hear some tales.

Price
Price £20.00 Per Ticket

More Info
Facilities

Parking & Transport
- On site parking
Rocky Mountain

Address

Co Down

Type

Type:

Walking & Hiking

A gentle walk which includes some steep sections

More Info
Facilities

Provider Preferences
- Free (parking charges may apply)
Hillmount BBQ Academy

Gilnahirk, Belfast

Address

56/58 Upper Braniel Road, Gilnahirk, Belfast, County Antrim, BT5 7TX

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 9044 8213

alan@hillmount.co.uk

Type

Type:

Cookery School

Hillmount offers one of the largest BBQ Showrooms in Ireland with trained specialists to help you make the right decision when choosing your BBQ. View our full range of gas and charcoal grills online at www.hillmount.co.uk.

More Info
Facilities

Parking & Transport
- On site parking
The Sound Spa Experience

Lisburn

Address

Temple Shopping Centre, 88 Carryduff Road, Temple, Lisburn, County Antrim, BT27 6YL

Telephone
+44 (0) 7792 925 128

info@thesoundhealingspa.com

Type

Type:

Health & Wellbeing

The Sound Spa Events & Experiences combine Tessa Ann's carefully curated soundscapes with instrumental sounds, such as gongs, bowls, voice and other instruments to promote wellbeing.

More Info
Facilities

Parking & Transport
- On site parking
Bright Castle Golf Course

Downpatrick

Address

14 Coniamstown Road, Bright, Downpatrick, County Down, BT30 8LU

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 4484 1319

Lynda.ennis@yahoo.com

Type

Type:

Parkland Golf Course

Bright Castle Golf Club is a 18 hole parkland course located in County Down with stunning views of the Mourne Mountains and nearby Bright Castle.

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Facilities

Catering
- Restaurant on site
Spelga Dam

Hilltown

Address

Kilkeel Road, Hilltown, County Down, BT34 5XL

Telephone
+44 (0) 33 0137 4046

visitorservices@nmandd.org

Type

Type:

Lake / Reservoir

Spelga Dam Reservoir sits in the heart of the Mourne Mountains, located approximately 10 miles outside of Newcastle, County Down. A man-made reservoir built in the 1950s by the Belfast engineering firm, R Ferguson and Son. It supplies water to…

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Facilities

Parking & Transport
- Car parking
Rowallane Garden - Woodland Walk

Saintfield

Address

Crossgar Road, Saintfield, County Down

Type

Type:

Walking & Hiking

Whatever the season there's always something new to see at Rowallane Gardens, one of the most beautiful gardens in Northern Ireland.
Carved from the County Down landscape, the garden has grown from the 19th century beginnings of the Reverend John…

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Facilities

Provider Preferences
- Free (parking charges may apply)
Lough Shannagh - The Heart of the Mournes - Mountain Ways Ireland

Kilkeel

Address

The Game Keeper Lodge, 270 Moyad Road, Kilkeel, County Down, BT34 4SU

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 3057 0220

info@mountainwaysireland.com

Type

Type:

Guided Tour

Trek to the heart of The Mournes as we trace the fascinating story of Granite.We'll demonstrate this ancient art and also visit the largest and most beautiful natural mountain lake with views far below into the stunning Mountain reservoirs.

More Info