County Down
Area Information

Castlewellan Forest Park
(028 4377 8664)

Castlewellan Forest Park, including the Peace Maze, Mile Long Lake and National Arboretum Gardens are open all year round. Castlewellan offers a wide range of walks and outdoor facilities including fishing, nature watching, canoeing, pony trekking, rambling and photography. Facilities include tea rooms, sculpture trail, orienteering course and waymarked trails. The Forest Park opens all year round, 10.00am to sunset.

Tollymore Forest Park (028 4372 2428)

Set within a mature wooded landscape Tollymore offers a wide range of walks and scenic views and includes the Shimna River and Stone Bridges and way-marked trails and guided tours. Pony trekking is available by arrangement. There are many opportunities for wildlife watching and resident wild mammals include fallow, deer, badgers, foxes and red squirrels. Tollymore is open all year round, 10.00am – sunset.

Murlough Nature Reserve

A 6000 year old sand dune system owned and managed by The National Trust. The Nature Trail is 2.5 miles long, with maps available at the information centre. There are varied habitats, rich in wildlife, with artefacts dating back to the Stone Age.

Silent Valley and Ben Crom Reservoirs (0845 744 0088)

The Silent Valley is a Mountain Park situated in the Mourne Mountains and features a dam ringed by dramatic mountain panoramas and the famous Mourne Wall, located in U shaped Valley at Kilkeel River. The Silent Valley is an area of outstanding beauty, surrounded by breathtaking countryside making it an ideal setting for flora and fauna. The Information Centre tells the story of the Silent Valley via the exhibition. Facilities include coffee shop and shuttle bus. Silent Valley is open from Oct – Apr 10.00am – 4.00pm.

Mount Stewart House and Gardens
(028 4278 8387)

Situated in Portaferry Road, Newtownards. Former home to a fascinating array of political leaders and society figures, this magnificent stately home’s gardens are amongst the finest in Europe, with an unrivalled collection of plants and flowers. This is one of Northern Ireland's most popular National Trust properties and the landscaped park was voted European Garden of Inspiration 2003. For opening hours please telephone above.

Castle Ward (028 4488 1204)

An interesting18th century mansion with one Classical and one Gothic façade is famed for its mixture of architectural styles. There is a Victorian laundry and pastime centre, as well as a sawmill and cornmill driven by water. The mansion is set in a magnificent 820 acre walled estate with a dramatic setting on the shores of Strangford Lough. Facilities include a tea room, children’s adventure playground, wildlife centre, gift shop and 2nd hand bookshop. For opening times please telephone above.

St Patrick’s Centre (028 4661 9000)

The centre is an exciting interpretative exhibition which tells the fascinating story of Ireland's Patron Saint. Through Patrick's own words a light is shone on the arrival of Christianity in Ireland and its development through his mission. A series of interactive displays allow visitors to explore how Patrick's legacy developed in early Christian times and reveal the fabulous artwork and metalwork which was produced during this Golden Age. The exhibition also examines the major impact of Irish missionaries in Dark Age Europe - a legacy which remains to this day. Housed in an amazing new building which gives close access to St Patrick’s Grave and Down Cathedral, facilities include restaurant, exhibition and gift shop. The centre is open all year round – please contact directly for opening hours.

Down Cathedral & St Patrick’s Grave
(028 4461 4922)

This 19th Century Gothic Cathedral is a Cathedral of the Church of Ireland and is built on the Hill of Down, one of the holiest Christian sites in Ireland. It was built in 1833 as a Benedictine Monastery. The graveyard has the reputed grave of St Patrick. Magnificent stained glass windows, box pews and beautiful organ case enhances this interesting building. Opening times: All year round.

Scenic Drives

• Newcastle Coast Road, Annalong, Kilkeel (harbour), Cranfield (Beach), Greencastle return by Attical Foffary Dam, Bryansford.
• Newcastle via Bryansford, Hilltown, Rostrevor (Giants Grave, St Bronagh’s Well), Warrenpoint return by Kilbraney Valley (Santa Cottage), Spelga Dam, Bryansford.
• Castlewellan Seaconnell (Legananny Dolman, Drumkerragh Forest), Dromara return via Leitrim (Windy Gap)
• Dundrum (Castle), Clough, Tyrella, Killough, St John’s Point, Ardglass, Strangford.
• Ards Peninsula, Portaferry, Kircubbin, Greyabbey, Newtownards (Scrabo Tower), Comber, Saintfield (Rowallan Gardens), Ballynahinch, Clough, Newcastle.