| North and east county Down |
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| BANGOR
On the road from Belfast to Bangor, Crawfordsburn Country Park (call
91853621 for information) is a great place for walks. BANGOR is
Belfast’s seaside resort and party town, and the recent opening of a
marina have contributed to the city’s development. |
The Tower House
Tourist Information Centre (call 91270069 for information or visit
www.northdown.gov.uk) is located on Quay St and has the following
opening times: July and August 10am-7pm Mondays, 9am-7pm Tuesday to
Friday, 10am-4pm Saturdays, noon-6pm Sundays June and September
10am-5pm Mondays, 9am-5pm Tuesday to Friday, 10am-4pm Saturdays, 1-5pm
Sundays October to May 10am-5pm Mondays, 9am-5pm Tuesday to Friday,
10am-4pm Saturdays
There is not much to do in Bangor apart from the |
Pickie Fun Park and
the many clubs of the city. The North Down Heritage Centre (call
91271200 for information) however is quite interesting and a detour via
the picturesque fishing village of Groomsport is also worth.
ARDS PENINSULA
The low-lying peninsula is a contrast of farmland to the north and
sandy beaches to the south.
Donaghadee has been the main ferry port to Scotland up until the late
19th century and is now an expanding commuter town for Belfast. The
nicest town of the peninsula, Portaferry has developed around a
medieval tower house. There are pleasant coastal walks in the area and
the Portaferry Tourist Information and Visitor Centre (call 42729882
for information) makes a good start. A few things worth a visit are
Portaferry Castle, the Exploris aquarium and a walk up to Windmill
Hill.
In Greyabbey you will admire the stunning ruins of Grey Abbey (call
9054 6552 for information), a Cistercian building which dates back to
the late 12th century. Hoops Courtyard is a nice little area where a
number of little shops sell antiques and collectables.
Mount Stewart House (call 42788387 for information) is a gorgeous 18th
century stately home, one of the largest in Northern Ireland. The
landscaped gardens are also magnificent and house the Temple of the
Winds, a Greek style piece which stands high above the lough.
NEWTOWNARDS
Although it stands on the foundations of an early ecclesiastical
centre, Newtownards lacks attractiveness and has little to offer to the
visitor.
The Ards Tourist Information Centre (call 91826846 for information or
visit www.kingdomofdown.com) is located on Regent St and is opened from
9.15am to 5pm Monday to Friday and from 9.30am to 5pm on Saturdays.
The town however has some fine architecture dating back to the 18th and
19th centuries. A fine example is Market House which was once the
town’s prison. Movilla Abbey is also worth a detour. It is noteworthy
that Lowden Guitar Company (call 91820542 for information) has long
been creating guitars for numbers such as Eric Clapton, Van Morrison
and the Edge. STRANGFORD LOUGH
Islands and mounds of boulder clay show up in the lough which is
connected to the open sea at Portaferry. Grey seals, birds, eider ducks
and many others populate the area.
The Castle Espie Centre (call 9187 4146 for information or visit
www.wwt.org.uk) is a gathering point for geese, ducks and swans.
Light-bellied brent geese establish there in winter. Needless to say
that it is an ornithologist’s paradise. As old as the 5th century,
Nendrum Monastic Site is what remains of a Celtic monastic community.
The ruins of churches, a round tower, beehive cells among other
buildings can be viewed. You will find some interesting material about
the site and the near site of Grey Abbey at the visitor centre (call
97542547 for information).
The main attraction in the small fishing village of Killyleagh is the
castle which unfortunately is not open to the public. DOWNPATRICK
Named after the patron saint of Ireland, the town is the administrative
centre of the county. The Downpatrick Tourist Information Centre (call
44612233 for information or visit www.kingdomofdown.com) is located on
Market St and has the following opening times:
9.30am to 7pm Monday to Saturday and 2 to 6pm on Sundays
from mid-June to September
9.30am to 5pm Monday to Friday and 10am to 5pm on
Saturdays from October to mid-June
The life of St Patrick is related at the Saint Patrick Centre (call
44619000 for information or visit www.saintpatrickcentre.com) through
audio and video presentations. Down Cathedral (call 44614922 for
information) has been built and rebuilt over 1600 years. All traces of
the early churches and subsequent Norman cathedral and monasteries have
unfortunately been wiped away during several attacks.
Two museums are worth a visit: the Down County Museum (call 44615218
for information) and the Downpatrick Railway Museum (call 4461 5779 for
information).
Other sights include Inch Abbey (call 90235000 for information) and
Quoile Countryside Centre (call 44615779 for information). Not far from
Downpatrick, Saul is the place where Saint Patrick made his first
convert. Although well conservated, the bath-houses at Struell Wells
are not really inspiring for a dip in the water.
LECALE PENINSULA
Another low-lying peninsula, Lecale Peninsula consists of fertile
farmland, fishing harbours and sandy beaches.
Strangford, a lovely fishing village, is located in a conservation
area. Dominated by the 16th-century Strangford Castle, the place is
picturesque.
Located in a magnificent estate, Castle Ward House is now part of the
National Trust’s Castle Ward Estate (call 44881204 for information).
The site houses a Victorian laundry museum, the Strangford Lough
Wildlife Centre, Old Castle Ward and Castle Audley. Kilclief Castle
(call 90235000 for information) is a tower house, the oldest in the
county and was built in the 15th century. Once a major port, Ardglass
is nowadays a quiet village with a busy fishing harbour. Seven tower
houses are reminders of its past importance. Of those seven tower
houses, only Jordan’s Castle (call 91811491 for information) can be
visited. Lying by the sea, Killough is a colourful and picturesque
village. Coney Island lies across the bay, a sandy peninsula made
famous by singer Van Morrison. The Killough Coastal Path is a great
walk to make. |
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