Bangor Tourist Attractions: 15 Top Places to Visit
Planning to visit Bangor? Check out our Bangor Travel Guide video and see top most Tourist Attractions in Bangor.
Top Places to visit in Bangor:
Bangor Castle Walled Garden, Crawfordsburn Country Park, Pickie Family Fun Park, Bangor Marina, Ward Park, North Down Museum, Grey Point Fort, Eddie Irvine Sports, Castle Park, Ballyholme Beach, Bangor Castle, Helen's Tower, Bangor Abbey, Mckee Clock, Tower House
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Newtownabbey Tourist Attractions: 6 Top Places to Visit
Planning to visit Newtownabbey? Check out our Newtownabbey Travel Guide video and see top most Tourist Attractions in Newtownabbey.
Top Places to visit in Newtownabbey:
Jordanstown Loughshore Park, Belfast Zoo, War Years Remembered, Sentry Hill Historic House, Ballyrobert Cottage Garden and Nursery, Hazelbank Park
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Holywood Town Belfast - Places to Visit in Northern Ireland
Cities and towns, these are the two different places that tourists get attracted to when it comes to visiting a new country for the first time and trying to explore as much of it as possible, or even for the local people who want to get to know more about their own personal country.
Holywood town is part of Northern Ireland, it is located in the metropolitan area of Belfast city in county Down. This town in Northern Ireland is a civil parish and townland of 755 acres, lying on the shore of Belfast Lough, between Belfast and Bangor.
Going back into the history of this old city, one will get to ask about the name which lots of people now pronounce in the same way as Hollywood is pronounced. Back in the old days, the name Holywood was rather Sanctus Boscus, which means Holy Wood, and it was given to this place by the Normans after the woodland surrounding the monastery founded by St. Laseran before 640.
There are different interesting things that might be held in this town, such as the jazz and blues festival which is held there. There are other things that distinguish this town as well, such as the distinctive building known as the Old Priory. Even though this might sometimes be mistaken for the famous Hollywood in the United States of America, it is also considered one of the most visited towns in county Down for the fashion boutiques that it has, the delis and the galleries.
Holywood is also one of Northern Ireland's famous towns and places because it boasts Ireland's only surviving Maypole dating back to 1700 when a Dutch ship ran aground offshore and as a show of gratitude, they erected their broken mast.
We have already mentioned that the jazz and blues festival is held in Holywood, but there is also the annual May Day Celebrations which are considered the main focus when it comes to this town, and this is actually one of the big events in Ards and North Down calendar, when the school children dance around the maypole alongside market stalls and family attractions.
Holywood town stands as one of the beautiful places with a history carried behind which tourists and locals could visit and check what it has to offer - at least we have already mentioned some of the reasons why we believe this is considered a good place to travel to - but there are still other towns that could be visited in county Down as well, such as the Village of Saintfield ( Donaghadee which is 18 miles away from Belfast ( Crawfordsburn ( and Portaferry (
When it comes to the different attractions in county Down, Northern Ireland, there are different things which we should refer to as well in addition to these towns which we have mentioned, such as checking the Whiterocks Beach in Portrush ( Dundrum Castle ( Ballywalter Beach ( Down County Museum ( Tollymore Forest ( and lots of other things to dig deep behind and discover if you got the chance to be in county Down.
Being a place that is not far away from Belfast city, it is also considered a great suggestion for those touring the city to consider making a different kind of plan and add this destination to their list, they will end up visiting another part of Northern Ireland which they might have never thought about visiting before. The Ulster Folk and Transport Museum in County Down at Cultra, is another touristic attraction that is just next to Holywood which visitors and travelers could also check (
Have you ever been to Holywood in Northern Ireland before? Have you ever realized that there is another Holywood than the one you are used to hear about when it comes to the United States of America? Have you ever been there or ever planned a trip to this beautiful town in county Down? At least now you could make a proper plan and enjoy yourself there.
Holywood in county Down, Northern Ireland, might not be the biggest town to visit or the one with the most attractions, but it is definitely one of the towns close to Belfast that could still offer history along with some attractions that people could enjoy visiting and bring back stories from to their homes and families.
So, are you now planning to visit Holywood and see what this small town getting mixed up with the big US Hollywood actually looks like? Plan your visit as a local or a tourist and let us know your feedback and hear about the stories you will have there in this small town.
Enjoy watching the video about Holywood!
The best locations around Ireland / Northern Ireland and further afield. A travel blog/vlog of the hidden treasures that are on our doorstep.
Whiterocks Beach Portrush - County Antrim Northern Ireland
White Rock Beach is one of the beaches in Portrush - close to Portstewart as well. If taking the coastal route or in Portrush - definitely check out Whiterock beach. Definitely in the top 2 beaches in the Portrush area. Agree? :-) (
White Rock - or Whiterocks - Beach is one of the different beaches that is located in Portrush, county Antrim, and one of our favorite for the beauty of the beach and the different water sports that could be done there. White Rocks beach has been awarded the prestigious Blue Flag Award once again in 2015, not being the first time for that, and this proves why it is one of those beaches preferred by the local people and also one of those suggested for the tourists coming to Portrush.
This beach is located just off the Causeway Coastal Route and it is believed to have beautiful natural location with limestone cliffs stretching from Curran Strand to Dunluce Castle ( The name of this beach came from the soft rocks of Whiterocks which have been carved through centuries into a labyrinth of caves and arches; Shelagh's Head, the Wishing Arch, Elephant Rock, and the Lion's Paw are all headlands of distinguishable forms that tend to rise out of the ocean.
Coming to White Rocks Beach could happen for several different reasons, it could be for relaxing a little bit by the sea and enjoying the good water if the weather allows you to and it could be for doing any of the different water sports which people tend to go there for, such as surfing, body boarding, kayaking, and there are even those who come for horse riding - but this is restricted during specific times just the same ways dogs are also restricted there at specific times.
White Rocks Beach is a perfect vacation destination for those who pass by Portrush so often and one of the other positive points related to this place is that it is not far away from Belfast, so if you are going to stay in Belfast, you could still get the chance to go to Portrush and enjoy a day at Whiterocks Beach - you will definitely enjoy your time there.
If you are thinking about this beach but all what might be freaking you out is whether your kids will enjoy this place or not then you should not be worried because kids love Whiterock beach for the things they tend to enjoy their time there while doing; the kids love climbing the black rocks on the ocean's edge, running around, swimming and playing with the sand while making some castles.
It is actually a place that all the members of the family enjoy coming to for the activities that could be done and for the scenes and views which they will tend to receive. While being at the White Rocks Beach, you will get a panoramic view of the Causeway Coast, Donegal and the Islands of Scotland. If you want to have more sensational views then you could have a stop at the Magheracross, which is a custom built area that allows sublime views of Dunluce Castle from one direction and Whiterocks and Portrush from the other.
Whiterocks Beach is well prepared for the visitors, there are different facilities which you will find there offered to you, there is a car parking place, lifeguard service that is there during July and August from 11am to 7pm on a daily basis, board walk access to the beach, toilets and parking lots for disabled people, and they allow dogs and horses but with some restrictions during specific times.
There are other attractions which are located in Portrush and which we have been to before, one of them is the location that Game of Thrones movie series was filmed at which is Portstewart Strand ( The Downhill Beach Castlerock is close to Portrush and thus could be considered a place to visit as well ( and there is also the famous touristic attraction The Giant's Causeway that is in Bushmills but which is also close to Portrush (
According to our experience at the Whiterocks Beach, we could definitely say that this is one of our favorite beaches in Northern Ireland for the different things it could offer people and for the stunning views it carries - you might never think that Scotland could be spotted from out there, but it appears on a clear sky day.
Are you searching for a peaceful beautiful beach with different spots and perfect water? Whiterocks is the answer then; you could enjoy everything there from having a peaceful time to playing any of the water sports that you are crazy about.
Crawfordsburn Beach in county Down ( Runkerry Beach in county Antrim ( are other options for beaches in Northern Ireland if they are closer to you.
Some of the best locations around Ireland / Northern Ireland and further afield. A travel blog/vlog of the hidden treasures that are on our doorstep.
Donaghadee - County Down, Northern Ireland
Donaghadee has a great landmark in the lighthouse over the pier facing into the Irish Sea. There is a beautiful coastal walk here - also into the town where there is an old moat/castle structure and a great view of the surrounding area. Very close to Bangor and Belfast.
There are some small towns scattered around Belfast that open the eyes of the visitors and tourists who are staying in Belfast and give them the chance to think outside the box and go out of the city to any of these towns if they have some spare time to spend and this is usually a good plan because it will give them the chance to explore more parts of Northern Ireland during their trip.
Donaghadee is one of these different options related to small towns which we have to refer to and mention, it is only 18 miles away from Belfast and only 6 miles away from Bangor - which is not a long distance for someone to go. Donaghadee is a small town situated in county Down, Northern Ireland, that lies on the northeast coast of the Ards Peninsula; it is in the civil parish of Donaghadee and the historic barony of Ards Lower. The history of Donaghadee town and the different attractions that could be seen in it add to the encouragement that fills the visitor's heart and mind about going there.
Donaghadee town was actually featured in the Irish Rebellion of 1798; in the morning of Pike Sunday 10 June 1798, a force of United Irishmen mainly from Bangor, Donaghadee, Greyabbey, and Ballywalter attempted to occupy the the town of Newtownards, they met with musket fire from the market house and they were defeated. In addition to this historical part, Donaghadee harbour is also important when it comes to this town since it has its historical part as well; Donaghadee was used in the period between 1759 and 1826 by couples going to Portpatrick, Wigtown, Scotland in order to get married since there was a daily packet boat going there from Donaghadee harbour.
Of course when it comes to any new place you are visiting, the first thing that you will be doing is searching for the different touristic attractions that you could visit there. When it comes to Donaghadee town, there are a couple of things to consider visiting, such as the Moat, the Harbour and the Marina along with the lighthouse, and there are other minor places to consider such as the Parish Church.
The harbour and the lighthouse of Donaghadee town are famous because that harbour almost dates back to the 17th century and this harbour is well known for its lighthouse - it might be one of the most famous attractions related to this town, it has actually been a haven for ships for years and years.
In addition to the harbour and the lighthouse, there is also the Moat - or as it is also known and referred to the Motte - which was actually built to house the explosives used in building the harbour. The Moat is also one of the most prominent features of the town that dates back to 1818 but today it is now part of a park, giving views across the town and seawards towards the Copeland Islands (
These are the most common things to be done in this small town but there are still other activities which one could also include and which might be a walk by the town that includes the marine walk by The Commons: this is a semi-cultivated open space with bowls, tennis, putting, and an adventure playground. There are also those restaurants, hotels, and bars which you could choose from and enjoy sitting at, one of them is the famous Grace Neill's bar which opened back in 1611 as the King's Arms and which is considered the oldest bar to be found in Ireland.
When you are visiting Donaghadee town, you should always check the events that might be taking place there because you could get the chance to enjoy your time attending any of them. There are also those shops and boutiques which might be offering different products that you could go back home with any of them - make your visit count.
There are some other small towns and cities which are close to Donaghadee - and that of course in addition to Belfast the capital city of Northern Ireland and the one mostly visited ( - from these places, there is Bangor which is the closest to Donaghadee and which is mostly known with its harbour ( there is also Portaferry which is mostly known with its Exploris Aquarium ( and there is also Ballywalter which is considered not far away from Donaghadee (
These were the things we managed to visit in Donaghadee, county Down, and this was the trip we went on and enjoyed. Have you ever been there before? Share with us more of your stories and adventures.
Some of the best locations around Ireland / Northern Ireland and further afield. A travel blog/vlog of the hidden treasures that are on our doorstep.
Magilligan Point - County Londonderry, Northern Ireland
Lough Foyle Ferry sailing point - Magilligan point has its own history and is a great viewing point across Lough Foyle. It is part of the British army firing range and part of nature reserve - also is close to Magilligan Prison. From the area/beach - there are great views across to Moville and Greencastle. Well worth a stop - as part of the Causeway Coastal Route.
Magilligan point is a peninsula that lies in the northwest of County Londonderry, Northern Ireland, at the entrance of Lough Foyle. The name Magilligan comes from MacGilligans country which formed a major part of the barony of Keenaght and is situated within Causeway Coast and Glens district (
The Magilligan Point guards the mouth of Lough Foyle and is also home to Lough Foyle Ferry and Martello Tower which has been beautifully restored but is actually locked. Heading to this place means that you are willing to have a short walk by the beach in order to enjoy the good weather - according to when you are visiting :-) - or else to spot the bird and sea life.
The most interesting thing about visiting Magilligan Point in Northern Ireland is considered the tower which - according to history - is believed to be built in order to stop the French invasion, and thus one of the main reasons why tourists tend to come to this place is actually to see that tower.
Martello towers, which are also referred to as Martellos - are those small defensive forts built back across the British Empire in the 19th century and most of them were coastal forts. The reason why they are believed to be built in order to stop the French invasion is the fact that when they were built, it was the time of the French Revolutionary Wars. The way these towers were built back in time, helped with invasions due to their strong structures and the way they were built, but now most of them are considered historical monuments and attractions that people visit in order to enjoy what the old people used to build and were good at.
Visiting the Magilligan Point needs a plan - or an advice - which will get you through this trip happy and safe. First of all, be assured that food and drink are found there and that you could easily find a bar there to serve you with what you want - toilets are there too! At the beginning of the trip, you will park where it is adjacent to the boundary of Magilligan Nature Reserve. After you park and get inside through the kissing gate, you will view the Martello tower straight ahead. Access inside the military firing range is restricted, so all what you will be doing there is walking around the place and viewing the tower from the outside - maybe taking a couple of pictures of the place as well.
Magilligan Point is considered an important attraction in Northern Ireland for the Martello Tower mainly, but let's all agree that visiting the place in general is a different kind of experience which is not the same like all those other historical spots that one visits in Northern Ireland.
Londonderry, where Magilligan Point is situated in Northern Ireland, is the second largest city in Northern Ireland and the fourth city in the island of Ireland - which is also known and referred to as Derry. This city gained the London prefix after it was granted a Royal Charter by King James I to reflect the funding of its construction by the London guilds. Londonderry is close to the border with County Donegal (
Visiting the Magilligan Point means that you are going to be in Londonderry - or Derry - and this also brings us to the point where we should mention some of the other attractions of this city and some of the landmarks which one should visit and come across. From those which we suggest to the people visiting Londonderry anytime soon for the Magilligan Point, one could enjoy the walls of the city since Londonderry is considered the only walled city in Ireland, going to the Tower Museum which carries different shipwrecks inside, passing by the Guildhall which is the most famous building in the city ( seeing the city from the Peace Bridge ( coming into St. Columb's Cathedral, or else enjoying other general things like a traditional experience, getting to know more about the village, or else attending an open-air art or even attending the Halloween in the city (
Northern Ireland is a magical place where one could move from one city to the other and still manage to come across different places to visit from which one will also learn about lots of new things related to history (
Have you ever been to Londonderry? Have you ever visited Magilligan Point and seen the Martello Tower? Share with us your experience in Londonderry city and tell us more about the places you have visited and enjoyed there.
Beautiful Town of Belfast - County Antrim - Northern Ireland
Superbe ville de Belfast - Comté d'Antrim - Irlande du Nord
Belfast est la capitale de l'Irlande du Nord.
Comme nous sommes arrivés en fin de journée dans cette ville, nous avons eu peu de temps pour la visiter. Cependant, nous avons eu un véritable coup de coeur pour celle-ci.
Nous sommes partis à pied de l'hôtel Etap (voir vidéo hôtel où nous passerons la nuit, pour découvrir les environs.
Les bâtiments historiques se succèdent à un rythme fou. Plusieurs de ceux-ci datent des XIX et XXe siècles et sont de style victorien et sont d'une beauté sans pareil.
Nous aurions aimé avoir l'opportunité d'approfondir la découverte de cette magnifique ville, mais, du moins, ce que nous en avons vu nous a entièrement charmé.
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That time we fell in love with Northern Ireland (backpacking)
*Watch in 1080 HD*
We spent a too short 4 days backpacking and mostly hiking in Northern Ireland in April 2018.
Places we visited :
- Giant's Causeway
- Carrick-a-Reede Rope Bridge
- Bushmills / Bushmills Distillery
- St-George's Market (Belfast)
- Botanic Gardens (Belfast)
Ballywalter; Massive Sandy Beach and Good Water Quality
Ballywalter County Down is a village in County Down - facing the Irish Sea. It has an impressive beach which attracts holiday makers to the local accommodation and caravan parks. Hence everyone wants to know the weather in the area! Worth going to see the beach alone...wow!! Great rock pools for kids to explore. (
This civil parish in county Down is on the east coast of Ards Peninsula between Donaghadee and Ballyhalbert and back in the 12th century, it has been known as Whitkirk before it becomes referred to as Ballywalter.
The massive sandy beach of Ballywalter and the excellent quality of water makes this place one of the most famous and well known places in Northern Ireland, but that is not the only famous thing to be found out there, there is also the Ballywalter Park which is on the outskirts of the village - this park is open to the public by appointment only because the Mulholland family still lives on the estate. In this park, the Northern Ireland Game Fair is held and it usually attracts lots of people to it.
The interesting thing about the Ballywalter sandy beach is that it has entertainment for all the members of the family; young and old. There are those different entertainment things for kids which include the rock pools as well as the public playing area, and it is also considered famous when it comes to dog walkers or even for those who are coming to enjoy watching the sea and getting away from all the hassle of the city.
At the Lime Kiln, which is a raised area there, one will be provided with great views of the Irish sea coastline. Like any other place in the world, there are the positives and the negatives for Ballywalter beach; the positives include making a lane for the disabled and being open all year long for the visitors, but on the other side one of the negatives is that there aren't any lifeguard services there, or at least when we were there.
One of the other things which are related to Ballywalter beach is that in winter there are different types of birds that come over and take the beach for themselves and this includes the Ring Plover, the Golden Plover, Turnstone, Manx Shearwater, and a number of other names as well but these are the ones we could remember; this makes the place a very good opportunity for all the bird watchers out there because they will have a good view combined with a good chance of watching the birds.
Ballywalter might be one of the best Irish beaches to be found in Northern Ireland but there are still other ones which could be also recommended for those searching for the best beaches where they could enjoy their times along with the rest of the family members. In addition to Ballywalter, there is also Crawdfordsburn beach which is beside Helen's bay ( there is also the Whiterocks beach in Portrush, county Antrim ( the Ballygally beach which is right next to the Ballygally Castle Hotel ( the Runkerry Beach that is also located in county Antrim ( and you could even come across other beautiful beaches with their great quality of water in other parts of Northern Ireland as well.
Even though the water of Ballywalter is the one thing that is usually visited and even though the park comes directly after it, we should never forget that this village still has some other attractions and places that visitors could visit and which might include the Ballycopeland Windmill, the Ballywalter Windmill, and Gas Works; you might not find lots of touristic places to go to in Ballywalter because it is a small village which does not carry lots of things to be checked - just go for the beautiful beach and you will enjoy the whole thing.
County Down in which Ballywalter is located is one of the six different counties that form Northern Ireland and there are actually lots of different things that one could visit in it that will differ according to the town or village that you will be staying at. Those places which are related to water and which are located in county Down include Rostrevor ( there is also Portaferry ( there is Bangor Harbour ( and that comes in addition to the different castles, towns, and other touristic places which one could visit in county Down as a whole.
Ballywalter is definitely a beach to choose for the entertainment it could offer and the good quality of water that it could provide and that is exactly the reason why we love this place.
Have you ever been to Ballywalter before? Share your experience with us and tell us more about the place.
Some of the best locations around Ireland / Northern Ireland and further afield. A travel blog/vlog of the hidden treasures that are on our doorstep.
Newry City | Ireland
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