Newtownards Tourist Attractions: 6 Top Places to Visit
Planning to visit Newtownards? Check out our Newtownards Travel Guide video and see top most Tourist Attractions in Newtownards.
Top Places to visit in Newtownards:
Mount Stewart, Scrabo Tower, Somme Heritage Centre, Ark Open Farm, Kiltonga Nature Reserve, Ballycopeland Windmill
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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.
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.
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.
360 Degree Video from The Moat - Donaghadee Northern Ireland
A 3D/360 degree video from the top of the impressive Moat in Donaghadee. See the lighthouse in the distance - but you can see how impressive the view is from the site and why it is definitely worth checking out next time you visit.
County Down is a beautiful area in Northern Ireland - if travelling around the country - visit Donaghadee and another of the other towns in the county. Donaghadee is a small town in county Down that lies on the northeast coast of the Ards Peninsula, about 18 miles east of Belfast (
There are different places which are known when it comes to Northern Ireland and there are those which are not much visited especially when it comes to the tourists who directly head to the capital city. Donaghadee might not be the place to visit different touristic locations, but there are those which bring the local Irish people to the town in order to check them, such as the Moat as well as the Harbour and the Lighthouse (
This 360 degree video experience was taken from the Moat site. The Moat in Donaghadee town was built back in the old days in order to house the explosives for the blasting involved in the construction of the harbour and without even mentioning that, but it is one of the most well known prominent features of this small town. The Moat was built in 1818 and even though it is considered an important historical place in Donaghadee, it is now part of a garden that offers a beautiful view of the town - even the lighthouse could be spotted from up there - and it also offers good views for the sea towards the Copeland Islands.
Not just the Moat that is considered an attraction in Donaghadee, but there is also the Harbour and the Lighthouse which could be spotted from the hill on which the Moat is located. The Harbour of Donaghadee has been there from the 17th century and might be one of the most famous places there since it has been a haven for ships for centuries and that comes in addition to its lighthouse which it is famously known with as well.
These are the most important places to visit in Donaghadee, county Down, when it comes to history and those places which might have their popularity among the tourists and visitors, but there are still some other activities which one could be part of when it comes to Donaghadee, such as those different scenic walks including the marine walk at The Commons which is a cultivated open space with bowls, tennis, putting, and an adventure playground, and there is also Pier 36 along the seafront which is a famous restaurant and pub that managed to accumulate a number of awards in it short history - so you will definitely find a couple of things which you could do in Donaghadee and not just check the Harbour, the Lighthouse, and the Moat.
Donaghadee is the nearest port to Scotland and even back in the old days it was the landing point in Northern Ireland for travelers from the British mainland. Donaghadee was also the principle's port before Belfast became the major city and much of the town developments resulted from ships and shipping - so the harbour is not just a new thing to give this town a meaning and make it important to visit.
County Down is known to be one of the six different counties that are located in Northern Ireland which is found within the province of Ulster. There are other destinations which we have been to in county Down in addition to visiting Donaghadee, such as going to Rostrevor which is also situated there ( going to Portaferry was another thing we have done in county Down ( the Tollymore Forest which is located in Newcastle is also a good place to head to in county Down ( the famous Dundrum Castle which is also located near Newcastle could also be a hit ( and there is the Ballywalter village in county Down (
We loved the idea of taking this 360 degree video experience from the Moat because it is located on some kind of a hill and it offers a lot of views all over the whole town that we were also able to spot the lighthouse from up there - and that might be considered a plus that we spotted the most famous places of the town from the same location.
We love sharing our experiences and visits with our viewers and subscribers and we even love them more when they are in 360 degree videos because that way we help travelers to get in the experience without having to pass borders and travel across the seas to check the places themselves - of course will be much better but some people might not have the time and money.
Have you ever visited Donaghadee before?
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.
Summer in Abbotsford's Walled Garden
The beautifully designed walled garden at Abbotsford is in full bloom during the summer months and we wanted to share the views across the garden and house with some impressions.
Clips courtesy of Lloyd Smith Photography and Film and have been generously shared with Abbotsford
Pollnagollum Cave Enniskillen - Fermanagh - Northern Ireland
Belmore Forest - Game of Thrones film - Where is Game of Thrones filmed? Great place for Northern Ireland vacation or Ireland vacation - part of the Marble Arch Caves.
There are lots of places - natural ones - which could be visited in Northern Ireland for those who are searching for ideas. Pollnagollum Cave in Enniskillen, County Fermanagh, is one of those wide spaces that will take your breath away immediately and let you fall in love with it - or at least that what happened with us.
Pollnagollum Cave walk is at the heart of Fermanagh's Boho cave country, it is a route that is mostly along forest tracks and offers stunning landscapes and views of Belmore Mountain. The first part of the walk passes through the Coolarkan Quarry which was worked for its limestone rock and which is one of many quarries in West Fermanagh.
Pollnagallum Cave means hole of the doves and it was found and explored in 1895 by the Dublin-born naturalist, Henry Lystor Jameson, and the French cave explorer, Edouard Alfred Martel, who was also the one to explore the Marble Arch Cave system, and after a prolonged rainfall, a powerful waterfall cascades from the top of a 12 metre limestone cliff before disappearing into the mouth of Pollnagollum. The walk inside Pollnagollum Cave along Belmore Forest track, where up the hill it offers magnificent views over the surrounding area including Cuilcagh Mountain, Lower Lough MacNean to the south and Brougher Mountain to the east.
This is one of the most beautiful destinations we have ever been to in Ireland. During those walks in the city - and if you happen to be lucky enough - you could spot Irish hares which are native to Ireland and which are considered the oldest mammals surviving in Ireland before the last Ice Age.
Pollnagollum Cave in Belmore Forest is considered part of the Marble Arch Caves Global Geopark, where an extensive maze of cave lies beneath the feet and which tends to attract lots of cavers and potholers from far to this area and place in Ireland. Pollnagollum Cave is more than 19 kilometers in length and it is considered the longest cave on the island of Ireland and the third deepest cave in the republic.
We have been to different places that happen to be in county Fermanagh as well and which every single one of them makes it a must to be there. From those places which we have been to there, we visited the Enniskillen Castle Museum ( we have also been the Headhunters Barber Shop and Railway Museum ( we went to the Conagher Forest which is also part of the Marble Arch Global Geopark ( and of course we couldn't miss the chance of visiting Lough Erne (
Being in Enniskillen, County Fermanagh, there was one different kind of experience which we decided to go through and which is learning some cocktail recipes - also getting the chance to taste them - at the Lakeside Bar & Grill in Killyhevlin Hotel, by the help of Steve, the bartender.
Alcoholic cocktails are actually easy to be prepared but also one should always get the right tips in order to follow them. From those which we knew how they are prepared and seen how the process goes, we knew more about the Cosmopolitan cocktail ( we knew how the Whiskey Snapper is prepared and set ready ( we also knew the ingredients of the Brandy Alexander cocktail and how it should be prepared ( we were also introduced to the Killy Kiss cocktail ( and finally we knew more about Cinderella mocktail which is served for those who want to stay away from alcohol ( The good thing about this place - or at least one thing we liked - is the fact that they serve an Irish brand beer that is locally made in Fermanagh, which is called Inish Mac Saint ( and they also serve the Boatyard Double Gin (
You might not get impressed with those different cocktails because they are served almost everywhere, but we were more impressed with the preparation phase and the serving way - they are really good.
There are different places to visit in Ireland and usually you will find those attractions, sites, and destinations to head out for in every places you choose to go to and stay at during your vacation - just like the case in County Fermanagh.
Have you ever been to Pollnagollum Cave in Enniskillen before? Tell us more about your experience if you did and share with us the things you loved in County Fermanagh in general :-)
The best locations around Ireland / Northern Ireland and further afield. A travel blog/vlog of the hidden treasures that are on our doorstep.
Newcastle County Down Northern Ireland
Taking a stroll in Newcastle
Scrabo Tower Newtownards Co Down
Dominating the whole Newtownards skyline for miles. Providing panoramic views over Newtownards town, the aerodrome, Strangford Lough, the Irish Sea beyond to the Isle of Man and Scotland to the North and then down to the Mournes. Painted and photographed thousands of times is Scrabo Tower. ( Gaelic for cow pasture. )
Built in 1857 by the ordinary people of the area who wanted to pay tribute to their benefactor Charles William Vane the 3rd Marquis of Londonderry. This landowner and member of the gentry, unlike so many others was a very popular man who was known for his generosity and kindness. He had tried to alleviate hardship caused by the potatoe famine some years earlier.
The Tower cost £3000, a princely sum in those days! It is 125' high and the walls are 3' thick. It is built from igneous Dolomite stone quarried nearby and then finished or rendered with sandstone also quarried nearby.
The Tower was in McKay family use up until 1966 and was opened by them as a tea room. It is now open in the Summer when you can climb up it's 122 steps to take in the views from the top or spend time in the countryside Centre below. The lands around the Tower taking in Killynether wood and the two hidden treasure quarries below are marvellous wildlife havens and worth a visit in their own right.
It is not surprising then that the 'wild area' around Scrabo and in Killynether Wood has featured as one of the locations of the recently released (Oct 1 2014 ) Dracula Untold action/horror film made largey in Northern Ireland.based in a disused C&C, soft drinks, factory on the Castlereagh road!
Saul church, site of St Patrick's first barn church
Found around 2 miles from Downpatrick in scenic rolling drumlin country near to the Slaney river where Patrick is said to have first landed to begin his preaching ministry to Ireland.