Down

Discover history

In Downpatrick under a granite mound outside Down Cathedral Ireland’s patron saint lies buried. This is ancient ground. Come and discover this land that assails all the senses: from the smell of turf smoke trailing from a cottage chimney to the sight of a swallow swooping through a meadow, to pretty villages and streets of Georgian grandeur and welcoming country pubs alive with music and laughter, to the sensual thrill of freshly caught oysters or the aroma of soda bread in a waterfront restaurant. This is Northern Ireland.

Hike over a heather clad mountain slope, through a stone-walled field surrounded by rounded granite peaks and stand bewitched by a view of lakes and woodland and sea that will set your soul soaring; drink in a world of pure tranquillity in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, where 6,000 years of habitation has created a landscape rich with ancient cairns and raths; then stumble upon Ireland’s earliest Christian cross, or find a lonesome castle and a tower guarding a quiet valley pass. This is where great forest parks stretch high into the mountains that are dotted with atmospheric hillside towns and villages; here too you can unwind on a beautiful Blue Flag beach before enjoying freshly caught seafood in the nearby fishing village; and at the gateway to the South, just an hour from Belfast and Dublin, experience fabulous nightlife and magnificent shopping in the vibrant city of Newry. This is Down.

Strangford Lough

This is an area of outstanding natural beauty, acknowledged as one of the most important conservation sites in Europe; you can gaze on seals slipping slowly from the rocks, or watch a flock of rare wild geese taking flight in the clear air or join an armada of white sails tacking through the blue; why not fish for trout, perch and pike or watch a legion of beautiful birds from a woodland hide. Take a spectacular helicopter flight and fly high above or dive deep below through the cleanest of waters to a marine underworld of startling clarity and colour; take the car ferry from Portaferry across the Lough to Strangford an idyllic Georgian village with acclaimed restaurants and atmospheric pubs and then on the drive back to Belfast visit Mount Steward with its world famous gardens; explore a Norman tower or a mediaeval abbey, or capture on camera some picturesque whitewashed cottages and perhaps a Victorian lighthouse; then later indulge your passion for arts and crafts in one of the countless charming shops.

Tee Off

Imagine teeing off where the Mourne Mountains sweep down to the sea at Royal County Down, the finest course in Ireland, and one of the world’s Top Ten. In Down you can choose from an enticing variety of the finest links and parkland courses to suit your own particular taste, by woodland, mountains, rolling hills, Lough and sea. And, when it comes to unwinding after a perfect round, you’ll find that the craic is our speciality.

Children's activities

There is so much for children to see and do in Down. Let their imaginations run wild, exploring romantic castles and mysterious fairy rings and help them discover new worlds on an exhilarating boat trip to the islands bursting with wildlife. They can feed baby animals at an open farm and come face to face with terrifying sharks and giant conger eels and watch seals diving for fish at Northern Ireland’s only aquarium. They can hitch a ride on miniature railways or atmospheric steam trains, play on beautiful Blue Flag beaches or hurtle down giant waterslides in fantastic seaside aquatic centres. Not to mention pedalling giant white swans around lakes and exploring an enthralling interactive exhibition about the world’s most celebrated saint. In Down, family fun is a way of life.

Museums

The smell of bread baking on the griddle, a blacksmith hammering a molten hot horseshoe into place or a lesson in an old-fashioned classroom - at the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum Ulster life of a century ago is authentically recreated at its atmospheric 1900’s town. You can also discover magnificent steam engines, vintage cars, a unique Titanic exhibition and trace the history of flight with a thrilling simulator at Ireland’s Museum of the Year.

Adventure Pursuits

Hone your mountaineering, abseiling, and hiking skills in the stunning Mourne Mountains, whose unforgettable landscape inspired local writer CS Lewis to write the Narnia stories. Try falconry, mountain boarding and a host of other exciting outdoor activities at adventure centres around the region or pump up the adrenalin with all kinds of motor sports from go-karting to motorbiking.

Down Cathedral and Saint Patrick's Grave

Down Cathedral was built on the ancient hill of Down in the 12th Century and has become a place of pilgrimage for 1500 years. The massive granite stone marks Saint Patrick’s Grave and it is here that people from all traditions leave wreaths on the grave every March. Traditionally emigrants leaving Ireland took a handful of ‘old sod’ with them from Patrick’s Grave. Downpatrick is an essential stop for those who are interested in saints, scholars and Irish Christian heritage. Spend some time at the Saint Patrick Centre, a major multimedia exhibition and learn about Patrick’s life. From the ancient Cathedral walk down the historic Georgian Mall to Down Museum which displays artefacts from Patrick’s time. Take a train ride on the only narrow gauge steam railway in Ireland through Saint Patrick’s Country with the Down Railway Museum to Inch Abbey where many of the legends of Patrick were written down in Medieval times.

Down County Museum

Situated in the Georgian County Gaol, Down Museum holds an important collection of Early Christian objects and artefacts from Saint Patrick’s Country, including carved stone crosses. It also provides works of art, commemorative material and publications relating to the Patron Saint. Facilities include a shop, café and permanent exhibitions about the gaol and life in County Down, as well as regular temporary exhibitions.

The Saint Patrick Centre

Located in Downpatrick, this is the only permanent exhibition in the world dedicated to telling the story of Saint Patrick and includes an interactive exhibition and Imax presentation. The Centre offers a cafe, art gallery, craft shop, toilets, terraced gardens and Tourist Information Centre. It is a must-see stop for travellers with an interest in Christian Ireland. Guided tours of Saint Patrick’s Country can be organised via the Centre.

Inch Abbey

Having destroyed the nearby Cistercian Abbey of Erenagh in 1177 on the grounds that it was fortified against him, John de Courcy rebuilt a monastery at Inch for this order as an act of atonement in the 1180s, inviting over Cistercians from Furness in Lancashire. It became the centre of English influence in east Ulster. Attempting to impress the local populace, de Courcy commissioned one of these monks, called Jocelin to write a life of Saint Patrick.

Saul Church

The first ecclesiastical site in Ireland was given to Patrick by the local ruler Díchu, one of his first converts when he landed at Inbher Slane (the Slaney River). The word Sabhall means barn in Irish and the site developed into a monastery which was restored by Saint Malachy around 1140. The two stone buildings beside the church, each with a stone roof, are from this period. The current Church and Round Tower were built in 1932 at the same time as the massive statue on nearby Slieve Patrick to commemorate 1500 years since Patrick’s arrival in Ireland.

Struell Wells

Among the first Holy wells in Ireland, and blessed by Patrick when he arrived in Down, the Wells have attracted pilgrims since at least the Middle Ages. Pilgrims have wandered down the secluded valley among the wells and have taken the waters which are claimed to have healing powers. The site also contains a ruined church and ancient Bath Houses which are unique in Ireland.