County Down
A county filled with scenic beauty and over 7,000 years of history, Down is the perfect place for a relaxing break away or an action packed holiday. With the stunning and great Mourne Mountains in the south for those who have an appetite for energetic activity and the popular resort of Newcastle where Slieve Donard sweeps into the sea for those who wish to relax and entertain the family, Down has a little bit of everything to offer everyone and anyone.
Down is renowned for its scenery, however it is also known as ‘St Patrick Country’ and for a very good reason. In the famous Downpatrick it is believed that St Patrick himself is actually buried there and this alone brings thousands of visitors from all over Ireland and beyond. Downpatrick can also be considered as the heart of County Down, as it lies in the town of Down itself. As it is only an hour’s drive from Belfast it is definitely a commuter’s town and serves the smaller villages and towns which surround it. Downpatrick is immersed in history and has a wealth of archaeological importance and as a testament of this an early Bronze Age site was excavated on a local housing estate, revealing two circular houses, one of which was found to have a hearth in the centre. Furthermore the burial of Saint Patrick is thought to have taken place here in the year of 461 AD and is believed to be located within the grounds of Down Cathedral. Each year, on his feast day the 17th March, his grave acts as a place of pilgrimage and gathers hundreds of visitors. The Saint Patrick Visitor Centre is an excellent source of information and invites visitors to learn of Ireland’s Patron Saint. Downpatrick has a long and extensive history which spans over thousands of years covering Saints, Kings and battles which make’s the County of Down even richer in beauty and interest.
County Down has a little something to offer everyone no matter what you are looking for in your holiday. Golfers will be pleased to learn that Down offers a luxurious range of golf courses with dramatic backdrops of mountains and coastal views. Castlewellan Forest Park is a delightful area which includes 460 acres of forest land, a castle and lakes, for those who wish to left feeling relaxed and refreshed. For the children, Newcastle provides a number of options for families but the most popular would be the Coco’s Adventure Playground, an indoor play area for the under-14’s which consists of slides, playgrounds, assault courses, ball pools and a soft play area for the tots! So whether it is action, relaxation or simply family fun you are looking for, County Down has it all!