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County guide

Down

Mountain landscapes, dramatic sea loughs and a coastline filled with historic sites.

Silent Valley Reservoir
ExploreNewry, Downpatrick and the Mourne Coast
Best timeApril to October
Time needed2–4 days
Perfect forCulture, scenery, outdoor adventures and short breaks

Plan your visit

Why visit Down?

Mountain landscapes, dramatic sea loughs and a coastline filled with historic sites.

Don’t miss

Top 20 landmarks and attractions

A curated starting point for planning your time in the county.

  1. 01Mourne Mountains
  2. 02Tollymore Forest Park
  3. 03Castle Ward
  4. 04Strangford Lough
  5. 05Mount Stewart
  6. 06Downpatrick Cathedral
  7. 07St Patrick’s Grave
  8. 08Murlough National Nature Reserve
  9. 09Silent Valley Reservoir
  10. 10Slieve Donard
  11. 11Newcastle Promenade
  12. 12Crawfordsburn Country Park
  13. 13Bangor Castle Walled Garden
  14. 14Exploris Aquarium
  15. 15Nendrum Monastic Site
  16. 16Hillsborough Castle
  17. 17Kilbroney Forest Park
  18. 18Dundrum Castle
  19. 19Scrabo Tower
  20. 20Tyrella Beach

Suggested route

A simple three-day itinerary

3 days

Suggested county driving route

View route details
1

Day 1 — Begin with Mourne Mountains, then continue to Tollymore Forest Park and spend the evening exploring the nearest town.

2

Day 2 — Visit Castle Ward before an afternoon at Strangford Lough.

3

Day 3 — Combine Mount Stewart with Downpatrick Cathedral, allowing extra time for local food, viewpoints and unplanned stops.

Build your own Down itinerary

Add your preferred landmarks and download a personal route.

Stay and explore

Plan more of your time in Down.

Useful places to stay and island guides connected directly to this county.

Outdoor stays

Qualified places to stay

Camping in Down →

Dundonald, County Down

Dundonald Touring Caravan Park

Camping · Caravan · Motorhome

111 Old Dundonald Road, Dundonald, County Down
BT16 1XT
Official website Email property

Stay in the county

Camping in Down.

Find an overnight base for the places in this guide. Check property details and contact the operator for current availability.

Browse Down stays

Plan a memorable stop

Experiences for your Down trip.

Our current shortlist for Down uses experiences in other counties. These are optional day trips, not local listings. Check the departure point and journey from your base before booking.

Affiliate links: Adventure Ireland may earn a commission when you book through GetYourGuide, at no additional cost to you.

Cycling

Out-of-county option · Armagh

Slieve Gullion electric-bike experience

Explore the mountain landscape by electric bike. Review the route, riding requirements and collection details before booking.

Start / arrival pointDrumintee, County Armagh

View details & availability Explore the Armagh guide
Heritage

Out-of-county option · Armagh

Navan Centre & Fort

Add an introduction to ancient Ulster to a day exploring Armagh. Check the guided-visit arrangements for your date.

Start / arrival pointNavan Centre, outside Armagh city

View details & availability Explore the Armagh guide
City sightseeing

Out-of-county option · Antrim

Belfast hop-on hop-off bus

Connect Belfast's sights without planning separate transfers. Choose stops around the museums and neighbourhoods you want to explore.

Start / arrival pointBelfast city bus stops; check the operator map

View details & availability Explore the Antrim guide

Booking links open on GetYourGuide in a new tab. Prices, dates, inclusions, accessibility and cancellation terms depend on the selected option. Check the operator's current details; a listing here does not guarantee availability.

Keep exploring

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