Tourism & Day Trips

Plants, Gardens & Nature

Places to go in Northern Ireland
County Down
Mourne Mountains Mountainous area, great for scenery, views, forest parks, moor and bog habiats. Silent Valley and Ben Crom reservoirs.
Strangford Lough Large sea lough, excellent for seals and wading birds on large mudflats.
Castle Espie

Ireland's largest collection of ducks, geese & swans.
Scrabo Tower A excellent area for walks (Country Park) with old quarries and views of Strangford Lough
Bangor & North Down Seaside town with beaches, coastal walks, shopping and family attractions.
Murlough National Nature Reserve Sand dune system with heath and woodland surrounded by an estuary system and sea. Rich in botany and wildlife.
Tyrella Beach Very long fine sandy Blue Flag beach with walks and views of Mourne Mountains.
Ulster Wildlife Centre info on wetlands, raised bogs, meadowland and woodland. (Crossgar)
Forest & Country Parks
  • Castlewellan: (National Arboretum) gardens and forest.
  • Tollymore: Forest with plots, gardens, follies and arboretum.
  • Crawfordsburn: beaches, coastal and river walks.
  • Redburn: woodland walks and views of Belfast.
Open Farms Ark (Newtownards), Ballywhiskin (Millisle), Sheepland (Chapeltown), Slievenalargy Rare Breeds (Castlewellan).
Parks & Gardens
  • Mount Stewart: (National Trust) Mansion and Extensive Gardens.
  • Rowallane: Excellent formal gardens (National Trust).
  • Castle Ward: Mansion, Gardens & near Downpatrick (St Patrick's Grave) and pretty town of Portaferry (Exploris Aquarium).
  • Hillsborough Castle: mansion and gardens. Home to UK secretary of state for Northern Ireland.