Where to Stay in County Down
Map of Where to Stay in County Down
Information about County Down
County Down is one of the most varied and rewarding counties in Northern Ireland, a place of sweeping coastal landscapes, the dramatic peaks of the Mourne Mountains, a scattering of historic towns and monastic sites and a gentle agricultural interior of drumlin hills and island studded loughs that together make it one of the most appealing destinations on the island of Ireland.
The Mourne Mountains are the county’s most celebrated and dramatic feature, a compact range of granite peaks that rise steeply from the coastal plain in a landscape of exceptional beauty and atmosphere. Slieve Donard, the highest of the Mournes, offers on a clear day views that extend across to Scotland, the Isle of Man and the hills of Wales, while the network of walking routes that thread through the range offer experiences ranging from gentle valley walks to serious mountain days on some of the finest ridges in Ireland. The Mourne Wall, a dry stone boundary wall that traverses fifteen of the highest summits in a single continuous line, is one of the most remarkable feats of craftsmanship in the Irish landscape and a landmark that gives the Mournes a character found nowhere else.
The coastline of County Down is as varied as its interior. The Ards Peninsula encloses the sheltered waters of Strangford Lough, one of the largest sea inlets in the British Isles and a marine environment of extraordinary ecological richness, supporting vast populations of wading birds, grey seals and the largest known aggregation of common seals in Ireland. The outer coast of the Ards faces the open Irish Sea in a succession of sandy beaches, fishing harbours and small seaside towns that have their own quiet and unpretentious charm.
Downpatrick, the county town, is one of the most historically significant towns in Ireland, its cathedral built on the hill where Saint Patrick is traditionally believed to be buried alongside Saint Brigid and Saint Columba in a combination of associations that gives the town a spiritual significance unique in the country. Newcastle, at the foot of the Mournes, is the most popular seaside resort in the county, its long sandy beach and magnificent mountain backdrop creating one of the most dramatic seaside settings in Northern Ireland.
Whether you are looking for a walking holiday in the Mourne Mountains, a wildlife break on Strangford Lough, a heritage stay in Downpatrick or a seaside retreat on the coast of the Ards Peninsula, County Down is a county of exceptional variety and a beauty that leaves a lasting and vivid impression.
More Where to Stay in Northern Ireland
If you are looking for more Where to Stay in Northern Ireland , there is something for everyone across the region. Please click on one of the counties below:
