Holiday in Co Down MSE top tips please!

furrypig

Have posted previously on holiday board for tips on places to visit in Antrim/Co Down though please add more!!

We are staying with friends just outside Belfast for a few days then off to nr Newcastle in Co Down for a week.

Would love to hear of any good eating places or cheap shops or basically any other top money saving tips for these areas!!

Already have accommadation sorted so just trips/visits/eating/shopping to organise!!

Thanks for any advice!

ollywood68

Ulster folk and transport musesum at Cultra is a good day out. Lots to see and a bit of wlaking but it will put in a day for you

ollywood68

..... from Newcastle go over the border and go to a wee village called Carlingford. Its a very nice wee place to visit and walk around

SnowyOwl_2

Hi there

If you're going to Carlingford from Newcastle you can go via the coast road or over the mountains. Going via the coast road you'll pass Kilbroney Forest Park in Rostrevor. This is free to go into and park at. If you've got youngish kids there is a free play area for them to enjoy. If you like walking and wonderful views then put your stout shoes on and go up the hill. But be careful not to get lost in the park, the signs are dreadful. Near the top there is a big granite stone, dumped there by a receding glacier a long time ago. Not quite Stonehenge, but if you're in the area... If you're not the walking type there is a mountain drive you can do - also free - it's quite short, only about 15 mins or so, but you get all the views without having to climb any hills. You could have a picnic at the top car park, there are tables provided.

Carlingford is a good place to eat. Don't know about cheapness but there are a number of very good restaurants in the area. Fill up on petrol when there - it's cheaper than on the northern side of the border.

Between Newcastle & Dundrum is Murlough nature reserve - lots of ancient sand dunes to scramble over, and a fabulous beach. Observe the signs at the far end toward Dundrum as there is an army base nearby, though it is safe, so don't panic.

Dundrum has a ruined castle which might be worth an investigation.

Tullymore Forest Park near Newcastle is v.nice, as is Castlewellan Forest Park, also in close proximity to Newcastle.

Can't think of anything else just now - have you looked at the tourist bit of https://www.newryandmourne.gov.uk?

HTH

lady_lucan

I'd recommend Castle Ward, Seaforde and Tyrella beach.

SnowyOwl_2

If you can, take a trip to Downpatrick and go to the St Patrick Centre - it's apparently v.good, telling all about the man himself. The centre is close to the cathedral where St Patrick's grave is. You could drive through the nearby Safeway's car park at 100mph...it's like a free roller coaster at anything over 5mph...OK only kidding, but it is probably the worst car park in the entire British Isles.

If you go to Castle Ward (a National Trust property BTW) then you could venture on to Strangford, and take the ferry across Strangford Lough and visit the Exploris aquarium in Portaferry.

There are trips up and down Strangford Lough, if you're into that kind of thing, though I'm not sure when they start from. The Tourist Information Centre in Newcastle will have a leaflet - actually they have tons of leaflets, that would be a good place to go to first for a bit of info, maps etc etc. It's along the main throughfare, on the sea side, and has a very nice gift shop attached.