Things to do and to see in County Down
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| County Down |
County Down (named after the town of Downpatrick) is one of the 6 counties belonging to Northern Irelandand hence depending on the United Kingdom. I visited the county before the annual 12th of July celebrations and found the people of County Down polite and courteous, but less forthcoming and less jovial than in the Republic. As you will see on this page, landscapes of County Down can be quite pretty. With its variety of landscapes, you'll have a choice of places to visit... Some examples in image and in text are shown below. |
| 1. Leave your suitcase in Ballynahinch... [  ] As I was coming from Oxford Island in the North of County Armagh, Ballynahinch seemed to be (on paper anyway) a suitable stopping off point to reduce the numbers of driving hours and visit a maximum of sites in County Down. There's very little to see in the town itself, however the landscapes surrounding my B&B were quite pretty. |
| 2. Visit Newcastle... [  ] If I have to go back one day to County Down, I think I'll try to find a guesthouse near Newcastle. The town is located at the bottom of the beautiful Mourne Mountains and beside the sea. The town also has a "promenade". This one is less classy than the one in Nice, but a lot of effort has been made to make it as attractive as possible. Otherwise, like several big coastal towns (such as Salthill, Tramore, Portrush, etc.), Newcastle has its slot machines and its casinos. |
| 3. Cross the Bloody Bridge... [ ] Only a few minutes from Newcastle, is the Bloody Bridge car park. Nowadays no one knows exactly why the Bloody Bridge got its name but most people think the 1641 rebellion may be at its origin. During my visit to the bridge: I thought I heard blood-curdling screams. The source of the screaming was a group of teenagers who were doing canyoning in the cold water. |
| 4. Visit the Silent Valley... [  ] There is a charge of around £4,5 to enter the Silent Valley and is worth every penny given to the cashier. The site (incredibly quiet, hence its name) allows you to walk around water reservoirs while admiring the peaks of Mourne Mountains. Even with a grey and threatening sky, you are guaranteed to enjoy the landscape. |
| 5. Drive through the Mourne Mountains... [ ] After visiting the Silent Valley, you can continue exploring the region by car (note that there are a lot of walking trails available). You can admire kilometres of beautiful landscapes, which look similar to those in Eastern Connemara. |
 Photo 5. Mourne Mountains landscape. |
6. Take a break in Dundrum... [ ] Initially, I just wanted to have a tea break in a less known town than Newcastle. Dundrum turned out to have much more to see than I had first thought. |
7. ... and climb on the towers of Dundrum Castle... [ ] Dundrum is the site of the remains of a great 12th century castle where you'll be able to admire a fantastic view of Dundrum Bay (pictured). |
| 8. It's "Clough"... [ ] In France, we have a famous cult film called "Le Père Noël est une ordure" where it refers to a horrible fictious Eastern European cake called "klug". French people of my generation will have, like me, a little smile when they cross the town of Clough. Apart from that, there is nothing extraordinary to visit there, except the remains of a 12th century Anglo-Norman house. See photo. |
 Photo 8. Clough Castle. |
| 9. Admire Legananny Dolmen... [ ] It is always incredible to think that after 5,000 years, structures such as the famous Legananny Dolmen still stands. Excavations allowed historian to discover funeral urns under the dolmen. |
County Down in pictures |
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 Photo 2. Promenade of Newcastle. |
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 Photo 3. Bloody Bridge. |
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 Photo 4. Silent Valley Reservoir. |
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 Photo 6. Dundrum Castle. |
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 Photo 7. Dundrum Bay. |
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 Photo 9. Legananny Dolmen. |
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Legend:
Nice; Worth a visit; Well worth visiting
Please note that this grading system is only based on my interests and personal experience as a French expat in Ireland. Feel free to visit the same locations and share your experience 
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Free or Not Applicable Entrance fee ≤€5 ; €5<Entrance fee≤€10 ; €10<Entrance fee≤€15 and so on...
These price ranges are indicative only to help you plan your holiday budget and are subject to change. Discounts generally apply for families, groups, children, students and seniors citizens.
While the admission to this site is free, a parking fee may apply.
Heritage Site managed by the Office of Public Works. Most OPW sites are free of charge on the first Wednesday of every month during 2011. A Good tip: the Heritage Card entitles you unlimited admission for one year to all OPW sites (around €21).