13 Best Sights in County Down, Northern Ireland

With a 500-acre park, an artificial lake, a Neoclassical temple, and a vast house in Bath stone magically set on the slopes running down to the Narrows of the southern shore of Strangford Lough, Castle Ward must have been some place to call home. About 3 km (2 miles) from the village of Strangford, off the road to Downpatrick, this regal stately home was designed around 1760 in, rather famously, two differing styles. Bernard Ward, 1st Viscount Bangor, could rarely see eye to eye (gossip had it) with his wife, Lady Anne, and the result was that he decided to make the entrance and salons elegant exercises in Palladian Neoclassicism, while milady transformed the garden facade and her own rooms using the most fashionable style of the day, Strawberry Hill Gothic. His white-and-beige Music Room is picked out in exquisite plasterwork, while her Boudoir has an undulating fan-vaulted ceiling that conjures up the "gothick" medievalisms of King Henry VII's chapel at Westminster. Tours are held every hour.

There are walking and cycling trails of the grounds from where you can look out over the lough shore and see the location of Winterfell used for the TV series Game of Thrones.

Regular Game of Thrones archery experiences are held throughout the year. In the spring and summer months sea safaris, as well as high tea and sea voyages around Strangford Lough, are organized at Castle Ward and leave from the pier at Strangford; these should be booked directly through Clear Sky Adventures ( www.clearsky-adventure.com)

With the transfer of the 1,100-year-old Mourne granite High Cross as the centerpiece of an elaborate extension, this museum, housed in an 18th-century jail, has gained serious cachet. The Downpatrick High Cross had stood in front of nearby Down Cathedral since the late 19th century, but had suffered deterioration through weather damage—never mind the Viking pillagers—and has been moved permanently indoors. The original location of the intricately patterned cross, carved around AD 900 as a "prayer in stone," is believed to have been the early medieval monastery on the Hill of Down. The extension houses a display, Raising the Cross in Down, alongside two new galleries reflecting the maritime and agricultural history of the area. Elsewhere, look into the small cells in the jail along a narrow whitewashed corridor. The other main exhibition is Down through Time, while frequent photographic exhibitions and artwork are on display in other rooms. Behind the building, a short signposted trail leads to an example of a Norman motte and bailey known as the Mound of Down or "Dundalethglas." A large egg-shape enclosure, this is one of Northern Ireland's most impressive earthen fortifications and may have been a royal stronghold of the Dál Fiatach, the dynasty that ruled this part of County Down in the first millennium AD. The Cathedral View Tearoom serves homemade lunches and snacks.

This Georgian palace—the only royal residence in Ireland and that for 50 years was the official home of the governor of Northern Ireland—opened its doors to the public for the first time in 2015, and has since become a leading attraction involving a £24 million investment. It was built in the 1770s by Wills Hill, the 1st Marquess of Downshire, Ireland's largest landowner and secretary of the American colonies. Benjamin Franklin's five-day stay here is said to have contributed directly to the American War of Independence, such was the animosity between Franklin and Hill. Other visits included that of President George W. Bush and the historic meeting in 2005 between the Queen and Mary McAleese, then president of Ireland. The building was the location for talks during the 1985 Anglo-Irish Agreement and the more recent Northern Ireland peace process, and is still the current home of the secretary of state for Northern Ireland. On busy days up to four guided 45-minute castle tours are held hourly from 10 am to 4 pm. Visitors are brought through eight elegant state rooms, still used by the royal family, including the throne room, which comes with three magnificent Dublin teardrop crystal chandeliers and graceful drawing room where paintings from Irish artists including Derek Hill, James Dixon, David Crone, and Gareth Reid are on display. A highlight of the red room is 40 Henry Bone miniature portraits of sovereigns and their consorts; these small, exquisite, enamel-on-copper paintings were commissioned by Prince Albert in 1843. Look out, too, for impressive royal portraits and paintings by Old Masters such as Gainsborough and Van Dyck. Separate guided tours focusing on art, politics, royalty, and gender identity are also held on selected dates. The Hillsborough Castle café opened in 2019, which means that for the first time in the castle's 250-year history the public can enjoy snacks, lunches, or afternoon tea (£29.95) in royal surroundings. From the visitor center to the main house, where the Stable Yard Tea Room opens in the spring and summer, it is a 15-minute walk, although a shuttle bus also operates.

Explore the 100 acres of beautiful gardens, tended by 17 full-time gardeners, by following signposts through peaceful woods, waterways, and neatly manicured lawns. It is worth taking time to wander around the walled garden or Pinetum and take the yew tree walk to Lady Alice's Temple. Be aware that some of the paths have steps and steep slopes which are slippery in wet weather.

If time permits after your castle visit, you can stroll around or join a guided walking tour of the town. An attractive place with Georgian architecture, Hillsborough boasts a fort dating from 1630, and an 18th-century church all cheek by jowl with boutiques, gift shops, and a selection of genteel cafés and gastropubs such as the Hillside, the Plough, and the Parson's Nose, all serving food at lunchtime and early evening. Details and times of the walking tours with qualified guides are available at Hillsborough Visitor Information Centre in the former courthouse in the Square right beside the entrance/exit to the castle from the town ( 028/9628–9717).

A dynamic £7.5 million makeover opened a new chapter in the history of Mount Stewart, the stately Neoclassical home, a 30-minute drive from Belfast on the Ards Peninsula. Now in the care of the National Trust, it was formerly the country estate of the marquesses of Londonderry, whose fame, or infamy, became known around the world thanks to the historical role played by the 2nd Marquess. Known as Castlereagh, this Secretary of Ireland put down the Rising of 1798, helped forge the Act of Union, and killed himself by cutting his own throat. Mount Stewart was constructed in two stages where an earlier house had stood: George Dance designed the west facade (1804–05), and William Vitruvius Morrison designed the Neoclassical main part of the building (1845–49), complete with an awe-inspiring Grecian portico facade. The 7th Marchioness, Edith, managed to wave her wand over the interior—after a fashion: Chinese vases, Louis-Philippe tables, and Spanish oak chairs do their worst to clutter up the rooms here. Still, the house does have some noted 18th-century interiors, including the central hall and the grand staircase hung with one of George Stubbs's most famous portraits, that of the celebrated racehorse Hambletonian, after he won one of the most prominent contests of the 18th century—this is perhaps the greatest in situ setting for a painting in Ireland. As part of the restoration program, and with the help of 18 people to take it down, the painting was rehung and reframed with a traditional gilt frame at a cost of £35,000 and now has pride of place on the west stairs. Hambletonian was the most famous Thoroughbred horse in Britain in the late 1700s and early 1800s; art experts regard it as the most important equestrian painting in the world and describe its value as priceless. Elsewhere, a team of builders, conservation architects, specialist engineers and joiners, and more than 40 local volunteers carried out important repair and restoration work on the building, the stone floor in the central hall, and its valuable treasures. The result is that eight new rooms previously unseen are now open to the public. Guided tours of the house, lasting 40 minutes, are held each day between 11 and 4:30 from April to October and are included with admission.

On the grounds, don't miss the octagonal folly Temple of the Winds (Sunday by guided tour only 1--2 pm and 2--3 pm, April through September), a copy of a similar structure in Athens, and the remarkable bathhouse and pool at the end of the wooded peninsula just before the entrance to the grounds. There are no fewer than 18 named garden walks—you'll need more than one day to explore all of them. The exotic plants have survived because of Strangford Lough's mild microclimate. During 2017, four new walking trails, covering up to 10 km (7 miles) in the demesne grounds were also opened to the public and can take between 30 minutes and one hour. A restoration project in 2018, led by rangers, has resulted in a red squirrel colony numbering more than 50 and the establishment of a squirrel lookout.

A delightful 3-km (2-mile) stroll around the grounds takes in rare tree species, the lake, rock-garden terraces, the famed statue of a white stag, and spectacular views over the house to Strangford Lough where there is a thriving seal population. Opening times change here—phone ahead or check the website for the complete schedule.

Devoted to the province's social history, the excellent Ulster Folk and Transport Museum vividly brings the past to life and is a 20-minute drive east of Belfast. The museum first invites you to visit Ballycultra—a typical Ulster town of the early 1900s—which comes alive thanks to costumed guides who practice such regional skills as lace making, sampler making, spinning, weaving, wood turning, forgework, printing, open-hearth cooking, carpentry, basket making, and needlework. The setting is evocative: a score of reconstructed buildings moved here from around the region, including a traditional weaver's dwelling, terraces of Victorian town houses, an 18th-century country church, a village flax mill, a farmhouse, and a rural school. The museum also houses special collections and archives of interest to researchers on topics such as folklife, Ulster dialect, an oral history of linen, and radio and television archives of BBC Northern Ireland. Across the main road (by footbridge) is the beautifully designed Transport Museum, where exhibits include locally built airplanes and motorcycles, as well as the iconoclastic car produced by former General Motors whiz kid John DeLorean in his Belfast factory in 1982. The Transport Museum also houses the TITANICa exhibition, which tells the story of the liner's construction in Belfast and what life was like on board. The museum is on the 70 acres of Cultra Manor, encircled by a larger park and recreation area.

A huge maze, grown to symbolize Northern Ireland's convoluted path to peace, comprises 1,150 acres of forested hills running between the Mourne Mountains and Slieve Croob. There are also signposted mountain-biking trails, ranging from short routes of 4 km (2½ miles) up to 19 km (12 miles), and 7½ km (5 miles) of walking trails. Look out for the multi-stemmed sequoia, a giant redwood in the walled garden dating from the 1850s, which, in 2018, was named as Northern Ireland's Tree of the Year by the Woodland Trust, a conservation charity. With the maze, lake, secluded arbors, and arboretum, the park makes an excellent introduction to the area. Bike and canoe rental is available at the center starting from £18 for three hours.

The Cathedral of the Holy Trinity, or Down Cathedral as it's commonly known, is one of the disputed burial places of St. Patrick. In the churchyard, a somber flat stone slab inscribed "Patric" is supposedly the saint's tomb. It might be here, at Saul, or, some scholars argue, more likely at Armagh. The stone was quarried in 1990 at Slieve-na-Largie near Castlewellan and took 12 men 14 days to cut from the quarry. The church, which lay ruined from 1538 to 1790 (it reopened in 1818), preserves parts of some of the earlier churches and monasteries that have stood on this site, the oldest of which dates to the 6th century. Even by then, the cathedral site had long been an important fortified settlement: Down takes its name from the Celtic word dun, or fort. Information panels tell the history of the building through a timeline, showing the connection with St. Patrick, and give details on the war memorials. In the summer of 2018 a replica of St. Patrick's Cross was installed in the grounds of the cathedral, just yards from where he is said to be buried. The reproduction, sculpted from Mourne granite, is on the Hill of Down where the original cross once stood. There's also a shop selling souvenirs. Entry is free but if you would like a guided 30-minute tour (which must be booked in advance) it costs £2.

A disarmingly subtle resort, Newcastle offers cool restaurants, art galleries, independent shops, antiques emporia, chic cafés, and ice-cream boutiques on its 3-km-long (2-mile-long) energizing stretch of waterfront. But you will still find old-fashioned amusement arcades, fun fairs, and children's play areas to serve up a little seaside resort nostalgia. Sculptures, named by local schoolchildren, are arranged close to the beach and reflect the town's maritime connection. The visitor information center, at 10–14 Central Promenade, is well stocked with details on local attractions, and books and maps of walking and biking trails in the Mourne Mountains and forest parks. A range of cycle route maps are also available on the website.

The road to Silent Valley Reservoir Park leads to mountain views and excellent photo ops. Also here is a visitor center with an informative exhibition explaining the history of Silent Valley. Look into the Locals Room, which celebrates the men who worked on the building of the reservoir as well as the Mourne Wall. You can also pick up information on a walking and heritage trail of 1.8 km (just over 1 mile) or the more strenuous Ben Crom Dam Walk, which is 10 km (6 miles).

Looming above Newcastle is Slieve Donard, its panoramic, 2,796-foot-high summit grandly claiming views into England, Wales, and Scotland "when it's clear enough"—in other words, "rarely," say the pessimists. It's not possible to drive up the mountain, so leave your car in the Donard parking lot and follow signs for the Slieve Donard Trail. It should take roughly three hours to climb to the summit and no longer than two hours to descend. Experienced hikers should not find it difficult, but if you prefer an easier trek, follow the trails signposted in Tollymore Forest Park or follow the Mourne Coastal Footpath. Hiking boots are essential and, as the weather can be unpredictable, it's advisable to take an extra layer of clothing, even in summer. The Mourne Wall, at 35 km (22 miles), which runs up and down Slieve Donard, was completed in 1922 by the Belfast Water Commissioners and had fallen into a poor condition. During 2019, it was restored in a £1.6 million community-led project and protects the water catchment which feeds the Silent Valley and Ben Crom Reservoirs. It was given a listed status in 1996 and is owned by Northern Ireland Water.

After returning to Ireland in the year AD 432, Ireland's patron saint seems to have popped up everywhere on his peregrinations. You can explore places associated with him along St. Patrick's Trail, a 92-mile signposted driving route linking 15 historic and ecclesiastical sites across the beautiful drumlin hills of Counties Down and Armagh. Pick up a trail map at the tourist office in Armagh or Downpatrick, and at major attractions on the route you qualify for two-for-one entry.

The interactive exhibits here bring the ancient myths and stories of early Christian Ireland to life. You can explore how St. Patrick's legacy developed in early Christian times, examine the art and metalwork that were produced during this golden age, and listen to modern debates about Ireland's patron saint. Interpretative boards outline local sites connected with the saint. Self-guided tours of sites linked with St. Patrick last about 70 minutes and take you across a bridge over the River of Words. If time is short, you can opt to watch the IMAX cinema presentation, a 20-minute, 180-degree audiovisual flight that whizzes you around relevant Irish sites—a highlight of the entire exhibition. The center includes a café, gift store, an art gallery, terraced gardens, and a well-stocked tourist information office.

Covering 1,300 acres and entered through Gothic gateways, Tollymore Forest Park has been thrust into the spotlight because of its starring role in the TV series Game of Thrones, standing in for the Haunted Forest, the Wolfswood near Winterfell, and the Kings Road near Castle Black. The arboretum at Tollymore has the widest range of tree species of any park in Ireland. Apart from the better-known oak, birch, beech, and Sitka spruce, the eucalyptus from Australia and Tasmania stand out and bring a cheerful note. Game of Thrones fans can book a Tollymore guided locations trek held at 10 and 3 each day for £8 (this does not include the entrance fee to the forest park). The tour, lasting an hour and 45 minutes, is an immersive experience; Stark cloaks are provided at no extra cost. Alternatively, you can do the trek yourself without an official guide.