Holiday rentals in County Down

Situated along the eastern coast of Northern Ireland, County Down is where the peaks of the Mourne Mountains sweep down to the waters of the Irish Sea. Hundreds of kilometres of hiking and biking trails through nature reserves thread through this breathtaking landscape, with golden beaches, rolling hills, and ancient forests. Strangford Lough, an inlet protected from the rough waves of the Irish Sea, provides calm waters for kitesurfing, fishing, and swimming.

In Tollymore Forest, the filming location for a famous television series, you can follow winding paths that pass by rivers and over bridges. Crawfordsburn Country Park, on the oceanfront, has sandy beaches, waterfalls, and wooded glens. Slieve Gullion Forest, in the south of the county, looks like something out of a storybook, complete with moss-covered trees and a fairy kingdom for children to explore. The largest city in County Down is Bangor, a seaside town where you’ll find a marina and pier, several museums and galleries, and eateries offering locally caught cod, oysters, and crab.

While rain falls consistently throughout the year, the best time to secure your holiday let in County Down is during spring and summer, when temperatures are highest and conditions are best for exploring all of the natural wonders the region has to offer. The weather is always changeable, so you’ll want to pack a warm layer, an umbrella, and proper shoes. Many events and festivals are held in the area throughout the year. In July, Rostrevor hosts the Fiddlers Green Festival, with traditional Irish music, dancing, and walking tours. The Festival of Flight in August in the seaside village of Newcastle sees vintage aircraft displays, live music, and all-ages entertainment. Autumn brings cooler temperatures, a good time for visiting places like the 18th-century Castle Ward in Strangford or enjoying a cosy pub lunch in front of the fire. Temperatures rarely dip below freezing in winter, but you will see even more rain at this time of year, which can make it feel colder than it is.

The Mourne Wall

Built in the early 20th century to keep free-grazing cattle and sheep away from the Silent Valley Reservoir, this 30-kilometre-long dry-stone wall weaves up and down 15 summits in the Mourne Mountains, the highest mountains in Northern Ireland. You can hike the entire length of the wall, or find shuttle buses to bring you to various peaks along the route.

Castlewellan Forest Park

Just north of the Mourne Mountains, the 460-hectare Castlewellan Forest Park is home to the National Arboretum of Northern Ireland, started in 1740 and containing many rare trees from around the world. The greater park features hiking and biking trails around the lake, a play area for children, and a stately Victorian castle. Walk through the intricate hedged paths of the Peace Maze and ring the bell when you finally arrive at its centre.

The Down County Museum

At the late-18th-century Down County Museum in Downpatrick, once the county jail, you can learn about the rich history of the county. You’ll find exhibitions and interactive displays of Neolithic axes and pottery, the 10th-century Downpatrick High Cross, farming equipment, and artifacts from everyday life throughout the centuries. And if you’re most curious about the museum’s own past, you can tour the floor of restored jail cells.