County Down, Northern Ireland, is the easternmost part of the island of Ireland.
It may not be the most famous of Northern Ireland’s six counties, but it would be a mistake to visit the Emerald Isle and miss out on Down’s natural wonders and historic sites.
From stunning mountains and scenery to the final resting place of St Patrick himself, County Down has plenty to offer off the beaten path.
Here are five of the most popular places to visit in County Down.
Ulster Folk Park and Transport Museum
Ulster Folk Park (Irish content pool)
Step back in time 100 years at the fascinating and highly educational Ulster Folk Park and Transport Museum in Hollywood, County Down (birthplace of golfing great Rory McIlroy).
Set in 170 acres of rolling countryside overlooking Belfast Loch, this is a historically accurate recreation of an Ulster town, complete with thatched cottages, farms, schools and shops, and costumed tourist attractions. Your guide will tell you about daily life a century ago. .
Meanwhile, the Transport Museum houses Europe’s largest and most comprehensive transport collection, with horse-drawn carriages, steam locomotives, Irish cars, old airplanes and more. There is also an exhibition dedicated to the Titanic, which was built at the Harland & Wolff shipyard in Belfast.
Visitor information: nmni.com/uftm.
Tollymore Forest Park
Tollymore Forest Park. (Irish Content Pool)
Northern Ireland’s first State Forest, Tollymore is set on 1,600 acres of beautiful land along the River Shimna at the foot of the Morne Mountains. Since the Norman invasion of Ireland in 1177, the land has been in the possession of the Magennis family.
It then passed to the Hamilton family by marriage in the 1660s, to the Roden family in 1798, and sold to the Department of Agriculture in 1941. It became a state park in 1955.
Tollymore (meaning ‘great hill or mound’) is lined with beautiful paths and is home to numerous architectural and curiosities, as well as natural wonders, caves, caverns and rare flora and fauna. I am present.
There are 16 bridges spanning the Shimna River, the oldest of which dates back to 1760. Thomas Wright, a friend of James Hamilton, built many silly bridges there, including Gothic gates and church-like barns. What’s more, it was also used as a filming location for Game of Thrones.
Tourism information: Explore Northern Ireland.
Down Cathedral, Downpatrick
Down Cathedral. (Irish Content Pool)
Downpatrick is a town in County Down, the town from which County Down derives its name, and has been a place of great importance since ancient times. In the center of Downpatrick stands Down Cathedral, believed to be the final resting place of St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland.
After offering his last Eucharist in Saul (also in County Down) in 46 AD, the monk and scribe Muiltsch described his burial as follows: Wherever they stop, a church will be built to honor your body. . . An untamed oxen was chosen, and they steadily drew the cart with the Eucharist on its neck, and, guided by the will of God, set out to Dun Les Grace (Down), where Patrick was buried. . ”
In 1900, a stone monument from the Morne Mountains was erected at his supposed burial site.
The site on which the cathedral stands has been a sacred site since the 12th century, when it housed the Church of the Holy Trinity. Destroyed and rebuilt many times, it was once in ruins for two centuries until it was restored in 1790.
Visitor information: downcathedral.org.
dudrum castle
Dundrum Castle. (Irish Content Pool)
No trip to Ireland is complete without exploring the ruins of some castles. Dundrum Castle is a great example.
A beautiful piece of Norman architecture, it was built by John de Courcy in the early 13th century. Visits to the grounds are free and offer stunning views of Dundrum Bay and the Morne Mountains.
Visitor information: Discover Northern Ireland
scrub tower
Scrab Tower. (Irish content pool)
Want unparalleled views of Ireland, all the way to the Scottish coast? Scrabo Tower, atop Scrabo Hill, is a must-see.
Built in 1857, it is one of Northern Ireland’s most famous landmarks, standing 125 feet high and 540 feet above sea level. It was built as a monument to Charles Stewart, 3rd Marquess of Londonderry, one of the Duke of Wellington’s generals during the Napoleonic Wars.
There are exhibits about the tower’s history and the 122 steps to the top. After the tower was flooded in 2014, you can now only climb to the top on specially designated days, so plan ahead, but the grounds surrounding the tower make a great day trip.
Visitor information: scrabotower.com
*The first edition was published in 2016 and updated in May 2024.
