What to do in North Down!
We hope you enjoy your time with us in North Down. To help make the most of your trip we have put together some suggested itineraries we hope you will find useful, either try them individually or why not mix and match?
Itinerary One: Walking – for the serious walker.
Location: Bangor to Holywood (10 miles)
Duration: Full Day
Walk the North Down Coastal Path from Bangor to the charming village of Holywood. This is a walk of just under 10 miles so prepare to dedicate the full morning or afternoon for this challenging trek. What you will get, however, are stunning views of the southern shores of Belfast Lough including Stricklands Glen, Helen’s Bay, Crawfordsburn and Cultra. Enjoy lunch in one of Holywood’s trendy eateries or relaxed café’s and indulge in some shopping in the many boutiques or craft outlets.
Take the relaxed way back to Bangor by train or bus (approx 20 minutes) and spend the afternoon discovering the areas fascinating history in the North Down Museum and enjoy the wooded nature trails of Castle Park and Ward Park with its ducks and pheasants. Enjoy some chill out time and then into Bangor for a relaxed meal and take in some traditional Irish or Folk entertainment.
(The Coastal path can be joined at various locations between Bangor & Holywood).
Itinerary Two: Family fun, perfect for children and adults alike.
Location: Ulster Folk and Transport Museum and Bangor
Duration: Full Day
Drive or take the train or bus to the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum at Cultra (just a few miles from Bangor). You will need to dedicate most of your day to this exploration of life in an Ulster village at the end of the 1900’s. Complete with schools, churches, homes and farms you will get a feel for a way of life & see skills demonstrated that have long since passed.
Enjoy lunch in the Ballycultra tearooms before taking in the sights of the fabulous Transport Museum including a superb collection of Steam Trains, motor cars (including a Delorean) and motor bikes alongside the Titanic exhibition.
After this jam-packed day make your way back to Bangor for dinner, a quite drink and perhaps a movie in the 7 screen Bangor Omniplex.
Itinerary Three: Ideal for entertaining the kids!
Location: Eddie Irvine Sports, Indoor adventure parks, Pickie Fun Park & Bangor promenade
Duration: Full Day (Seasonal openings for some attractions)
Enjoy a morning of karting, 5 a side football or snooker at Eddie Irvine’s state of the art Sports arena or take the little ones to Snakes & Ladders or the Kids Club two of the indoor adventure playgrounds in the area.
Following lunch head to Pickie Fun Park, (open seasonally), and let the kids spend the afternoon in the adventure playground or pedalling on the swans beside Bangor Marina.
Why not take the family on a short sea cruise from the pontoon at Pickie?
After a day of play, relax and enjoy dinner in one of Bangor’s many restaurants and then do a spot of people watching along the promenade and the sunken gardens in the evening.
Itinerary Four: Coastal Walk to Groomsport, for the casual walker (approx 3 miles).
Location: Bangor to Groomsport
Duration: Half Day
Take a tour of Bangor Town Centre starting at Tower House, opposite the marina. Originally built in 1637 as a customs house, it now houses a Tourist Information Centre with arts and crafts for sale. Take in the marina before strolling past the beautiful Georgian houses and yacht clubs on Seacliff Road and head to Kingsland for the kids park, tennis, pitch and putt or a picnic.
Enjoy a coffee or snack in Ballyholme and follow the coast round to the pretty village of Groomsport past the National Trust owned Ballymacormick Point.
Spend some time discovering how a fisherman and his family lived at the turn of the last century in Cockle Row Cottages (open seasonally). Why not stay in Groomsport for dinner and some traditional entertainment in a cosy pub.
(The walk to Groomsport is approx 3 miles).
Itinerary Five: Historical Bangor & Holywood, suitable for adults and children.
Location: Bangor & Holywood
Duration: Full Day
Begin your day at North Down Museum, Ulster’s most visited small museum. Here you will learn everything about Bangor, from Christianity dating back to 558AD to Viking invasions and Bangor’s role in World War Two.
Have a morning coffee in the Castle Gardens Restaurant. Then wander through Castle Park on the way to Bangor Abbey the home of Ireland’s early Christianity before heading to Holywood by car or public transport. (Bangor bus and rail station are located a few minutes from the museum and Abbey).
In Holywood check out the Maypole (Ireland’s only remain Maypole) and Holywood Priory, whose oldest remains date from the 13th Century. You may also like to take the self-guided Holywood Cultural Trail. A guide booklet can be downloaded from this website or collected from the location Tourist Information points. This will take approximately 1 hour to complete.
Enjoy a stroll through one of Holywood’s pleasant parks or journey down to the seaside for beautiful walks and kids play park at Seapark. To finish off the day have dinner in one of Holywood’s many restaurants or pubs where the craic is always great.
If time and daylight are still on your side why not finish off the day by calling in to Crawfordsburn Country Park with its beaches, wooded glen, waterfall, way-marked ways and visitor centre / café on your way back to Bangor.