County Down is in Northern Ireland and is known as the Bronte homeland after the famous writers.
This is a coastal county as it borders the Irish Sea to the East and has the most beautiful and varied landscapes which make it a great place for writers and photographers in need of inspiration!
County Down includes the Ards Peninsula, about ten miles outside Belfast and is famous for the biggest sea inlet in the British Isles at its heart.
The Bronte cottage at Emdale is a big attraction as are the granite mountains of Mourne where most climbers want to test their skill on Slieve Donard which is 848m high! This is a rugged countryside with brooding hillsides, majestic mountains, raging rivers and varied weather but the fishing is great and the Celtic charm woos you!
The Lecale Peninsula is home to seven small castles and really worth a visit. Try to see Strangford village as there are five castles within a few miles and all mostly intact. Strangford Lough is great for bird watching and not far from there, in Portaferry, is the Northern Ireland Aquarium.
On the coast between Holywood and Bangor lie the stunning beaches and magical woodlands of Crawfordsburn Country Park. It's a wonderful place to explore and you can take the dogs too!
Another good place to visit here is the Inch Abbey at Downpatrick. This is a Norman abbey lying on the banks of the Quoile River. These are the paths ridden by Dick Turpin, Lord Tennyson and Charles Dickens so if you're up for an adventure in history, this is the right spot!
Why not check beaches nearby as we have 15 beaches in Down. You can even take a look at our list of Down dog friendly beaches or even our United Kingdom Blue Flag beach list.
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Every favourite location must be visited for the first time. Want some ideas, why not check out the below small selection of coastal locations, including beaches, activities, things to see and do, and places to stay and eat:
