Beautiful Down is full of fun
AT the heart of Co Down is history, beauty and fun. It is located in the south east of Northern Ireland and borders counties Antrim and Armagh.
The majestic Mountains of Mourne in Newcastle are one of the county’s biggest attractions. Northern Ireland’s two main rivers, the River Bann and River Lagan, rise in the Mourne Mountains which are a sight to behold, as is Slieve Donard, the country’s highest peak.
Also worth visiting is Legananny Dolmen, on the slopes of the mountain Slieve Croob and near the village of Leitrim.
A dolmen is a megalithic tomb dating from ancient times and this one in Co Down is one of the most well known in the UK.
Another place of historic interest is Down Cathedral in Downpatrick where Saint Patrick is said to buried.
Scrabo Tower in Newtownards is well known too. It can be seen for miles around and was built above the town in 1857 as a memorial to Charles Stewart, 3rd Marquess of Londonderry, who was one of the Duke of Wellington’s generals.
Fishing is a big thing in Co Down, with towns such as Kilkeel, Portavogie and Ardglass heavily involved in that industry, while Strangford Lough is the largest sea lough in the British Isles.
There are many places for families to enjoy in the county, including the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum near Holywood and Exploris aquarium in Portaferry. In Comber, Castle Espie has a large collection of geese, swans and ducks while Pickie Funpark in Bangor provides a fun day out.
Down is renowned for its famous sports stars, from Holywood golfer Rory McIlroy, who has four major titles, to Northern Ireland’s record goalscorer David Healy, who is from Killyleagh.
Another famous son of Killyleagh is Hans Sloan, a physician and collector of objects from around the world. He is credited with introducing chocolate to these islands from Jamaica, while Patrick Bronte, the father of much-loved writers Charlotte, Emily and Anne, was born at Emdale, between Banbridge and Rathfriland. The river valley from Banbridge to Rathfriland is called Bronte Country.
In the mid-1800s Charlotte wrote the novel Jane Eyre, Emily was the author of Wuthering Heights and Anne penned The Tenant of Wildfell Hall, all considered outstanding works of literature.