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Hillsborough, Co. Down

16km (10 m) south of Belfast, this very picturesque Georgian town boasts a steep main street, with antique and craft shops.

Across the town square the mansion house of Hillsborough Castle is visible, through a pair of impressive wrought iron gates. A prominent feature of the east and south approaches to Hillsborough is a five mile wall surrounding a lake and its adjoining forest.

At the gates of Hillsborough Castle is the Hillsborough heritage centre and visitors can find out more about the town at the Hillsborough Tourist centre (0044 28 92 689 717). The castle itself is a fine artillery fort, 270 square foot, built around 1650.

Hillsborough plays host to a heritage festival every year (0044 28 92 682 477), with battle re-enactments and an old time fair.

The 40 acre lake at Hillsborough offers anglers excellent brown and rainbow trout, with fishing spots set in the forest around the lake.

Featured Establishment

Eat

Pheasant, The

Hillsborough, Co. Down

Pub / Restaurant

Owned by the well know known Patterson brothers, Richard and William, since 1998, this ...

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Featured Establishment

Drink

Parson's Nose, The

Hillsborough, Co. Down

Pub / Restaurant

Originally named after its first owner, The Marquis of Downshire, Ronan and Jennie Swe ...

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Gardens

Seaforde Gardens

Downpatrick, Co. Down

In its own way Seaforde has the answer to Japan’s cherry blossom viewing season. The garden holds the national collection of eucryphias, known poetically as the ‘White Knights of August’. Gleaming with clouds of white blossom cr ...

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Golf

Royal Belfast Golf Club

Craigavad, Co. Down
Course Type: Parkland

Founded on November 9th 1881, the Royal Belfast Golf Club is the oldest club in Ireland and has a delightful, parkland setting on the shores of Belfast Lough. Its formation proved to be the inspiration for the growth of the game in Ireland. Th ...

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Self Catering

Golfkeel Cottages - Oatfield Cottage , The Loft Cottage, Dovedale Cottage

Banbridge, Co. Down

Located one mile from the town of Banbridge the tranquil and peaceful surroundings Golfkeel Cottages are are set in their own private grounds wit secure private parking and offer spectacular panoramic views of the rolling countryside and the Moun ...

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What's On

Castlewellan Farmers Market - Co Down - Saturdays

Castlewellan Farmers Market - Saturday 10am-1pm

Castlewellan Community Centre

Contact:

Tara Haughian +44 (0)28 4377 8655 tara@secondnature.ie

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Tourist Attractions

Museum at the Mill

Newtownabbey, Co. Antrim

Museum at The Mill invites visitors of all ages to explore the history and learn about the heritage of Mossley Mill, a flax spinning mill in County Antrim which dates back to the early 1800s. Housed within what was originally the wet spinning ...

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Wedding Venues

Ten Square Hotel

Belfast, Co. Antrim

This luxurious boutique hotel directly overlooking the historical City Hall is Belfast’s coolest place to stay and makes an ultra romantic location for wedding venues - especially if you hire their Phantom Rolls Royce for the day (£1, ...

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