Home > Counties > Co. Down > Hillsborough

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

Parson's Nose, The

Hillsborough, Co. Down

Pub / Restaurant

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

more...

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 ...

more...

Gardens

Rowallane Garden

Saintfield, Co. Down

Rowallane is at its most glorious in spring and autumn, thanks to the display of rhododendrons and azaleas and the final blaze of glory of ornamental trees and shrubs, but it is a lovely place at any time of year. The 52 acre demesne near the old ...

View all Read on

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 ...

View all Read on

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 ...

View all Read on

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

View all Read on

Tourist Attractions

Titanic Belfast

Belfast, Co. Antrim

Titanic Belfast extends over nine galleries, with multiple dimensions to the exhibition, drawing together special effects, dark rides, full-scale reconstructions and innovative interactive features to explore the Titanic story in a fresh and insi ...

View all Read on

Wedding Venues

Newforge House

Craigavon, Co. Armagh

John and Louise Mathers’ fine Georgian country house is less than half an hour’s drive southwest of Belfast yet, in a wonderful setting of mature trees, gardens and green fields on the edge of the quiet village of Magheralin, it feels ...

View all Read on