Tourist Attractions County Down

We have listed a number of County Down's major attractions for your ease of reference. We trust you will enjoy your stay in County Down, Northern Ireland's sunny south east! If you are unsure where an attraction is please key the postcode into MULTIMAP

11. Exploris Aquarium The Rope Walk, Castle Street, Portaferry, BT22 1NZ Tel: 028 4272 8062
The Northern Ireland Aquarium was opened in 1987 to enable the public to view the amazingly diverse marine life that exists around these islands. The conservation village of Portaferry was the ideal location. It is sited on the shores of the Marine Nature reserve of Strangford Lough which contains nearly three quarters of all the marine species to be found in Northern Irish waters.

12. Greyabbey Greyabbey BT22 2NQ Tel: 028 9054 6552
These splendid ruins of a Cistercian Abbey church and conventional buildings are the finest example of Anglo-Norman ecclesiastical architecture in Northern Ireland. The Abbey is set in the beautiful landscaped parkland of 18th century Rosemount House.

13. Castle Ward Estate Strangford, Downpatrick, BT30 7LS Tel: 028 4488 1204
This mid-Georgian mansion is an architectural curiosity of its time, built in two distinct architectural styles, classical and Gothic. The Victorian laundry, playroom, cornmill and sawmill give the full flavour of how the estate worked. Castle Ward demesne covers 332ha (820 acres) of woodland, farmland and gardens, including 14ml of guided walks.

	14. Kilcief Castle Strangford Tel: (028) 9023 5000 2.5 miles south of Strangford, Kilcief Castle guards the seawards mouth of the strait. This is the oldest tower house in the county, built in the 15th century by the adulterous bishop of Down. It has some elaborate details and is viewed as the prototype for other castles in the region.

15. Down Cathedral English Street, Downpatrick, BT30 6AB Tel: 028 4461 4922 Down Cathedral is a Cathedral of the Church of Ireland. It was built in 1183 as a Benedictine Monastry. In the graveyard we have the reputed grave of St. Patrick. Magnificent stain glass windows, box pews and beautiful organ case enhances this interesting building.

	16. Down County Museum English Street, Downpatrick, BT30 6AB Tel: 028 4461 5218 This former gaol and military barracks where famous United Irishman Thomas Russel (The Man from God Knows Where) was hanged in 1803, now houses the St Patrick Heritage Centre, telling the story of Ireland's Patron Saint and the area's strong links to the founding of Christianity in Ireland.

17. Quoile Countryside Centre 5 Quay Road, Downpatrick, BT30 7JB Tel: 028 4461 5520
The Quoile Pondage National Nature Reserve is situated just outside Downpatrick on either side of the Quoile River. The Pondage was created in 1957 by the construction of a tidal barrier to prevent flooding in the Downpatrick area. Today there is a diversity of habitat and wildlife that make the Quoile a great location to visit.

	18. Inch Abbey Downpatrick, BT30 6LZ Tel: 028 9054 3034 These extensive remains are of a Cistercian Abbey founded in 1180, by John de Courcy, who led the 1177 Anglo-Norman invasion of East Ulster. It is set in a beautiful location beside the River Quoile, with distant views towards de Courcy's Cathedral town of Downpatrick.

19. Downpatrick Railway Museum Market Street, Downpatrick, BT30 6LZ Tel: 028 44615779
The railway is Northern Ireland's only full size heritage railway. The railway was founded in 1985 with the intention of rebuilding the entire former Belfast and County Down Railway branch line to Ardglass. However, it soon became apparent that this was an unrealistic goal and instead the railway was or is being rebuilt to Inch Abbey and Ballydugan. It is a not-for-profit society as well as a registered charity and museum. Staffed entirely by volunteers, the railway has been painstakingly rebuilt from nothing.

20. Struell Wells Ardglass Road, Downpatrick, BT30 6RA
1 mile east of Downpatrick, behind the hospital, is the final pilgrimage site associated with St. Patrick. Since the middle ages, the waters from these have been popular cures for all ills, with one well specially set aside for eye ailments. The site's popularity was at its peak in the 17th century and the men's and women's bath houses date from this time.