Where should you go? We ask the locals
Cormac Venney, GAA coach who lives in Dundrum, Co Down
What areas near you should visitors go to?To get away from everything, I take my dog out to a nature reserve and a beach called Murlough National Nature Reserve. The nearby Twelve Arches is the more touristy area, but Murlough is more where locals would go. We do a bit of GAA training on the beach. On a good evening, it looks as if the water is disappearing into the mountains and it is very picturesque.
Dundrum Castle is about a mile away and was built by the Normans. It is high up on a hill, and you can walk into it. It is one of the highest points locally and you can see right over the Irish Sea and to the Isle of Man on a clear evening.
What about somewhere local for a night out?In the village here in Dundrum, a bar called Tonn Ruary serves a lovely pint of Guinness and is a very friendly place. There's always a good bit of craic and banter. Essentially, it's the last pub as you're heading for Belfast or Newcastle. There are other local bars but Newcastle is a slightly bigger town and there are more nightclubs and other bars there.
What kinds of sports are on offer locally?There's a running club called Murlough Athletics and anyone can join. The local GAA club works with all levels and there's also a cricket club in the village, so really there is something for all different tastes in terms of sport.
How about a day out?Where we live, Newcastle and the Mourne Mountains are on the doorstep. If it is a rainy day, there are a lot of arcades and amusements, and there are two nature reserves and a forest park nearby. Tollymore, about five miles from our village, is very popular. There is an indoor adventure centre for kids called Coco's Adventure Playground in Newcastle. It has things like large slides and is very popular with kids in the area. Our GAA club would bring kids there twice a year and they have a ball.
Where would I get some decent fish and chips?The Bayside Catch in Dundrum specialises in fish and chips. In Newcastle, there are a lot of fast-food outlets. I'd recommend a place called John Dory's Take Away, which is something of a local institution.
Ciaran Daly, 29-year-old journalist from Newry, Co Down
Where would you suggest for food in Co Down?I'm a south Down man so in terms of culinary delights, maybe it's best to head further north. I know Mourne Seafood in Paddy Kielty's hometown of Dundrum does lovely seafood without any pretentiousness.
In terms of the outdoors, anywhere you'd suggest for a walk?Obviously, we have the Mourne Mountains, and they have been designated as an area of outstanding natural beauty and are very accessible in terms of being close to Newry. They're also relatively easy to climb but you still get some sense of achievement from reaching the summit. Slieve Donard is the highest peak in Northern Ireland. Local climber Banjo Bannon has scaled Everest and he began by hiking in the Mournes. The Silent Valley and Spelga Dam are also worth visiting.
Any hidden gems or areas that tourists sometimes miss?Well, the 2012 Oscar-winning short film The Shore was filmed in Coney Island near Ardglass, which is very picturesque. Northern Ireland Screen is now pumping so much money into film and television here that Northern Ireland has become the backdrop to many films and television shows. Tollymore Forest Park (at the foot of Slieve Donard) in Newcastle has been the set for Game of Thrones and Your Highness. There's also a new National Outdoor Centre there where you can do a range of activities.
Where would you suggest people stay for the night?At the top end of the market you've got the Slieve Donard in Newcastle and the Culloden Estate and Spa Hotel in Holywood. There are decent camping and caravan parks in Castlewellan Forest Park, Delamont Country Park and plenty of others along the coastline. In terms of Newry, there's the Belmont Hall guesthouse. I know the people that run it and they're lovely.
Castles and legends of Co Down
Murlough National Nature Reserve: Dundrum Castle is one of the most important Anglo Norman castles in Northern Ireland and the scene of a recent dig by the Channel 4 Time Team television series.
The castle overlooks Murlough National Nature Reserve (owned by the National Trust) which has been open since 1967 as one of Ireland's first nature reserves. It contains a 6,000-year-old sand dune system and is noted for its beaches, boardwalks, rare butterflies and tearooms. discovernorthernireland.com
Rostrevor village: What Dundrum is to the north of the Mourne Mountains, Rostrevor is to the south. It is a charming village (parts of it are designated a conservation area) situated on the shores of Carlingford Lough. The views in one direction take in the Mourne Mountains, while on the other side you have the Cooley Mountains. Kilbroney Park and Rostrevor Forest offer walks along the Fairy Glen and up to the Cloughmore Stone (below), which is associated in legend with Fionn Mac Cumhaill.
Locals will tell you the landscape around Rostrevor was part of the inspiration for the kingdom of Narnia created by author CS Lewis, whose boyhood imagination was fired by the stories of giants and other folklore when he holidayed there. There are plans underway to develop the area as a world-class mountain biking location, with trails currently under construction to be used for next year’s World Police and Fire Games.
Social media recommends
Hidden gem is Inch Abbey in Downpatrick. For a bracing walk try the Promenade in Newcastle.
– @SharonDerryCC
Spelga Dam, Silent Valley Reservoir, Mourne Wall [walk] and Slieve Donard. Bennett’s Seafood Bar and Grill in Warrenpoint. Also Kilbroney Forest Park.
– robhannon
Some of the best walking on the island is in the Mournes around Newcastle. Mourne Wall and Silent Valley reservoir are recommended.
– @BrianNolan1974
I discovered fab Tyrella beach and the nearby lovely town of Killough on a rare sunny day two weeks ago. Will return soon.
– @BrianCostello
Bellini’s Bar and Restaurant in Newry – great place to catch live music.
– @GigGuide_Ire
Silent Valley Mountain Park. Located right in the heart of the Mourne Mountains around the Silent Valley and Ben Crom reservoirs. It got a £500,000 makeover of visitor facilities in the last year. There’s also a teashop and a small but modern and interesting visitor exhibition on the history of the place.
– Martin Carey
Next two weeks
We will be looking at the Shannon region and North Dublin If you have recommendations, drop us a line before Friday.
Twitter: @oconnellbrian Email: brianoconnell@ irishtimes.com
