I pass this reservoir almost every day on my way home from town but until today I had no idea that…read moreit was one of the most prized fishing spots in North Down. Set in between Bangor and Donaghadee on the plush Warren Raod Portavoe Reservoir boasts over 6000 trout in its waters. The other special thing about this Reservoir is that it is a has a level tarmac path for 100 metres and 6 fishing stands suitable for wheelchairs making accessible for anyone. Disabled fishermen can also use the reservoir car park but make sure you have your permit on show at all times. Another thing about Portavoe is that the water levels drop considerably during the summer months so at time you are better off fishing in your paddling pool in the garden, apart from that its idyllic.

Great new lake, well stocked and always plenty of fish on the bite, ample parking and kids pond is…read morean excellent idea. Staff are very friendly and the boats are a welcome addition. Prices are average for the area

Love the atmosphere, and you can see they are trying hard. Staff very attentive. Food is just a…read morelittle short of the mark that the previous owners set. Keep working at it... Menu could be a little better

We recently joined the National Trust in order to get in to some of the country's best parks and…read moregardens but after a walk at Crawfordsburn and down the North Down coast we began to question why, especially with scenery like this on our doorstep. Around 15 minutes from central Belfast and the same from Bangor Town Centre Crawfordsburn really is as convenient as they come! Dog walkers, day trippers and joggers come here in their droves and I don't blame them because there's something for everyone. There's lovely woodland walks through the park itself, a beautiful beach with a large grassy area for picnics and a walk along the coast with views over to Carrickfergus and beyond on a clear day. Yesterday was one of those majestic days at Crawfordsburn where the spring sunshine shimmered on Belfast lough reflecting a warm glow of happiness throughout the whole park! We decided on the coastal walk as we had Ted (our dog) with us. We walked all the way from the park itself to past Carnalea Golf Course, this walk winds all the way up the coast. There's plenty of benches to to stop at and plenty of places for you to get a photo of Belfast Lough in all it's glory (as you've probably seen from my uploads). The park itself has seen a good bit of investment recently with new picnic tables being installed and the welcome addition of a play area that doubles as a nature reserve. There's toilet facilities and plenty of parking (at least 3 car parks). Yesterday there was an ice cream van parked on the grassy area by the beach but he only comes out when the sun is shining. All in all this is a fantastic place for a walk on a sunny day, beware of summer bank holidays as it's known for drinking but otherwise it's a wholesome day out for everyone with loads to see and do!

Beautiful location and tranquil park, lovely to have a stroll on a sunny day, even on a rainy day ,…read morejust a gorgeous park .

Nelson Boats are well know for chartering Boats to the Copeland Islands 2 miles off the coast of…read moreDonaghadee but they also provide other services such as Fishing Trips, Bird watching ,UK Boat Delivery, Classic and Traditional Boat repairs and sales. For the last 60 years Nelsons Boats have cruised the 2 miles to the Copeland Island to give locals and tourists a unique experience. The scenic Copeland Islands are approximately 300 acres noted for their bird population and excellent coastal fishing. Boat trips are available from June to September with fishing and Copelands trips daily 2pm (if weather permitting) from Donaghadee Harbour. Other trips can be arranged by appointment for groups. Fishing tackle provided. I would advise everyone to take a trip to the Copelands, this is a chance to feel wilderness while only being a few miles from civilisation, the rugged landscape has often been the focal point for local landscape artists and it is no wonder Nelsons have had continued success for over 60 years.

Great place to camp! Beautiful scenery, a lake and a castle…read moreon the grounds. Big field where you can pick where to pitch your tent. Friendly wardens. A small cafe on the grounds. Absolutely lovely!

The sun doesn't even have to be shining to put the massive grounds of Castlewellan to good use…read more There is quite a bit of natural shelter from wind and rain. When it is sunny however this place gets very busy, especially by the lake where people don't just picnic - and indeed BBQ - but kayak, fish, walk, cycle, and bring their dogs for a swim. There are plenty of amenities on site or very nearby, such as plenty of parking, clean public bathrooms, a small cafe, and a large shop within easy walking distance. There is also a huge maze for you to try and find your way out of and that alone could take up a good hour. Entrance fee per car is £4.50 - a bargain for a full day's outing. Tip: there are some rubbish bins but not a lot; people tend to take their rubbish with them. The grounds are kept exceptionally clean.

Our tour guide for the North Belfast walk bought us by this lovely park and told us some cool…read morethings about it: - Stephen Rhea (Oscar winning actor of the Crying Game movie) grew up in the house opposite the park. Look for a bright yellow door near shop called 'War on want" and that's his house. - in the early part of the century, if you are rich enough, you could buy an annual key to get into the park - glad it's free now! - this area was supposed to have been ''mistakenly" bombed instead of the ship building harbour during the first blitz but recent archives from Germany revealed that it was deliberate as they didn't want locals to have access to water for fire fighting the next round of blitz attacks. I loved the two lakes - reminded me a wee bit of the Serpentine in London's Hyde Park. It's a gorgeous bit of greenery, very calming and beautiful with the mini-waterfalls. Go visit and commune with Nature! Note: #235 of Yelp 100 challenge for 2016

The Waterworks is a great place for an evening walk. It has great facilities for kids with a…read moreplayground floored with bark to avoid cuts and bruises. Living so close by I often walk around the grounds of The Waterworks - it's especially nice on summers evenings.

We all love a good fishy tackle, don't we ladies?…read more Now that I have got my vulgar, vulgar joke out of the way we can focus on the actual shop here! The store sells everything you need to indulge in the hobby/ sport (depending on your interest level) of fishing. I had never fished in my life despite there being a rather beautiful little fishery approximately a minutes' drive away from my front door until recently, and I have to say I really enjoyed it. Sitting out in the boat is a really tranquil and relaxing thing, and the process of getting a catch is genuinely rather exciting. This place sells all the tackles, reels, rods and other equipment you need. The opening hours are somewhat limited, as mid week it is mainly open in afternoons only, but I suppose not a lot of fishing is done in the morning for most unless you are retired, in which case I advice to plan ahead to shop here!

What a fantastic boat trip we had with this company on board 'Mona' (there is another boat as well,…read more'Joyce Too')! Although they offer private tours of various kinds, we took the 'Titanic Boat Tour' a few days ago. This huge vessel was designed, built and launched in Belfast - something I hadn't actually realised until I visited the city. The tour includes the historic Harland & Wolff shipyards and many other famous sites all around Belfast Harbour. The two guys on board were so friendly and the one who gave the commentary was a mine of information. He made it extremely interesting and often hilarious with his witty commentary. Titanic tours depart from Jetty 2 not far from the 'Big Fish' sculpture and operate all year round, definitely not to be missed!

We walked through the Botanical Gardens which are located adjacent to the university. As like…read moreeverything else in Ireland, the whole grounds were bright green and full of different plant species and lots and lots of flowers. I particularly liked their greenhouse. The beautiful white medal perfectly balanced the contrast between nature and industrial features while complementing the space and giving these particular plants a specific place to grow, such as succulents. The rose gardens reminded me of something from Alice in Wind with how the grass paths were weaved between the rose bushes and some of the flowers looked fake because they were so healthy and vibrant.  There are two newer greenhouses that were built specifically for tropical plants. Inside of each of these greenhouses, the temperature and humidity was set to stay at the perfect settings for these tropical plants to thrive. They were multiple stories so that the trees could grow tall and the vines could grow long and even go all the way up to the rafters. A great place to see and spend time on a sunny or partly cloudy day!!

Beautiful grounds near Queen's College in Belfast. So peaceful and sprawling. The grounds…read moremeticulously kept. The grounds included some magnificently lush green lawn for taking in the nice weather being experienced during our stay. The Ferris Wheel was well worth the nominal expense. The rose garden was beautifully laid out.