This is definitely somewhere you should visit. I just love this place - it brings back so many…read morememories of my childhood spent on Downhill beach playing in the sand. The temple was built by Earl Bishop Hervey in the 18th century. It is now perched precariously on the cliff edge as the elements have eroded the cliff away. Apparently you used to be able to walk right round it but now it is right on the cliff edge. The National Trust have had to reinforce the cliff face to save it from falling into the sea. The views from here cannot be beaten - Portstewart/Portrush and skerries to your right and Donegal to your left. At the bottom of the cliffs is approx 10miles of golden sand. Where else would you find this beauty? It is just on my doorstep and every time I visit I am amazed by its beauty - should it be on a lovely sunny summer day or a blustery winter day! You can even get married here - really something different.

Worth a visit. Amazing views. Wrap up warm as it can be windy even in good weather. A bit of a walk…read moreover fields - often littered with sheep poo. Car parking can be expensive, so park a little furthe away for free.

It looks like a jewelry box but it's actually the Jaffe Memorial Fountain. Striking and brightly…read morecolorful it was originally erected in 1874 by Sir Otto Jaffe to honor his father, Daniel Jaffe. It was initially placed in Victoria Square but was later moved to the Botanic Gardens, where it remained until 2008 It is intricate and elegant, made of Portland stone with each of the smaller columns featuring a female figure that represents each of the four seasons. It stands at the Victoria Street entrance to the Victoria Square shopping center. The original yellow and white were apparently selected to reflect the aesthetic preferences of the Victorian era, as these were popular colors to symbolize purity and light and optimism. It is indeed a fountain but in September it was dry. I'm not sure if it is ever filled with water. [Review 1883 of 2024 - 866 in United Kingdom - 22905 overall]

I bet you've walked past this wee gem hundreds of times but never given it a second look, I'm right…read morearen't I? Well now it's time to be enlightened. This is the Jaffa Fountain, not named after everyone's favourite cake/biscuit but actually named after Belfast's first Lord Mayor Otto Jaffa. The fountain itself was actually built in 1879 and it was erected in its current location, but here's the strange part. As industrial and commercial Belfast grew it was moved out to Botanic Gardens - mature students might recognise it from those days. Once Victoria Square was commissioned the decision was made to bring the old fellow back to its rightful place. I for one am glad they did as I think it provides a welcome nod to Belfast's past in the centre of its current commercial renaissance.

When you live in Newtownards you will pass the building a million and one times but not really…read morenotice it - which is a real shame as this is a historical building and part of the history and heritage of Newtownards. These are the remains of a Dominican Priory founded in 1244. Hugh Montgomery established a newtown within the grounds of the old priory and this flourished and was used as a central area for the new market town. The restoration of the building began in 1609 by Montgomery and this can be seen within the building on a carved stone. The ruins of the old tower and part of this old building can still be seen. If you look closely you can see Montgomery's monogram ad some bible references etched into the stone. In 1988 part of the old door was restored by the Ulster Heritage Center and the door will be opened on request, it is worth a look as this is a fine example of our ulster-Scot heritage and was, at one time, a big tourist attraction.

As other reviewers have said The Priory is slap bang in the middle of Newtownards yet you could…read morepass it without even registering as an important part of our culture and heritage. Although the budget is tight down at the old Tourist board they could do with digging into their pockets and forking out for a few signs to properly promote this place. The reason I say this is that The Priory is actually a really interesting place, I did not realise the significance of this place until I paid it a long overdue visit. The Priory is an example of a Dominican (Black) Piory and is one of the only remaining examples in Northern Ireland. The Priory is worth a visit if only for the convenience of the place, whether you are a day-tripper or a local The priory will at very least give you an insight into the regions culture.

The Dark Hedges, which was a filming location for the Game of Thrones, did not look as impressive…read morewhen we visited in late August 2025 as compared to the location's historical photographs. There were a lot of gaps in tree coverage. The reasons are documented in Wikipedia -- tree health, storm damage, and tourist vandalism. We were here for about 45 minutes, lingering longer so I could get some photographs; but 30 minutes might be a long visit for most people. An ultra-wide lens might be useful for one or two shots, but a normal zoom lens should be otherwise be fine. A rain sleeve would be helpful if your camera isn't water resistant. There's a small shed by the parking lot that sells Game of Thrones related merchandise, and a separate café with restrooms.

Reviews are correct its not all that. I dont mind paying for parking but so many people and so many…read moretrees gone. It was just very disappointing. We had been at Giants causeway and were heading north anyway. If I had went way out of my way I'd be mad. To get pics without people you would have to wait a long while and have nothing else on your list to do. So idiots even have been carving on the trees ....what's wrong with people . Or be good at editing and editing people out.

No thank you. Nope. Nuh-uh!…read more This is not my thing at all. I did it under much protestation, but I did it. Am I glad I did? No. Would I do it again. No. Everyone else had a good time though. Shout out to the ticket staff and the bridge minders! Very nice folks for sure.

Carrick-a-Rede was once a salmon fishing hub. As the fish disappeared, Carrick-a-Rede become known…read morefor its rope bridge, a legacy remnant from those fishing days. We visited late last August, for about 90 minutes. The reinforced rope bridge itself is a brief experience. The bridge is short (around 65 feet long though it felt shorter), narrow (fitting one person at a time), sways with the wind, and subject to closure during periods of high wind. There are steep steel stairways on both sides of the bridge. Much of the visit experience is the walk to and from the bridge, a meandering pastoral cliffside path with cattle and sheep grazing along parts of the path. Two attendants at the bridge check for admission tickets and ensure the bridge is safe to cross. The weather was unpredictable during our visit, with periods of heavy rain and wind. The bridge was temporarily closed for a few minutes while we were there, but also re-opened fairly quickly. Wear waterproof shoes with a good grip. Rain jackets were very useful. The National Trust had bright yellow rain jackets for £26.95 for those who need them. Visitors can get a printed certificate for visiting the Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge with any donation to the National Trust.

Giants Causeway to me personally should be another wonders of the world lol. But really, this is…read moresuch a cool spot in Ireland to checkout to check the box off of "cool places to see along the coast." Giants Causeway are these natural rock formations along the Irish coast that tourists flock to as they are truly amazing. We got lucky to come on a clear day (no rain) so naturally it was a busy day for the tourists to come checkout these formations. This is a relatively walkable area but for those who are elderly it could be a little challenging as there was a bit of an inclined walk from the main parking area down to the proper giants causeway formations. It's definitely a spot you should check out if you find yourself on this side of the world because it is truly unique and unlike anything I've ever seen before. At the top there was a large tourist store where I bought plenty of souvenirs and they do have bathrooms and small bites/snacks if needed.

If this would have been the only thing we did in all of Northern Ireland, I would have been happy…read more This place is magical, you feel like you are stepping in one of the childhood stories you read about when you were younger, like, "Jack and the magic bean stalk". I won't detail all of the scenery as you can absolutely see epic pictures of the Giant's Causeway online and it just hits you in such an ethereal way actually being there. The price of admission into the causeway is very nominal and they have a large, beautiful gift shop and cafe you can grab a bite to eat as well. I hope to return here someday and spend many more hours exploring and soaking up the scenery as we were a little rushed with our bus tour. As always people SYOY!!!!

Before planning our trip here, I was unaware that the Titanic originated in Belfast. This museum…read moredid an incredible job of detailing all that went into the ship as well as all that went wrong after they were at sea. The place is very large and the tour takes a couple hours. You're taken through the processes that occurred during the massive undertaking it was to construct the ship, to the setup onboard and ultimately the voltage itself. The place flows very nicely, there's a delightful ride and the pictures/audio tell quite the story. It's a very powerful place. The SS Nomadic outside is the last surviving ferry ship in the fleet was great to walk on and around. This is a must see spot when you're up in Belfast!

I was blown away by this museum! Sure it's an extremely popular historic event with a huge movie…read moreto gather even more attention, but Belfast had done it right. I enjoyed every aspect to the gigantic museum, from the surrounding area , before you enter, to each and every floor full of displays, movies and interactive activities. Masses of people will be there, yet I never felt rushed or overwhelmed as I worked my way through. So many thumbs up to this iconic museum. Must see!

Kinbane Castle was really cool!…read more The best part is that its free. You just drive a few miles off of the main road and you are at the parking lot. The walk is pretty steep but worth it. Not much left of the castle but that adds to the authenticity of it all. And the views are amazing! I would definitely go back and spend more time enjoying everything and taking it all in!

This was an epic castle. While there isn't much left of the castle the site is amazing…read more The hike down is rather steep and very windy. Just remember you have to come back up! Right from the top the view of the castle is stunning. So even if you don't fee comfortable climbing down to it, you can still get a great look. You also can get a great view of Rathlin Island and, I believe, Scotland! There is not much left of the castle itself, there is one room you can go into. Some of the walls are also standing. The best part is actually past the ruins and up to the edge of the cliff. You can get a great view of the sea and back at the castle. Just be careful as it gets rather narrow and with the strong winds, it can be a bit jarring. There are clean public bathrooms in the parking lot.

This was a beautiful building, inside and out. I loved the stained glass windows and…read morearchitecture! There were many different rooms to explore, with museum-like pictures and information to view. The toilets are free!

Belfast City Hall is the city center district and located in a business area, but with expanding…read moreresidential and entertainment. Plenty of shops, restaurants, bars, churches, and historical locations surrounding the city hall. Inside is very beautiful layout architecture with a beautiful dome plus plenty of glass windows artwork. Inside the surrounding garden within, there are: Titanic Memorial Garden, Korea War Memorial, Victoria Memorial, Boer War Memorial Royal Irish Riffles, and couple statues on the other side plus city ground for you to seat and admire the city hall.