No prizes for guessing where The Corner is situated, although I will tell you it's not in the…read moremiddle of the street... I remember when this newsagents opened, and it must be in and around ten years ago. Interestingly, I had never paid The Corner a visit until the other day (having harboured a desire to visit it for a long time, naturally) when I needed the final edition of the Belfast Telegraph for my dad. Had I been in Belfast, this wouldn't have been a problem - you can get the final edition at lunchtime there. However, the further away from the Belfast you are, the more unlikely you are to finding it, as I discovered. Not one of the four newsagents / corner shops in Millisle had any sign of even receiving the final edition of the Telegraph, and I was pretty sure the same was going to be said for Donaghadee. However, always an optimist, I told my dad I'd find him one no problem. 2pm on a Monday? Ha, no sweat. Some may call me jammy (and granted, it was more onto 2:30pm at this stage), but when I nipped into The Corner, they had just received bundles of the Telegraph...final edition. I think that made my afternoon. 65p later and I was able to assure my dad that not only was I the world's most fabulous daughter for finding the seemingly unfindable, but that I hadn't really even tried. Pure skill and ability, or the huge reliability factor of The Corner? I'll let you decide...

I sorta don't know what this thing is…read more Its is a very commanding sight from the ground and it looks like a castle of a fort that guards the town. It could even be a lookout for generations past to keep an eye on the pesky sea - it's not though. Apparently it was built to store gunpowder while the new harbour was being built. Now it just stands there, locked, drawn on in places, dominant yet passive to all with a jolly union jack flying from it's mast. It's like something that should be something but isn't. I plundered up the 40-odd steps to it and was disappointed by what I found - a mix of old stone and new concrete it was boring to say the least. Don't get me wrong, the views are obviously magnificent it's just the building itself that isn't. I could see the Copeland Islands, all over the land and a bit of Scotland. I could also see broken glass and bottle tops. I fear that this could be something - it could be used as something more, but it's not and I for one was disappointed.

I'm definitely going to get stick from my friends when I tell them I have written a review for some…read morepublic toilets but you know what, they can shove it because sometimes we all get caught short and need somewhere clean and odorless to spend a penny. I recently had to visit these public conveniences in Comber after several cups of tea (tea always has that effect on me!) and I was pleasantly surprised. They were clean and there was an attendant in a little office making sure the cubicles were fully stocked with toilet roll and the seats were suitable for my royal butt cheeks. Mens, ladies, disabled and child changing facilities were all clean and free! I recommend these bogs if you need a tinkle in the Ards peninsula.

Its not going to win any awards for comfort or appearance but I'm still glad comber has public…read moretoilets. They could do with heating the place as its like going outside.

Millisle Post Office is incredible not only is it a very efficient PO but it is great for picking…read moreup that little present that you may have forgotten about .There are tasteful pictures and plaques and gifts for that special day at very reasonable prices. It has recently opened as a bakery / cafe where all the produce is baked on the premises and is of an amazingly high quality.This makes it a good place to enjoy a refreshing cuppa while catching up with the local goings on and somewhere to write the card which you have purchased and then post it there and then. The staff are very friendly and even think about those four legged friends as there is always a bowl of fresh drinking water outside the premises for them to quench their thirst after that walk along the shore.The outside is quite picturesque with lots of colourful hanging baskets. It is very much a village Post Office with all that this conjures up.

I absolutely love Millisle post office, now some people may think that it is a little bit strange…read morethat I harbour such feelings towards a post office but this post office is special, it is the one for me. The reason it is my favourite of all post offices is that it is chilled, relaxed and has a really friendly atmosphere. For instance I was in the other day I had two letters to post, I was in there for less than 5 minutes and was offered a Hob Nob, now this doesn't happen everywhere I go. The service is exceptional and the post office is always well stocked and although small has everything you could possibly need. The post office also doubles as a cash machine for many bank and this is pretty handy in a village that doesn't possess a free cash machine, I think they want to keep you here, if you have no money there is no way out. To be honest I would stay just for Lovely little Millisle Post Office.

I have driven past this stone to many times to count but it was not until today that I thought I…read morewould go and have a look at it. Located on the shore between Millisle and Donaghadee this is North Downs very own Stonehenge, the only difference being it was erected probably by machinery in the 20th century. But that's just small print. It is actually a memorial to the late Major Richard Gustavus Heyn, who was owner of the once famous Ulster Steamship Company and a member of the flying corps during the first World War. The inscription has now been eroded by the Irish Sea Salt water. The land around the monument is owned by a local farmer but you can walk right up to the monument if you do not mind cows and cow pat. This is also be an ideal place to view Scotland across the Irish Sea on a clear day.

So I'd heard about the big stone before from my future father-in-law who is a member of the Ards…read morehistorical society. He knows I'm interested in the establishment of the churches in Ireland and that I have a particular love of the big green man himself - Sir Saint Patrick, bringer of St. Patrick's day and all the drinking that goes with it! Yee Haa! Anyways, i'm going off track, I decided to go out and have a look at the big rock thing and was put off immediately by how hard it is to access. I had to park my car in a nursing home, pet some cows so they knew I ment them no harm, climb a fence and walk through nettles - St Patrick himself didn't have as much bother as me getting over to Millisle I can bet. So, I though that the rock was a symbol to mark an area where St. Patrick was supposed to have handed when he was coming over to do his thing but it turns out the rock has nout to do with the green man at all and in fact was made and put there by human hands to remember a major and the owner of the Ulster Steamship Company. Some other historical stuff went on with this mayor man - I fell asleep listening to it to be honest - the rock was a let down. Took me a while to get to it, the land is wild and harsh and played havoc with my stilettos. It's an anti-climax, I returned to my car disappointed. I met a lovely cow though. She licked my face.

OK, now this is going to be difficult for me to review without me hurting anyone's feelings. I have…read moregiven the windmill itself five stars but I would like to give my experience there 3 stars. Let me tell you why. A windmill is a windmill and I know and have known for ages that this particular windmill is an awesome sight to behold so I decided to call in just to take a few pictures to add to my collection of Co. Downs beautiful things to see photo album. It was half twelve and I said to myself that I would park, jump out, get a few gorgeous shots, jump back in the car and be home to walk the dog by 1pm - that did not happen. As I approached the windmill a man named Brian jumped out from nowhere and asked me did I want to see his little house? Bemused and bewildered I thought 'well, why not? I've got five minutes.' One hour later I came out of the windmill my head spinning faster than the windmill ever did - facts and information don't do well in my wee head between the months of June and September so I could barely cope with the witty(?) and informative guide. Don't get me wrong, if I was in a party of 10, or a Japanese tourist in a party of five or a group of primary school children I would have loved the quizzes and the jigsaw and the 'lighting the board up with the right answers' game, I'd even have loved looking for the fake mouse or searching for the secret button - but I wasn't, I am a thirty year old, rather cynical, woman with no children and a small desire to take a photograph of a windmill. I think Brian is amazing at tour guiding and there is a million and one things to see and learn about the Ballycopeland Windmill but he should try to ascertain whether or not the visitors really care that much before he literally bombards them with all the facts. I got away when another witless woman and a small child arrived. I got into my car to the sounds of 'Do you want to see my wee house?' Just to finish off this review I want to make it entirely clear that the windmill is a great sight to behold, still fully functioning and restored to its former glory I have no doubt that this is a place of cultural significance and importance. Brian is a great guide - he should maybe just tweak his tours for parties of one and let them have a wee look around on their own and ask him questions after. The whole experience was so intimate and informative I can honestly say I actually picked up very little about the windmill itself.

The strange thing about Ballycopeland windmill is that it should be busy all year round with…read moretourists as it represents North Downs culture and heritage. It is not sign posted and could easily be ignored from the road, but definitely should not be. It is the last representation of farming barley in the region and really is a thing of beauty. Built in the 19th Century the windmill is in working order and inside there is even a video tutorial explaining the milling of barley from start to finish. Guided tours are available and it is completely wheelchair accessible. If it is windy enough you may even see the process first hand. On a summers day this would be a beautiful place to go for a picnic, it is an idyllic setting but also very interesting. This is another example of beauty going to waste in Northern Ireland, this could be a flagship of tourism bringing in much needed revenue to the area. The Windmill is currently only open in July and August. It is only a 5 minute drive from the seaside so my advice is to get an ice cream and head up to the Windmill, I guarantee you will be fascinated.