The castle is really like a small tower and sits at the front of sketrick island. You can walk around the ruins even though they're not the safest looking. The views and local scenery are beautiful with sketrick bring on an island in Strangford lough. There's a bar/restaurant behind it called daft eddies and an old lightship that seems to be some sort of private club. There's loads of parking and a car park further down the road with public toilets and views towards the castle and island. read more

See all

This is another hidden gem in County Down, sorry that's getting to be a bit of a cliché but it really is a wonderful place to visit. When I was younger we used to go on day trips to Sketrick Catsle. It was never to far away and it used to be an ideal distance to travel so that all of the kids in the back seat would be content with a car journey but not desperate for a wee. Sketrick was built in the 15th Century and used for active warfare in the 16th century. The irony of the place is that it stood firm through countless enemy attacks and then a storm knocked down two of the four stories that originally stood on the castle. The castle also had a fresh spring underneath so that people could be under siege for months at a time. Sketrick has become forgotten by many but I still see it as a great day out but this may just be due to childhood nostalgia. read more