Today I brought my 3 children to visit World of Owls. There was a free of charge car park just a…read morefew metres away from the entrance which was surrounded by beautiful scenery. When we entered we were greeted very pleasantly by Mike. The entrance fee is cheap and it feels even better knowing its all for a charity that is caring for such unique animals. The birds were all so beautiful and their enclosures were clean with the volunteers hard at work when we were there. We even got to hold one of the Owls and any questions my kids had Mike answered and told us a lot of interesting facts about the birds. At the end of our visit we had a picnic at the picnic benches and the kids all had fun on the climbing frame and swings. The kids were even asking when they could come back again and we hadn't even reached the car! 100% recommended for a day out with children.

Despite the name, they also have minature donkey and Soay sheep. The petting park has Apacas…read more There's a cafe too. They have falcons, hawks, and owls from around the world... but not in the petting park. This is a bird of prey conservation education centre.

This aptly named 'Writer's Square' area of the magnificent St Anne's church courtyard was…read moretransformed for one night only in to a Mecca of arts and culture where various stalls, tents and stands were set up and all displayed their various wares, arts, skills and events all in relation to Culture Night. There were a number of interesting, fun stalls where you could get henna tattoos or get your face painted or pick up information about the various charities and events relating to Culture Night around Cathedral Quarter. There was live music playing throughout the night as well as a miniature stage show from 'Leon and the place Between' which will be debuted at the Belfast Festival at Queens. Any one who missed this night should be well prepared for next year as it seems to be growing and flourishing in to a fantastic event on the Belfast calendar. It was here I discovered the publication 'Belfast Flags of Hope' which is a fascinating and great publication by The Thomas Devlin Fund. This group was set up to commemorate the young school boy (Devlin) who was viciously murdered on his way home from the shop, one summer night, five years ago. The fund provides financial support for teens involved in creative and musical ventures. The 'Flags of Hope' idea was thought up by local artist Raymond Watson who wanted to represent the aspirations of school children in the fight for the hope of a day where sectarianism no longer exists. This scheme touched my heart as I was at school with Dev and I think it's great to see even a glimmer of good coming out of his death.

The Giants Ring is one of the sites of the LaganValley area. It's situated approximately 4 miles…read morefrom the city centre and it's a lovely area to go for a stroll/ jog. Theres a car park at the site for easy access. The main feature is the Stonehenge monument dating back to neolithic times, 2700BC which predates the Egyptian Pyramids. It's a pretty cool site and great for photos. When I arrived there was a bridal party using the stonehenge as the backdrop to their photos, definitely something different. The path around it is quite short so it won't take long to cover but if you want to extend your walk it's right beside Shawsbridge and the LaganValley towpath where you can walk all the way to Lisburn and take in the beautiful scenery and nature.

One of the many benefits that Belfast offers is the ease with which you can get out of the city,…read moreinto the countryside and in no time, less than 15 minutes I would say you could be wending your way up a little country road to a prehistoric monument - in this case the Giant's Ring. I admit to having a particular fondness for these ancient places. The Giants Ring, dated around 2,700 BC, is a burial ground with an impressive dolmen consisting of five upright stones and a capstone set in a large rampart. Originally the dolmen would have been a chambered grave covered with a cairn of stones and earth. It's completely unspoilt, wild and windswept and a great place to clear the cobwebs. It does not really take long to visit, nor is there a great deal of effort required but it's just right for quick, refreshing walkabout.

Exploris the Portaferry Aquarium is currently closed but that's not all there is to do in…read morePortaferry. On Saturday we took a day trip to Portaferry and we walked the Portaferry Trail along the harbour and past the historic Portaferry Castle. To be perfectly honest I didn't know this trail existed until we actually got to Portaferry (some promotion is needed). the trail is about 1.5 miles in total and it allows you to take in views of the breathtaking Strangford lough whilst also providing cultural and historical insights in to Portaferry town. This is an unmanned trail, you can pick up literature about the trail at the tourist information centre but apart from that you'e on your own. In all fairness the trail is well signposted with brass/bronze signs guiding the way. In terms of parking you can either park behind Exploris or near the ferry. There are no facilities on the tour, you'll have to find somewhere to grab refreshments in Portaferry town it's only a short walk so don't worry. This is a really nice scenic tour - perfect for a day trip. We brought the dog, although there's not much greenery for your four legged pals to enjoy so I suggest keeping them on the lead!

Portaferry Harbour always fills me with a great sense of nostalgia, it reminds me of long summer…read moredrives and school trips to the Aquarium. Yesterday we decided to take my nieces on a day trip to Portaferry. I'm happy to report that much has changed down at Portaferry harbour, it's still as scenic as I remember! Now on to the useful stuff. If you want to get the ferry across to Strangford it will set you back £1 for a single passenger or £2 return. The ferry is an excellent experience, especially for kids. Strangford town is historic and well worth a visit. If you're on the ferry be on the look out for wildlife. Strangford lough is known for its huge ecosystem - look out for the seals in particular!

Next time you are in Conway Square taking a break from the hectic Saturday market, or chomping on a…read moredoner kebab in the early hours of a Sunday morning, take a minute to consider local and highly decorated war hero Lieutenant Robert Blair Mayne who's statue has stood proudly in Ards town centre since 1996. Most commonly known by his nickname "Paddy" he has been hailed as a hero of the rugby pitch and battlefield alike. With caps for Ireland, the British Lions and most famously recognized as a founding member of the SAS there is clearly good cause for a statue in his memory. It is said that many men owe their lives to his heroics behind enemy lines in WW2 and, by all accounts, his gallant actions would not have been too far out of place in an Indiana Jones movie! With locals still campaigning for a posthumous award of the coveted "Victoria Cross", and lingering rumours of a film documenting Paddy's life, there is every reason to acquaint yourselves with this legendary statue in Conway Square!

Who knew this great man was right beneath our noses this whole time? Not me, well until recently…read more While shopping on a busy Friday in Ards with my mum I waited outside another one of those women's clothes shops I was being dragged into all afternoon. It was after she had been away for around ten minutes I decided to go have a closer look at the life size Iron statue that stood proudly in Conway Square. Underneath it said Blair "Paddy" Mayne and I thought that name sounds familiar. So like any former student I did my research and it turns out Mayne was a Newtownards and Northern Irish legend. He fought in the Second World War, He won an Irish Boxing Title and he could drink too. The statue is in Conway Square to commemorate all these achievements, except drinking, and a noble mans life. Mayne tragically died in a car collision in December 1955 and the whole country came to a standstill. The people of Newtownards erected this statue in honour of a great man who defended the county at war and on the battlefield. If you want to be inspired I suggest you pay his statue a visit and read up on his life.

Having lived in Northern Ireland all my life, and being a massive fan and reader of great…read moreliterature, I decided it was completely sacrilegious to still not have visited this important place. It is of course the homestead where Patrick Bronte, father of the three famous sisters was born into a farming family. There are several buildings that you can visit, including the Church he visited, the school and various cottages including the cottage he was born in. It's a truly fascinating area to visit, and really worth a look if you're at all interested in the lives of the Brontes, or even just if you are interested in farming life and history in Northern Ireland. The picnic site is really lovely too, a great place to sit and take a break with your family or fellow travellers and enjoy the gorgeous countryside, while sitting in the site of a former 'shebeen' - an illegal drinking den...very Irish indeed!

I love all things historical and this castle is the central historical element to this little…read morefishing town. The castle can be found right next to the towns tourist information centre which is rife with information about all things historical in the area. We were able to go into the castle for free and have a nosy about the grounds - it's not the biggest floor space but it is quite tall, looming and a bit scary. After listening to the many birds who are nesting there and avoiding the plop plops dropping from above we decided to ascend the steps at the west corner onto the first floor. This is when I got loads of goose bumps down my back. We started to ascend with my dog leading the way, we got up about 10 steps when my dog started to freak out, bark and reverse down the stairs. My fiance and I were too scared to go up any further after that. To be honest I couldn't wait to get out then - creepy! Very attractive ruins and easily accessible for all and if you want more information just drop into the lovely ladies in the tourism office. I asked about the castle and one of the lovely ladies mentioned something called a murder-hole - I heard nothing else she said as I ran off, filled to the neck with the hee-bee-gee-bees!

Most tourists visit Portaferry for the Aquarium and that is all well and good but this little…read morefishing town is certainly not a one trick pony. It can also boast a beautiful castle overlooking Portaferry Harbour and Strangford Lough. Portaferry Castle is a 16th Century townhouse built in the 16th Century but unfortunately it is only the shell that remains. But if you are a bit of a History buff you will be amazed by the architecture and the story behind the castle. If you are visiting Exploris or are finishing a day out by the seaside I would urge you to visit Portafrry castle. It is beautiful on a clear day and don't forget the binoculars.

The National Trust is Northern Ireland's largest conservation charity. It was founded in 1895 and…read moresince has been striving to protect and enhance all of the beautiful, idyllic and fascinating locations around Northern Ireland (including beaches, forests, gardens, houses and properties) Think of Giants Causeway, Portstewart Strand, Crom Castle, Glenariff Forest etc. Our continuing preservation of these spots ensures our unique heritage is conserved for generations to come. The National Trust is entirely reliant on donations and monetary gift aids to keep the charity running. Thankfully, it's supported by over 52,000 people in N.I. and through this it is able to provide us with great services, facilities and programmes. Next time you find yourself admiring out stunning country just keep in mind the work the Trust does to safeguard it from unwelcome harm.

I can't really recommend this place enough, like almost all National Trust properties it really is…read moreone of my favourite places to be. The grounds are beautiful, including forested walks, ornamental gardens and the house itself with courtyard and stables. It lacks the scale and opulence of the likes of Castle Ward but it is still just as perfect in a smaller package. What sets it off is the special events they use the grounds for. They have various special family days where you can go and take part with the kids in special activities that usually show life in the house in the Victorian era as well as days dedicated to times of the year such as Easter egg hunts at Easter. For me however the Jewel in the crown with regard to Rowallane is the Christmas Fair. Arts, crafts, food, drink and Christmas trees a-plenty to be had here. And while you are enjoying taking this all in there will be a beautiful brass band of choir filling the air with Christmas music and carols. It's become an annual must see for me at Christmas now before I can officially get into the Christmas mood!

God, I feel terrible giving this place a one star but I am always honest in my reviews and I was…read morehorrified at this woodland walk. I may have started at the wrong place - I hope I started at the wrong place! We followed a sign past a river and through some trees into the woodland - this should have been a lovely way to spend a Sunday afternoon but it wasn't. As soon as we got on the path we were climbing over broken glass bottles, blue bags and Harp cans. It was more like the perfect teenage drinking den than a summer woodland walk. There was a strong smell of wee-wee in places and areas which were burnt from teenage bonfires. If I was 16 and looking for a sneaky place to neck some cider this would be it! The track is a little over grown, smelly, filled with rubbish - even fly-tippers have been in and left a selection of rubbish including a striped motor-bike. Let's hope that there are nicer areas to this woodland and maybe a better entrance but from my experience I wouldn't recommend this walk to anyone. I hope the council read this and get the place cleaned - it could be beautiful.