Crawfordsburn Country ParkCountry park on the Belfast Lough shore between Bangor and Holywood, with two beaches and woodland walks that take in a waterfall.
Castle
Carrickfergus Castle
Carrickfergus, County Antrim
John de Courcy began the castle soon after he invaded Ulster in 1177, on the water's edge in Carrickfergus. It stayed in military use until 1928.
- Where
- Carrickfergus, County Antrim
- Map
- Directions · OpenStreetMap
- Before you go
- Opening times, prices and access change. Check with the place itself.
Nearby
The closest places on our lists, in any county.
Crawfordsburn Country ParkCountry park on the Belfast Lough shore between Bangor and Holywood, with two beaches and woodland walks that take in a waterfall.
Ulster Folk MuseumAn open-air museum at Cultra, outside Holywood, opened in 1964, where cottages, shops and a school moved from across Ulster were rebuilt and the old crafts are still shown.
Cave Hill Country Park and Belfast CastleThe park takes its name from five caves in the cliffs above north Belfast. Belfast Castle, finished in 1870, sits on the lower slopes and McArt's Fort is up on the cliff top.
The GobbinsBerkeley Deane Wise opened a path along these Islandmagee cliffs in 1902, and after a rebuild it reopened in 2015 with new bridges over the sea. You go on a guided tour.
Titanic BelfastThe museum stands beside the slipways where the Titanic was built and launched, and a ticket also takes you aboard SS Nomadic, the last surviving White Star Line ship.
Belfast City HallOpened on Donegall Square in 1906 and built of Portland stone. William Pirrie brought skilled men from the Harland and Wolff shipyard to fit out the interiors, and guided tours go inside.More in Antrim
Giant's CausewayCliffs · BushmillsHexagonal basalt columns step down into the sea below the cliffs north of Bushmills, formed as lava cooled just under 60 million years ago. It became a World Heritage Site in 1986.
Carrick-a-Rede Rope BridgeBridge · BallintoySalmon fishermen first strung a rope bridge across to this rocky island near Ballintoy in 1755, and the crossing still hangs high above the sea.
Dunluce CastleCastle · PortrushThe MacQuillans built it on the cliff edge around 1500 and the MacDonnells took it in the 1550s. The remains of the town laid out beside it in 1608 have been dug out of the grass.
The Dark HedgesWalk · ArmoyJames Stuart planted this avenue of beech trees on Bregagh Road in 1775 as the approach to Gracehill House, and the branches have grown together over the road. The road is closed to cars, so park at the Hedges Hotel and walk the few minutes up.
Rathlin IslandIsland · BallycastleThe ferry runs out from Ballycastle, and the RSPB seabird centre at the West Light looks down on cliffs where puffins rear their chicks from late April to early August. The centre opens from spring to late summer.
Glenariff Forest ParkForest · GlenariffA boardwalk first built about a hundred years ago runs down the river gorge past the waterfalls, and the viewpoint trail looks down the glen to the sea.
Old Bushmills DistilleryDistillery or brewery · BushmillsBushmills dates its whiskey to a licence to distil in the area granted in 1608, and the distillery company here was formed in 1784. It still triple distils malted barley in copper pot stills beside the River Bush, and guided tours take you through it.
Fair HeadCliffs · BallycastleDolerite cliffs east of Ballycastle, the upper half made of giant columns, looking out towards Rathlin. The walks start from a farm car park and cross working farmland.