Northern Ireland is a place we've visited three times now for a family staycation and it's always brought us amazing experiences and memories. We've stayed in Derry, Antrim and most recently we had our amazing staycation in Down. We were invited to embrace a giant spirit with a visit to Down, hosted by Discover Northern Ireland, which was a dream for me because showing all the beauty and fun that Ireland has to offer is a real passion of mine.
We set off from our home county of Cork for the long drive to Down, a place we had only ever had a fleeting visit to before, to the beautiful Mount Stewart on our way home from Belfast, so we were excited to see what Down had to offer. and I can tell you that that is a lot. Down is the perfect destination for a family staycation in Northern Ireland. Not only does it offer the beautiful Mourne Mountains, forests and countryside areas, it also has a stunning coastline.
We stayed in the beautiful seaside town of Newcastle, County Down, which has so much to offer for families. We visited during November, but I can imagine in late spring and summer that the beach here is a real treat. The town is a perfect base for those wanting to explore all that the Mourne Mountains have to offer, all while being by the sea too. It really is the best of both worlds here.
We visited Down with our three sons, aged 11, 8 and 2 and were keen to find things that all three boys would enjoy. Thankfully, we did find things to keep everyone entertained. Our 2 year old loved the beach and the playground in Newcastle. My eldest boys adored their visit to a local chocolate factory (every child's dream, right?) and getting to paint their own pottery during some one-on-one time with me.
The playground in Newcastle is right next to the beach and was huge, with facilities for children of all ages and abilities. The view of the Mourne Mountains from Newcastle is beautiful too and it's a fabulous spot to stay if you want to experience the mountains and forests, but also the amazing coastline of Down.
Our accommodation was the Hillyard Mews, a self-catering townhouse just a two minute walk from the main promenade of Newcastle. It was great to stay so close to all that Newcastle has to offer. The accommodation was spacious and we had three bedrooms for our family of five. There was also a fully equipped kitchen and a open plan living area with a smart TV. The main bedroom had an en-suite too. The Hillyard Mews townhouse accommodation can sleep up to eight people and is a great option for families and larger groups who are visiting Newcastle.
Newcastle offers a whole lot of experiences, from it's huge selection of restaurants, to the nearby Tollymore Forest Park, there's something for everyone in this beautiful seaside town.
We visited Tollymore Forest Park which was a stunning place, full of beautiful autumn scenery and follies to explore. We wished we had more time here but we visited on our way to Newcastle and due to the time of year, it got dark an hour after we got there. It was a place you could explore for hours and still not be bored and I would really love to return to explore it some more and photographic the stunning scenery once more.
We also took a visit to NearyNógs Stoneground Chocolate, which my boys absolutely loved. NearyNógs isn't in Newcastle, but is a short drive up the road and a beautiful scenic coastal route. It's definitely worth a visit if you're a chocolate lover. We had the tour experience and it was great to learn so much about chocolate and how it's made right here in Down. The owners and staff at NearyNógs were all so lovely and understanding (our toddler was not in a great mood on the day!), and we were delighted to get to taste such delicious chocolate, made with so much care and passion. NearyNógs is a fabulous business and a great one for the chocolate lovers to visit, enjoy and support.
Newcastle has a lot of restaurants and food places to choose from. We dined in two great spots during our visit. The first was Avoca, which is right on the promenade. The décor in here was fab and it was beautifully decorated for Christmas at the time. The food was good too and we all enjoyed.
On our second night we dined in Great Jones, where I enjoyed the most delicious burger I've ever tasted! It was also a great-family friendly option at the tables weren't too close together and we were able to relax here. I highly recommend the sundae for desert too, it was amazing! I'm hoping to eat here again someday.
During our visit, myself and my older two boys visited The Clay Project where we got to paint some pottery of our choice. The staff here were so lovely and friendly. It was a great, relaxing experience to enjoy with my older boys and we all created something that we loved. The great thing is, if you're visiting The Clay Project as a visitor, they'll post your pottery to you once it's finished in the kiln. We received ours a couple of weeks after we returned home. I highly recommend a visit to The Clay Project if you're in Newcastle.
From forest walks, beautiful mountain views, skimming stones in the sea, great food, pottery painting and lots of fun in the playground, Newcastle made for a great family staycation for us. It's not only a beautiful part of Down, but of Northern Ireland as a whole. It won't be our last visit to Down and I look forward to sharing some more of our adventures and finds in this stunning part of Northern Ireland.
You can see more highlights and videos from our visit to Newcastle, Down on my Instagram @dollydowsie
