Visitor Attractions – North Down and Ards
North Down Area Map
The Ards Peninsula and North Down Area is steeped in history and folklore.
Visitors to the North Down area of Northern Ireland are really spoiled for choice when deciding which tourist attraction to visit first.
I have consolidated a list with links to the most popular Tourist Attractions in the area.
If you wish to stay in the area to visit these attractions, you can find ample accommodation examples from this site – ACCOMMODATION
LIST OF VISITOR ATTRACTIONS.
Mount Stewart House and Gardens
Down Cathedral and Saint Patricks Grave
Saint Patrick Visitor Centre – Downpatrick
Saint Patrick’s National Monument (Slieve Patrick Statue)
Bangor Castle (Now City Hall) and Walled Garden
Ulster Folk and Transport Museum
Kirkistown Castle
Windmill Hill – Portaferry
Derry Churches – Poertaferry
Exploris – Portaferry
Portaferry Castle
Ballycopeland Windmill
The Grey Abbey in Greyabbey
Saint Cooey`s Wells
Kearney Village
Kirkistown Castle
Ganaway Activity Centre
Echlinville Distillery
Copeland Gin Distillery
Portico of Ards Art Centre
Then Battletown Gallery
Castleward House (Downpatrick/Strangford)
Saint Patricks Church Of Ireland – Saul
Welig Heritage Crafts – Willow Sculpture
Eden Pottery – Millisle
The Ark Open Farm
GAME OF THRONES FILMING LOCATIONS:
Castleward
Inch Abbey
Tollymore Forest Park
Cushendun Caves
The Dark Hedges
Larrybane Quarry
Ballintoy Harbour
Downhill Strand
Binevenagh
GAME OF THRONES – THE DOORS LOCATIONS.
1. THE CUAN – Strangford, County Down
Find Door 1 at The Cuan in Strangford. The door pictures the opening title sequence and a map of Westeros.
2. FIDDLERS GREEN – Portaferry, County Down
Door 2 is in the Fiddler’s Green at Portaferry. It shows the rising conflicts between the Houses of Bolton and Greyjoy. Spot the Kracken and flayed man included in the intricate design.
3.PERCY FRENCH INN – Newcastle, County Down
Further south on the coast of County Down, the third door can be found in Percy French in the seaside town of Newcastle. It includes as ship’s departure from the Iron Island’s and a lone direwolf above Winterfell.
4. BLAKES OF THE HOLLOW – Enniskillen, County Fermanagh
Door 4 is in Blakes of the Hollow in Enniskillen. The door reveals House Targaryen’s return to power with domineering dragons.
5. OWENS BAR – Limavady, County Londonderry
Door 5 pictures the dreaded Night King surrounded by White Walkers, telling of the coming battle between the living and the dead. Find the door at Owens Bar in Limavady.
6. FULLERTON ARMS – Ballintoy, County Antrim
The sixth door is in Ballintoy, a small harbour town on the Causeway Coast used as a filming location for the Iron Islands. This door features the fearsome dragon Drogon with Dothraki stallions, symbolising the Dothraki allegiance with Queen Daenerys.
7.DARK HEDGES ESTATE – Stranocum, Ballymoney County Antrim
Door 7 shows the Three-Eyed Raven to remind of events of the past soon to affect the present, while a beech leaf in a crown reminds of the nearby King’s Road. Find it in the Dark Hedges Estate near its namesake location in County Antrim.
8. MARY McBRIDES – Cushendun, County Antrim
You’ll find Door 8 in Mary McBride’s in Cushendun. It tells of Arya Stark’s journey in the city of Braavos and features the Faceless Man coin and her trusted sword Needle, while the words “Valar morghulis. Valar dohaeris” dominate the centre.
9. BALLYGALLY CASTLE – Ballygally, County Antrim
The ninth door at Ballygally Castle contains symbols of House Stark and House Bolton, swords, shields and the bloodied face of a Direwolf, representing the unforgettable Battle of the Bastards.
10. THE DARK HORSE – Belfast
Finish your road trip in Belfast where the tenth door lies in wait at the Dark Horse pub in the Cathedral Quarter. The door shows how things are left at the end of Season 6, with the Lannister lion ruling over the Sept of Baelor while Stark and Targaryen sigils hint of secrets Jon Snow’s parentage yet to be revealed.