Not to be confused with Ward Park (my sister couldn't comprehend that the two were separate),…read moreCastle Park is essentially the grounds of Bangor Castle, hence the name. Bet you didn't see that one coming... Unlike Ward Park, it lacks a playground, ducks and tennis courts, but it is mainly focused on a couple of pretty walks through the grounds. These were a fond favourite of mine when it came to conker season, as not only were there plenty of horse chestnuts about, but the two different available walks had two different colours, depending on whether you wanted to do the short or long one. My favourite part was running onto the next post to see what colour it was, in order to make sure we were on the right path (literally). It's been a few years since I've been up to the gardens for a proper walk, but it is still as stunning as ever, with beautiful views over Bangor and out towards the sea. The large variety of trees make for a pleasant woodland stroll, and there are also pretty flower beds dotted around the park, as well as a large amount of open space to sit and watch the world go by. Definitely one of my favourite parks in and around Belfast. I was thinking of excuses to return, but it's nearly Autumn, and therefore conker fetching season...yippeeeee!

This is a place that I have a whole heap of affection for, I would go as far to say that I am a…read moreCastle Park Tree hugger. Although it also evokes a mix of emotions, let me explain: The park firstly takes me back to my primary school days, searching for acorns and as Lynne said conkers. Walking the different trials and visiting the Heritage Centre. There is even a tree in Castle park where King Billy tied his famous white horse. I am sure that it is fenced off with a plaque, but I can not think where...I will let you discover it. But then I also remember Castle park for more unsavoury reasons, the top end of Castle park near Bangor Abbey is often littered with drunken teenagers and not a very safe place after about 9pm. Overall Castle park by day is one of the best public parks and wooded areas around but I would avoid it at night.

This is a beautiful well kept park with plenty of facilities for all ages. There is a lovely kids…read moreplay park, a large duck pond and an aviary with some very pretty birds. For the sporty type there is an athletics track marked during the better months and pitches for cricket and football. There are also a number of tennis courts and a bowling green. This is also where my local Saturday morning 5k park run is held with about 300 runners attending most weeks. If you just fancy a lovely walk Ward Park is the place to go with numerous paths to choose around the pond and lots to see on the way.

Ward park is a great place for all the family to enjoy . If you want a leisurely stroll with the…read morekids and dog this is the place to go. With an adventure play park for the kids and the ability to feed the ducks and geese as you walk along beside the stream. The setting is very tranquil and you can forget that you are only a stones throw from Bangor town centre. For those who are actively sporty there are tennis courts and a bowling green It is an ideal place to appreciate all the seasons of the year.

The phrase 'hidden gem' gets thrown about a lot these days but I must stress that Balloo Wetland is…read morewell worthy of that title! I grew up in these parts so my childhood was spent exploring the local greens and forests and this is one place that we used to frequent. Although back then it didn't have an official name and certainly wasn't protected by the Ulster Wildlife Trust. With all the building work going on it appears that a concerted effort has been made to preserve this area of natural beauty. The walk itself isn't the longest but it presents an oasis of greenery in an otherwise concrete jungle. Keep an eye out for the visitors signs that explain the different types of flowers you can expect to see. Also they have recently installed benches so you can take a break from your walk and breath in the splendor of nature!

Great place. Was…read morethere for an open day. £5 each per adult. Think they have them a few times a year. It is a privately owned estate. It's a huge site. A lot of the lanes to walk in look newly made. Huge lake that can be walked around. There is a walled garden. Also bee hive,courtyard,out buildings and smaller gardens.

Used to be nice when i lived here but has now turned into a bit of a dump! Avoid at all costs!read more

Ballyholme Beach and Park's grounds stretch al the way along Ballyholme Bay. The coastal walk from…read moreKingsland (Ballyholme) to Orlock Point (Groomsport) is one of the most scenic in Ireland in my opinion, whether it's the views of Belfast Lough right across to Whitehead and Carrickfergus or the bramble laden paths that snake all the way to Groomsport you'll find something that will take your breath away. Ballyholme beach itself comes equipped with public toilets (only open 9-5), a large car park and 1.3km of sand. On a hot summers day in North Down this place is absolutely jam packed - you even get local ice cream vans taking up spots in the car park to cool down sun worshipers. One thing to note is that Dogs ARE allowed at this beach off their leads. So if you have small kids who may be afraid of bounding labradors then keep them close and if you are a dog owner bring your pooch down for a dip in the Ballyholme swell. Personally I have great affection for Ballyhome Beach, it is the site of some of the greatest sandcastles ever built (by me) and it offers a beautiful summers walk along the gold coast of North Down.

One of the seven wonders of North Down and situated in glorious ballyholme, this beach and park is…read morethe go to place for dog walkers and playing children for miles around, even if the far end of the beach does smell quite badly these days...! There are two mini play parks at either end of the beach perfect for occupying smaller adults and loads of car parking spaces too... Ballyholme shops being very close also make it perfect place for a summer bbq with a few relaxing beverages with friends and the walk round the coastal path to Groomsport is a great walk with some off track paths and turns into a kind of mini-hike at times... I have amassed around 1 million hours of football playing time on these green grasses and it's good to still see kids playing tol all hours of the night here as the summer approaches...!

If you're looking for state of the art sports facilities then look no further. Home to the only…read moreOlympic swimming pool in Northern Ireland, a water park, outdoor 4G football and hockey pitches and a fully equipped gym Aurora has become a hive of activity since its opening in 2013. I attend Aurora as a football and an indoor spectator 3 times a week - the football pitches are unbelievable, probably the best surface I have ever played on. They are floodlit and most of the local amateur football teams utilize the surface on weeknights. It's worth noting that they are available to hire by anyone but you may struggle at peak times. The indoor facilities are just as good, there is a café and a viewing gallery overlooking the pool and indoor sports hall. The Café is operated independently but they serve Costa Coffee. As I haven't experienced the gym I can't comment on it but from having a peak through the window it looks top notch. There is a huge car park at Aurora, which has clearly been built with hosting international events in mind. Aurora has proved to be an excellent addition to the Northern Ireland sporting world, something we were severely lacking. Hopefully this facility can help nurture the raw sporting talent we have in our wee country.

I have only recently had the privilege of using these facilities which Bangor Araura provide and I…read morehave to say I don't know why I left it so long. It is a truly amazing complex which facilitates all ages and abilities. The pools are wonderful and no matter what your swimming capabilities are there is something here for you. You can sign up for all different exercise classes Wetherby that is water related or not but there will be something that will suite your needs . It's even a good place to meet up with friends for a coffee or bite to eat. There are so many things to explore it's well worth coming on to check the facilities out.

One of my friends lived in Bangor for a few years, and we went through a bit of a heath kick for a…read morefew months and resolved to go swimming every Saturday morning, and this is where we used to come, as it was within walking distance of her house (walking there was another part of the health kick!) They have a 25 metre pool with seperate pool for children, and my favourite, a diving pool with three diving boards! In addition to this, they have one large and one medium sized sports halls, a state of the art gym, sauna, and sunbed suiet, if you fancy frying yourself to get that, erm, golden glow. Just off the main hall they also have a lounge and cafeteria area, which serves a good range of food, although unfortunately nonw of it was terribly healthy, which was sometimes a bit of a temptation!

This place is a little bit aged and could be a bit more modern, but thats because it has been…read morearound forever and the new leisure centre is being built so there is no point in them doing up this place. It has all the amenitites that you could expect - swimming pool, five-a-side pitches and squash courts etc. It also has a really good gym that is really well priced. If you're a student you can get unlimited access for only £20 a month over 3 months which is a much better deal than in the likes of Fitness First. There are better appointed and better staffed leisure centres in the world but I think the prices here are good and you could do an awful lot worse. It has a good car park and that you don't have to pay for and its right in the middle of town. So you don't have any real reason not to call in here to exercise a bit.

Eddie Irvine has done well for himself. Not only was he a F1 champion, but he now owns a popular…read moresports centre, which is obviously focused on go-karting, but also provides 3G pitches for football (my boyfriend informs me that this is highly impressive), as well as rooms for pool and snooker, a skate park and a paintballing venue. Phew! Not too bad Eddie me son. Before I relay all the nitty-gritty details of my go-karting experience to you, you must realise that this is a very painful experience for me. I'm having to relive one of the worst days of my life, so please bear with me. I'm not exactly a get-up-and-go kinda girl, and I'm not really a thrill-seeking kinda girl either, but I'll give (most) things a go. When I heard my friend was having her 21st brithday party at Eddie Irvine's, I was a bit tentative at the thought of go-karting. A few "Aww Lynne, it'll be great craic" arguments later and my arm had been twisted. Bring it on, said I. Famous last words, says you. The staff were brilliant, the outfits were hideous(ly warm), the adrenaline was pumping and the banter was mighty. I was actually quite looking forward to whizzing round the course in my little go-kart. Not for long! Not only did I crash (badly) on numerous occasions (once I had to turned the right way round, a second time I had to dragged out of the wall of tyres), but my driving was so bad that one of the staff actually put an 'L' plate on my kart. Oh mortification. Furthermore (yes it goes on...), I actually managed to break the gas pedal and was given a new kart. Oh dear oh dear. And I came last... To say my friends were in stitches is putting it lightly. They were beside themselves with laugher, tears pouring down their cheeks. And then there was me, sitting like a stewed prune, wallowing in self-pity, covered in bumps and bruises. Never again. This is not to put other people off, but merely to highlight my unsuitability for such a sport. The staff were a great laugh and I appreciated their help every time I ended up crashing. Had I been good at the karting, I would've loved it, and if you're up for something action packed and exciting, do go for it!

I go here about 2 or 3 times a week to play football and I must say that the service is always good…read moreand the pitches are amazing. They're 3G or something like that, which I'm not quite sure what that means but they're fun to play on and don't leave your knees in bits when you slide tackle. There is paintball here and go-karting, neither of which I have done but from what I'm told they're pretty fun. The whole dark cloud hanging over this place is the price. It is just too pricey. Its £60 an hour for football which is too much. £50 would be fairer but that is just the way things go.