Gorgeous weekend destination with lots to do and see in the downtown area and the outskirts. Plan a…read moresummer getaway here and include taking in the lough, beaches, castle and monastery ruins, downtown area, restaurants featuring oysters, and overall natural beauty!

If you are a frequent Belfast to Bangor commuter then no doubt you will have passed this park…read morecountless times, but how many of you can say that you've stopped and had a walk around? Yesterday, mainly out of interest, we decided to take Ted (our dog) around the park. The grass had been freshly mown and despite it being a drizzly day it was a lovely walk. There's a lovely play park, parking and a maze of paths you can follow. The one thing I'd say is that if you're looking for a long walk it might be best to visit the near by beach. We did four laps of this park as the wee pup wasn't even tired.

Ballymenoch park is a place that anyone traveling from Bangor to Belfast will have past and very…read moreprobably made comment about because in spring when the ground is covered in those unmistakable yellow daffodils it would be impossible not to comment on the beauty. Equally at autumn when the leaves have changed to those gorgeous shades of autumnal hues which can't help but catch your approval. However that glimpse is only a taster as to what this park has to offer. It is an ideal place to have a family stroll at any time of the year and a great place to walk the family pet. There is about 20 acres of woodland park and there are a host of different trees with the chestnut being the predominant so remember that when the kids are looking for that prize conker ! There is a good safe play park for the children with plenty of picnic areas. It's an ideal place to visit and it's close proximity to Holywood with all of its amenities makes for a good day out.a good pair of walking shoes might be advisable.

I live only a stones throw away from this beautiful park and so I've many great memories from my…read morechildhood of running around in the summer sun playing chasies on the grass, sledding down the snow covered hills during the chilly Winter months or kicking up the leaves on a beautiful Autumns evening. It's a brilliant place to take a walk to clear your head, I've done that only a few thousand times. It's great for somewhere to bring your dog (but clean up any mess, there's a number of special bins for this purpose) or come on a Sunday if you fancy a quick stroll along the sea front, though beware you'll be joining the masses. The path leads from Carrick to Whiteabbey to Hazelbank then you can follow the brilliant new cycle path all the way in to Belfast. Either follow the winding path or stroll along the sandy beaches where you'll often find some intriguing driftwood or some interesting shells. (I love doing this!) There's a new mural on the walls of the tunnels (at the exits leading to Gideons Green or to the Shore Road) that was done recently by a local artist called Michael Dunn and depicts various events and locations around the area, such as the Belfast marathon which follows this route. These tunnels used to be covered in some nasty graffiti from local kids thinking they're funny, so it's great now to see this space being used for some proper art work. Have a look at my pictures to see the mural.

We live close to this amazing park, so we have a chance to spend time here often. Hazelbank is…read moregreat for walking and playing with your dog, there is a children's play area for the kids, many picnic tables and big grass fields as well as outside gym equipment and huge car park. Usually there is an ice cream van as well to treat yourself :) Was in the park in the last few days, the number of pokemon go players are shocking, there are several pokestops so they are sitting in the car and keep collecting the balls & eggs etc. you will see all generations walking there like zombies looking at their phones trying to catch all the pokemons. If you are playing as well, visit the park, Im sure you wont go home without some rare creatures.

I have many very happy memories from sunny childhood days spent at Brown's Bay. A short drive from…read morewhere I live, and at the very end of the Islandmagee peninsula, just outside Larne, it makes for an enjoyable and leisurely drive to get there. The site itself has two car parks (side by side) allowing for parking for approximately 150 cars, with some on-road parking available too. There are onsite loos with disabled a baby changing facilities, and there is also a small shop which is open on a part-time basis and sells essentials, such as the bucket and spade! The beach itself is clean and tidy, with lots of public bins available to keep it that way! The view from the beach provides stunning views across the Atlantic Ocean!

Lovely little beach at the end of the peninsula know as Islandmagee, very clean and tidy. Great…read morespot with a lot of history. If you head down here there is Plenty of parking and a great clean toilet block.

Sometimes, Mother Nature just does us all a favor. That could be said about Peel Beach, a long…read morestretch of golden sand curving along Peel Harbor from the castle, down the Shore Road promenade and Marine Parade for about a half mile. On a sunny day, it reminds me a lot of the beach towns of Blackpool, Lytham-St. Annes, and Portsmouth ... a lot of people, a lot of nice beach, a lot of touristy kiosks and ice creameries. It's a nice little jaunt and the the water's a little more warm than in other places on the Isle of Man. Would I swim in it? Mmm, that's a judgement call, but it's still chilly (andif you've got a suit on and see a 4-7 year-olds splashing around, your machismo or basic pride may not allow you to make an excuse for staying on land ). The best part is the sunset which, at least the time of year we were there, passed right down over Peel Castle.

A lovely wide and soft, sandy, beach which is over a mile long and safe for swimming or walking…read more There are picnic areas and many benches along the promenade and marvellous views across the River Clyde to Arran, Aisa Craig and Kintyre. Plenty of parking spaces in the huge car park. It's not far to walk into the town from here and the nearby harbour is also a pleasant place to visit for a stroll (or a sail if you have a boat)!

Love the atmosphere, and you can see they are trying hard. Staff very attentive. Food is just a…read morelittle short of the mark that the previous owners set. Keep working at it... Menu could be a little better

We recently joined the National Trust in order to get in to some of the country's best parks and…read moregardens but after a walk at Crawfordsburn and down the North Down coast we began to question why, especially with scenery like this on our doorstep. Around 15 minutes from central Belfast and the same from Bangor Town Centre Crawfordsburn really is as convenient as they come! Dog walkers, day trippers and joggers come here in their droves and I don't blame them because there's something for everyone. There's lovely woodland walks through the park itself, a beautiful beach with a large grassy area for picnics and a walk along the coast with views over to Carrickfergus and beyond on a clear day. Yesterday was one of those majestic days at Crawfordsburn where the spring sunshine shimmered on Belfast lough reflecting a warm glow of happiness throughout the whole park! We decided on the coastal walk as we had Ted (our dog) with us. We walked all the way from the park itself to past Carnalea Golf Course, this walk winds all the way up the coast. There's plenty of benches to to stop at and plenty of places for you to get a photo of Belfast Lough in all it's glory (as you've probably seen from my uploads). The park itself has seen a good bit of investment recently with new picnic tables being installed and the welcome addition of a play area that doubles as a nature reserve. There's toilet facilities and plenty of parking (at least 3 car parks). Yesterday there was an ice cream van parked on the grassy area by the beach but he only comes out when the sun is shining. All in all this is a fantastic place for a walk on a sunny day, beware of summer bank holidays as it's known for drinking but otherwise it's a wholesome day out for everyone with loads to see and do!

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...!

Spent this morning at Millisle Beach Park and have to say I was thoroughly impressed. Amazing views…read moreof the water for us adults whilst also providing an abundance of fun for the kids. The pirate ship was a huge hit and while my 2 year old nephew was far too small for it, apparently just standing on it and turning the steering wheel provides ample entertainment. They also have two play park areas, one for older children and a great one for the younger. It was quite quiet so there was no fighting over the play area or swings. In addition, they have a full seat swing for children with disabilities which I thought was a great touch and I'm sure will be greatly appreciated by those who require it. Bring your own ball and you can use the dedicated football area. As an adult I would have loved a coffee to make this a top notch destination. Fingers crossed.

Way back in 2010 I was maybe a little bit harsh on Millisle beach park. Now I'm 28 I have started…read moreto appreciate scenery a whole lot more and there's not many places as scenic as Millisle beach. The beach itself stretches about 3 miles (when the tide is out) and makes a great place to walk the dog. You can let your dog off the lead here too, which they always love. The council have recently put some cash dollar in to a community garden and they are in the process of building a new drainage system. There's a nice play park too with a big pirate ship that lets kids keep watch for pirates sailing in the Irish Sea. With plenty of parking and great views it really does make for a nice walk even on a blustery autumn afternoon.

We walked through the Botanical Gardens which are located adjacent to the university. As like…read moreeverything else in Ireland, the whole grounds were bright green and full of different plant species and lots and lots of flowers. I particularly liked their greenhouse. The beautiful white medal perfectly balanced the contrast between nature and industrial features while complementing the space and giving these particular plants a specific place to grow, such as succulents. The rose gardens reminded me of something from Alice in Wind with how the grass paths were weaved between the rose bushes and some of the flowers looked fake because they were so healthy and vibrant.  There are two newer greenhouses that were built specifically for tropical plants. Inside of each of these greenhouses, the temperature and humidity was set to stay at the perfect settings for these tropical plants to thrive. They were multiple stories so that the trees could grow tall and the vines could grow long and even go all the way up to the rafters. A great place to see and spend time on a sunny or partly cloudy day!!

Beautiful grounds near Queen's College in Belfast. So peaceful and sprawling. The grounds…read moremeticulously kept. The grounds included some magnificently lush green lawn for taking in the nice weather being experienced during our stay. The Ferris Wheel was well worth the nominal expense. The rose garden was beautifully laid out.