Willow Cottage

Self Catering Holiday Accommodation

Located in Heart of County Down, Northern Ireland

Sleeps 3 - Ideal Retreat - NITB Approved

Some places of interest you can visit from Willow Cottage

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MOUNT STEWART near Newtownards is an 18th Century National Trust House and 80 acre garden boasting one of the greatest formal gardens in the British Isles. It has recently been nominated for World Heritage site status and has been voted Ireland's top heritage attraction.

THE TEMPLE OF THE WINDS is a highly unusual octagonal 18th Century banqueting hall and is also to be found at Mount Stewart.

ROWALLANE in Saintfield is equally stunning but much less formal. It is a landscape garden and its magnificent floral displays and rich woodlands follow the rolling contours of the drumlin countryside.

GIANT'S CAUSEWAY is a world Heritage site and area of outstanding beauty on the North Antrim Coast just over 1 hour away from Willow Cottage.

CASTLE COOLE one of the finest neo-classical Houses in Ireland only 2 hours away from Willow Cottage.

THE ULSTER FOLK AND TRANSPORT MUSEUM near Holywood is an open-air museum illustrating the traditional way of life for the people in Northern Ireland. The Transport Galleries house permanent exhibitions of archaic transport, horse drawn vehicles, bicycles, motor-cars and ship building.

GREY ABBEY was founded in 1193 and is set in beautiful parkland. It is a fine example of Anglo-Norman architecture. The village was named after its 12th Century Abbey and its many excellent antique shops make it a mecca for antique lovers.

CASTLE WARD near Strangford is a National Trust House with twin-style facades, one gothic and one Palladian - a compromise between a husband and wife who couldn't agree on which style they wanted.

NENDRUM MONASTERY is on Mahee Island. It has 5th Century origins and its history can be traced to the 15th Century. The site was restored and excavated in the 1920's.

MOVILLA ABBEY is in Newtownards and was founded in the 12th Century and occupies a site which has 6th Century origins.

SEAFORDE BUTTERFLY HOUSE & GARDENS set in the lush splendour of Seaforde Gardens, the Tropical Butterfly House features a large flight area with hundreds of free flying exotic butterflies. This tropical landscape also houses a wonderful display of parrots, reptiles, insects and amphibians from Africa, Asia, Australia and the Americas. Unlike the butterflies these are safely behind glass. The walled gardens contain a large collection of trees and shrubs, many of which are very rare. There is also a maze and follies.

THE IRISH LINEN CENTRE & MUSEUM is now well established in the towns 17th Century Market House.

THE PRIORY in Newtownards represents the only remains of a Dominican Friary in Northern Ireland.

THE SOMME HERITAGE CENTRE is outside Newtownards and commemorates the part played by Irishmen in the Battle of the Somme in 1916.

THE BALLANCE HOUSE is a Farmhouse Museum which was the birth place of John Ballance, New Zealand's Prime Minister 1891-1893

BALLYCOPELAND WINDMILL is the only windmill in County Down still in working order.

DOWNPATRICK where Saint Patrick was buried in 461. The Saint Patrick Centre in Downpatrick captures all the information available on the world's favourite Irishman.

EXPLORIS is Northern Ireland's only aquarium and is in Portaferry.

BELFAST ZOO, one of Europes leading Zoo facilities.

BELFAST CITY SIGHTSEEING open top buses and coaches.

LAGAN BOAT COMPANY - Enjoy a trip along the river Lagan in the 40 seat passenger vessel The Joyce

CRAWFORDSBURN COUNTRY PARK is one of the most popular coastal parks in Northern Ireland with splendid woodland walks among its beech, larch, monteray cypress and Californian redwood trees.

CASTLE ESPIE WILD LIFE AND WETLANDS CENTRE is set on the panoramic shores of Strangford Lough and has areas of lakeland, coast and woods to explore. It is home to more than 700 birds, many of whom are so tame that they will feed out of visitors' hands.

HOLYWOOD PRIORY was built about 1190 by the Anglo- Normans.

WWT Castle Espie