Family fun
Stimulating, entertaining and bags of fun, Down District is perfect for families. Let kids go crazy at Newcastle's Tropicana and Coco's, enjoy picnics in forest parks, walk along Newcastle & Murlough beach, hire a boat, go fishing. What more can a family want!
Family Fun Visitors Guide 2010
Action Outdoors
53A Magheralone Road,
Ballynahinch,
BT24 8SW
T: 028 4483 2894
M: 077 8975 4565
E: info@actionoutdoors.info
W: www.actionoutdoors.info
Providing expert organisation, tuition and supervision in a range of outdoor activities to suit all ages and abilities. From trying out a new pursuit, developing skills or going on a hobby – based holiday, our programmes are tailor made to ensure you have an exceptional experience. Activities include archery, rock climbing, canoeing, kayaking, hill walking, mountain biking, team building, team challenges and wilderness skills, in a variety of locations in Northern Ireland’s beautiful countryside, from the Mountains of Mourne to the islands of Strangford Lough.
Opening Times:
Open all year
Prices:
from £12.00 per person. Please call for more details.
Various locations across County Down.
Coco's Adventure Playground
27a Central Promenade
Newcastle
BT33 0AA
T: 028 4372 6226
E: info@cocosplayround.co.uk
W: www.cocosplayground.co.uk
For children from 2-14 years. Open all year round.
Kids will have the time of their lives at Coco's fabulous Adventure Playground.
Opening Hours:
Open all year round.
Summer/July & August: 10am - 9pm daily.
Rest of the year: Weekdays: 12.30pm - 8pm
Saturday & Sunday: 10am - 8pm.
Bank Holidays: 12.30pm - 8pm
Admission:
Children £4.20, Toddlers £3.20.
Directions:
On opposite side of Promenade from Newcastle Tourist Information Centre.
Clearsky Adventure Centre
Castle Ward,
Strangford
(Part of Peak Discovery Group)
UK Head Office
The Gables
Newcastle
T: 028 4372 3933
F: 028 4372 7300
E: fun@clearsky-adventure.com
W: www.clearsky-adventure.com
Clearsky Adventure Centre is based on the shores of Strangford Lough in the stunningly scenic grounds of the National Trust Castle Ward Estate. With a wide range of activities on offer, open to schools, groups, families, businesses and individuals alike, we’re sure to fulfil your needs. Activities include Archery, Laser Clay Pigeon Shooting, Rock Climbing, Abseiling, Sea Kayaking, Raft Build & Race, Mountain Biking, Power Boating and much more. Residential and non-residential packs available, let us take the stress out of organising as we strive to make your experience at Clearsky an inspirational, fun and enjoyable one. Action packed or laid back ….. Capture the magic and memories at Clearsky Adventure Centre.
Opening Hours:
Open every day of the year, 9:00 to 21:00.
Admission:
Prices from £15 per person. Free Parking for pre-booked activities.
Directions:
Approx 8 miles from Downpatrick on the A25, in the National Trust Castle Ward Estate
Delamont Country Park
Mullagh, Killyleagh
T: 028 4482 8333
F: 028 4482 8333
Caravan and Camping Bookings: 0 28 4482 1833
E: delamont.park@downdc.gov.uk
W: http://www.delamontcountrypark.com/
This stunning and beautiful 200 acre Country Park renowned for its favourable, dry, warm climate offers: Woodland & Countryside Walks 1km – 7km on the shores of Strangford Lough, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Stunning views across the Lough to the Mourne Mountains. Open areas for family picnics, BBQ and games. Irelands only fresh-air gym, free to use and accessible to all. 5* Award winning Caravan & Camping Site. Outdoor Adventure Playground. Ride on Miniature Railway 1km long – Thomas the Tank look-a-like. Delamont Stone – tallest megalith in Ireland. Heronry, largest in Northern Ireland & Bird Hide. BBQ area & Room for hire. Horse Riding by Permit. Mobility Scooters available. Events throughout the year. Children’s Events throughout July and August. Access to Strangford Lough Canoe Trails.
Opening Hours:
365 days, dawn to dusk
Admission:
Car £4, Motorcycles £2, Minibus £10 - £15, Coach £30.
Season Ticket available from Downpatrick and Newcastle Tourist Information Centres.
Directions:
Delamont is located on the A22 Downpatrick to Comber Road. 5 Minutes drive from Downpatrick.
Downpatrick & County Down Railway
Market Street,
Downpatrick
T: 028 4461 5779
W: www.downrail.co.uk
Travel in style on one of the historic railway carriages. Capture the magic of a bygone era on board a vintage railway train at the only full size heritage railway in Ireland.
Opening times:
Museum open Wednesdays & Saturdays 11am – 2pm all year round.
Trains run on Saturdays and Sundays from 2pm – 5pm:
Last two weekends in June.
Every weekend throughout July & August. First two weekends in September.
Open on Public Holidays.
Also special events at Easter, May Day, Halloween and Christmas.
See website for timetables.
All trains are steam hauled but may be substituted by heritage diesel at any time.
Prices:
Adult: £5 return, £4 single, Child and OAP: £4 return, £3 single (provisional prices, may vary according to promotion or event.)
Directions:
Turn into Market Street Car Park, Downpatrick and drive down to the end.
Eclipse Cinemas Downpatrick
5 Owenbeg Avenue,
Downpatrick,
T: 028 4461 6777
F: 028 4461 6792
E: downpatrickinfo@eclipsecinemas.com
W: www.eclipsecinemas.com
State of the Art cinema with Digital Screens, Dolby 3D, Luxury American Rockers, Homemade Popcorn. Complex also includes Space QuesT, Laser Tag & Funky Monkeys softs kids play area.
Opening Times:
Holiday Times: Sat 12 noon - 12.00pm. Sun - Friday 2.00pm - 12.00pm Non Holidays: Friday 4.00pm - 12.00pm, Sat 12 noon - 12.00pm, Sunday 1.00pm - 12.00pm, Mon - Thurs 6.00pm - 12.00pm. Times are subject to change.
Prices:
Charges may vary. Special prices for groups.
Directions:
Located off St Patricks Avenue. Walking distance to town centre.
Funky Monkeys
5 Owenbeg Avenue,
Downpatrick
T: 028 4461 7053
E: downpatrick@funkymonkeys.ie
W: www.funkymonkeys.ie
Soft play indoor café, activity centre for children aged 8 years and under along with their parents!
Opening Times:
Mon - Sat 10.00am - 6.00pm Sunday 12 noon - 6.00pm
Prices:
Under 12months - £1.00 (free with an older sibling)
Under 4 years - £4.25
4 years and over £4.75
Directions:
Located at Eclipse Cinema Complex, off Saint Patrick’s Avenue. Walking distance to town centre.
Funny Farm Adventures
80 Ballybannon Road
Castlewellan
T: 028 4377 8281 or 07753 464999
E: info@funnyfarmadventures.co.uk
W: www.funnyfarmadventures.co.uk
Have fun in the Giant 6 acre themed Maize Maze - find clues and solve the puzzle… then relax on the deck with something tasty or explore the many things in the forecourt. Also available, Mini Digger, Football Wall, Rope Maze, Garden Games, Trampolines, Barrel Train, Laser Clay Shooting, Archery etc.
Opening Hours:
July – August 2007: Monday – Saturday 10:00 – 18:00
Closed Sundays
Open Saturdays during September
Grangecam Open Farm
54 Old Course Road,
Downpatrick,
BT30 8BD
T: 028 4461 4907
M: 077 6243 0349
A collection of traditional farm animals and exotic zoo animals, lizards, tortoises, monkeys etc to name but a few.
Price:
Adults: £5.00
Children: £3.50
Group discounts available
Opening Times:
For details on opening times please phone.
Mourne Archery Centre
The Big Barn,
35 Carnacaville Road,
Maghera
M: 075 1988 2372
W: mournearchery@yahoo.co.uk
A place where you can learn the sport of archery with the help of trained archery leaders. Tea and coffee is available, and a little tuck shop.
Opening Times:
Friday 5.30pm - 1.00pm,
Saturday 10.00am - 6.00pm,
Sunday 2.00pm - 6.00pm.
Member Nights only Wednesday & Thursdays 5.30pm - 10.00pm
Prices:
You can either drop in for an hour at the hourly rate of £10, or you can become a member at the annual rate of £60 and £20 per month.
Directions:
Maghera is between Dundrum and Newcastle, between Newcastle and Castlewellan, and between clough and Castlewellan. all main ways into Maghera are marked on these roads. there is only one main street in Maghera, coming from the road between Castlewellan and Newcastle, the centre is on your left as you pass the 30mile an hour zone, coming from the clough to Castlewellan way, there will be a bar (the Maghera inn) in front of you where you need to decide where to go, turn right here and the centre is on your right just before the national speed limit mile, and coming from the Dundrum direction you pass the Maghera inn and the centre is on your right again just before the national speed limit
Life - One Great Adventure
The Grange Yard,
The Forest Park,
Castlewellan
BT31 9BU
T: 084 4770 5477
E: iwant@onegreatadventure.com
W: www.onegreatadventure.com
Bringing adventure to your life. Whether you're an individual or a group we can provide endless adventure both at our Mournes Centre and across the UK and Ireland. All of our existing activities and programme formats are tailored to meet with the exact needs of each client and we can design new formats as required. Our activities include rock climbing, mountain biking, canyoning, archery, sea kayaking and a lot more.
Opening Hours: Open every day of the year from 9:00 to 21:00.
Admission: Free parking; please call for the cost of activities.
Directions: Based in Castlewellan Forest Park, Castlewellan. Just off Castlewellan Main Street.
Predator Combat Games
Drumaness Park,
The Park House Inn,
Newcastle Road,
Drumaness,
Ballynahinch
BT24 8NF
Mailing Address:
7a Dundrinne Rise,
Castlewellan,
Co. Down,
BT31 9LY
T: 028 4377 0566
F: 028 4377 0566
M: 07825 169631
E: info@predatorcombat.com
W: www.predatorcombat.com
It is a combat games simulation activity. Using replica guns that shoot bb’s. It takes place in 20 acres of natural woodland. We can boast a village, fort, and tunnel system and missile site. We are the leader in the recreational sport of ‘air soft’. It is physically active, fun and exhilarating. It’s as close to the real thing as you will get. We are fully vetted, child protection trained, health and safety trained and first aid qualified.
Opening Times:
Open 7 days a week. We have a membership of over 250 regular players. To book go to the website and send through a booking form. A deposit of £5.00 per head needs to be paid within 2 weeks of the booking being made. Age limit is 12 yrs and over.
Price:
Full day Mon – Fri £30 per head (£5 less for half day), Full day Sat -Sun £35 per head (£5 less for half day), the prices above include full face mask, clothing, gun and 250 rounds of ammo. Extra ammo £3 for 1000 rounds or £10 for 5000 rounds
For dates and events, please check the website, call 0 28 4377 0566 or 07825 169631, or email info@predatorcombat.com.
Rock Pool
c/o Newcastle Centre
10-14 Central Promenade
Newcastle
BT33 0AA
T: 028 4372 5034
F: 028 4372 2805
E: newcastlecentre@downdc.gov.uk
Come along to the salt water Rock Pool and enjoy swimming lessons, lifesaving lessons, and public swimming in Newcastle's famous landmark pool.
Opening Hours: July & August 7 days a week.
Opening Times/Charges: Please call Newcastle Centre. Opening hours are subject to weather conditions and tide.
Directions: Drive down Main Street, Central Promenade, Newcastle. Rock Pool is situated on South Promenade, on left hand side.
SeafordeGardens and Tropical Butterfly House
Seaforde Demesne,
Seaforde,
BT30 8PG
T: 028 4481 1225
F: 028 4481 1370
E: plants@seafordegardens.com
W: www.seafordegardens.com
Hundreds of free flying tropical butterflies, also parrots, reptiles and insects. Beautiful gardens with many rare trees and shrubs. There is a maze
Opening Times:
Easter – End of September: Monday to Saturday: 10am – 5pm, Sunday 1pm – 6pm
Prices:
Contact 028 4481 1225 or check the website for prices
Directions:
On the A24 between Ballynahinch and Newcastle
Space Quest & Area 51 Restaurant
Unit 6,
Downpatrick Cineplex,
Owenbeg Ave,
Downpatrick
T: 028 4483 9069
W: www.spacequestdownpatrick.com
Space Quest is a game of wits and cunning in which you must do what you can to tag your opponents with your laser. Players don a specifically designed red or blue pack and enter a purpose built arena. With objects to hide behind, smoke to disappear into and lasers to dodge to get your heart pumping and guarantee you a great time whether you are a first time player or a seasoned Space Quest Champion. Minimum age of 6, no maximum age!
Prices:
£6.00 per game. £4.00 extra game.
Kids Parties Meal Deal Mon - Thurs £9.95, Fri - Sun £10.95.
Adult Meal Deal Mon - Thurs £13.95. Fri - Sun £14.95. (Includes 2 Games - Meal Deal & Drink)
Surfin' Dirt Mountain Boarding
Boarding Tracking
Tullyree Road
Bryansford
Newcastle
T: 07739 210119
E: info@surfindirt.co.uk
W: www.surfindirt.co.uk
Mountain Boarding is an existing sport that can be enjoyed by the whole family. Learn how at Irelands only Mountain Board Centre
Opening Hours:
Please check website for current information or contact Gary at the above number.
Prices:
3 Hour introductory session with training board and equipment hire £17.50.
Directions:
Tullyree Road links Bryansford and Kilcoo. Track is adjacent to Moneyscalp Forest
Tollymore Mountain Centre
Bryansford,
Newcastle
T: 0 28 4372 2158
F: 0 28 4372 6155
E: admin@tollymore.com
W: www.tollymore.com
Tollymore provides a range of leadership and development courses for groups and individuals from one day intro sessions to week long residential programmes. Tollymore Mountain Centre is the Sport Council for Northern Ireland's National Outdoor Training Centre and is also home to 'Hotrock', Northern Ireland's newest indoor climbing wall.
Opening Hours:
Everyday of the year except Christmas, 9:00 to 21:00.
Charges:
Varies depending on duration and type of course.
Directions:
Based on the Hillown Road, near Bryansford.
Tropicana
Newcastle Centre
10-14 Central Promenade
Newcastle
BT33 0AA
T: 0 28 4372 5034
F: 0 28 4372 2805
E: newcastlecentre@downdc.gov.uk
Zoom the flume in Newcastle's famous Tropicana complex at the foot of the Mournes. Experience the outdoor heated pools where you're sure to have fun with the whole family.
Opening Hours:
Daily throughout July/August; subject to weather conditions. Contact Tropicana for times.
Admission:
Contact Tropicana for further details.
Directions:
Come down main street onto Central Promenade, Tropicana is situated on left.
Tyrella Beach
c/o Delamont Country Park
Mullagh Killyleagh
T: 0 28 4482 8333
F: 0 28 4482 8333
E: delamont.park@downdc.gov.uk
W: www.delamontcountrypark.com
With its miles of sandy beach, sparkling clean water and walks through the dunes, Tyrella Beach and Dune Conservation Area is a firm favourite with holiday makers. Tyrella has been awarded the prestigious Blue Flag Award from 1997 and the Green Coast Award in 2008 (inaugural year) in recognition of high levels of beach cleanliness, safety, water quality and management. It has also been recommended by the Good Beach Guide as safe for bathing. Popular for beach sports outside of summer season. Beach Centre, gift shop, disabled access.
Opening Hours:
Open all year.
Admission:
Car £4, Motorcycles £2, Minibus £10 - £15, Coach £30.
Directions:
Tyrella Beach is situated on the A2 Killough to Clough Road, 11km from Downpatrick and 8km from Newcastle.
Accommodation
Accommodation Castlewellan
Accommodation Killyleagh
Accommodation Newcastle
Contacts
Downpatrick Tourist Information
The Saint Patrick Centre,
53a Market Street
Downpatrick, BT30 6LZ
T 0 28 4461 2233
F 0 28 4461 2350
E downpatrick.tic@downdc.gov.uk
Newcastle Tourist Information Centre
10-14 Central Promenade,
Newcastle, BT33 0AA
T 0 28 4372 2222
F 0 28 4372 2400
E newcastle.tic@downdc.gov.uk