Above: The Sand Cottage and Plum-Tree Cottage are self catering accommodation has wooden and tiled floors throughout.

Sand Cottage and Plum-Tree Cottage on Lurganconary Organic Farm are two luxury 5 Star holiday cottages in beautifully landscaped gardens surrounded by 100 acres of organic farmland, at the foot of the Mourne Mountains. Each cottage includes a spacious living room equipped with TV, DVD and music system; a fully equipped modern kitchen with dining area, including microwave and food processor and two spacious double bedrooms, sleeping 4 comfortably, in double or twin beds, with extra beds available to accommodate 6 guests in each cottage. The cottages are ideally placed for exploring the hidden marvels of the countryside and the picturesque South Down coast. These two outstanding, single storey holiday cottages have been elegantly restored to offer guests a unique blend of luxury and comfort. Facilities for both cottages include dryer, freezer, microwave, washing machine, dishwasher, and wood burning stove as well as central heating. En suite bathroom with shower and bath facilities and built-in TV in Bedrooms are provided for a more comfortable sleep. Telephone and internet access are available in case you cannot leave your important business related engagements behind. Complimentary wood for wood burning with Dovre stove and complimentary toiletries are available on arrival.  This self catering accommodation has wooden and tiled floors throughout.

Above: There are a lot of things to share with your family and friends when you go for a holiday vacation at The Seaside Cottage.

The Seaside Cottage is a Recently Refurbished charming self catering accommodation opposite mile long sandy beach on the edge of Ballywalter village which is located on the Ards peninsula an area of outstanding natural beauty. This self catering accommodation is a detached bungalow with 25ft lounge/dining area with open fire and double sofa bed (sleeps 2), pine country kitchen, family bedroom (sleeps 3), luxury wetroom shower room. This detached charming cottage provides excellent family accommodation (sleeping 2-9), with a high degree of privacy (secluded enclosed front garden/private rear courtyard ideal for BBQs kids, dog) and a wealth of excellent outdoor pursuits.  The character and charm afforded by this self catering accommodation with its pine stripped floors, beamed ceilings, reclaimed pine doors with stained glass inlays, pine clad ceilings and granite fireplace featuring an open fire make this property a delight to visit and enjoy all year round. The Seaside Cottage has a Norwegian log cabin situated in the rear private courtyard provides additional sleeping for up to 4 adults. There are a lot of things to share with your family and friends when you go for a holiday vacation at The Seaside Cottage.

Above: The Will’s Apartment has spacious open plan lounge, dining area and kitchen which can permit more freedom to move about during your stay at County Down.  Double doors leading to patio which are overlooking the sea are accessible for a more relaxing experience at The Will’s Apartment.

The Will’s Apartment is another self catering accommodation which can be an ideal location for a break from the hustle and bustle of the city life. The Will’s Apartment is an ideal place to recharge and unwind as well as to think about life. Local activities include around this self catering accommodation includes walking, golf, cycling, sailing and sea angling as well as tennis. The Will’s Apartment has 2 en suite double bedrooms. Private entrance, security phone, private parking can make your holiday vacation a stress free frolic. All amenities and facilities for a convenient stay at The Will’s Apartment are provided and these include Fully equipped kitchen with cooker, microwave oven, fridge, freezer, TV, video and DVD player as well as CD music system. Laundered linen, fluffy towels, toiliteries and welcome pack are all provided for the guests.  The Will’s Apartment has spacious open plan lounge, dining area and kitchen which can permit more freedom to move about during your stay at County Down. This self catering accommodation has private enclosed grounds with landscaped gardens, tennis courts, barbecue area, private-direct access to sandy beach. Double doors leading to patio which are overlooking the sea are accessible for a more relaxing experience at The Will’s Apartment. Groomsport shops, restaurants and bars are all accessible when you stay at this self catering accommodation.

Above: The Priest Bride Cottage is self catering accommodation has easy access to the attractions of nearby holiday town Newcastle and the coast.

Priest Bride Cottage is a self catering accommodation where in you can spend your holiday vacation at County Down. With extensive renovations and development the Priest Bride Cottage has been tastefully brought to 21st Century requirements, and provides an excellent base for a cozy rural retreat. This was originally a mill labourer’s cottage, has been extensively but sympathetically renovated and developed to modern standards, providing a cozy rural retreat right on the edge of Tollymore Forest Park.  Priest Bridge Cottage is located approx 1.5 km from Newcastle on the edge of Tollymore Forest Park with direct access to the Park. Upon entering the cottage you will find the first reception room, with large wood burning stove, giving the cottage an immediate homely appeal for all guests and travelers coming in and out of this self catering accommodation.  The original thick stone back wall of the property can be seen in the living room. Originally the terrace was built as six two room units with one room upstairs and one room downstairs. Inside the accommodation is surprisingly large. An open plan living and dining area with a fully fitted kitchen boasts sunroom area opening onto the patio area beyond, with BBQ and garden furniture for alfresco dining providing alternative areas for relaxation for all seasons. The terrace later became three dwellings as family requirements became more demanding. However the centre terrace was returned to it’s original twin dwelling some time later. This self catering accommodation has easy access to the attractions of nearby holiday town Newcastle and the coast.

Above: The Annie’s Cottage is self catering accommodation can provide an authentic atmosphere of bygone days with period features having been tastefully combined with a number of modern conveniences.

Annie’s Cottage, originating from the 18th Century, is based around the traditional Irish cottage kitchen where, in days gone by, all the family activities went on with the big turf burning hearth as the focal point. This cottage originates from the 18th Century when Rosevale Farm was the home of workers from the Sharman Crawford Estate of which it was then a part. The surrounding fields are currently grazed by rare Irish breeds. The cottage has been sympathetically restored to modern requirements yet looses none of its traditional charm. It is a self catering accommodation which has been completely refurbished. The Annie’s Cottage has an ideal location in a country setting. This self catering accommodation can provide an authentic atmosphere of bygone days with period features having been tastefully combined with a number of modern conveniences. So you need not to worry about going “primitive” since modern day facilities and amenities are used around the house to make your stay at County Down more convenient and comfortable. These facilities and amenities include the following tv, vcr, dvd, stereo, telephone, bathroom with bath and shower, living room with turf burning stove, electric cooker, microwave, fridge-freezer, dishwasher, washing machine & tumble dryer, iron and ironing board as well as oil fired central heating. This self catering accommodation has an open plan living and dining area and storage space for bicycles, golf clubs, fishing gear etc. For those travelers who are disabled, there is no need to worry since Annie’s Cottage wheelchair friendly. The area around Annie’s Cottage has Extensive gardens and peaceful with abundant wildlife, thus guests can spend a leisure afternoon checking out the best of what County Down can offer.

Above: The George’s cottage has a complete cozy ambience with traditional open fire has been carefully restored to keep a strong sense of the 350 years of history which George’s cottage has witnessed.

George’s cottage is a self catering accommodation which is situated in the ‘clachan’ of Hanna’s Close, a family settlement built in the mid 1600’s at the foot of the Mourne Mountains and a short distance from the fishing port of Kilkeel. It has been slightly modified for the convenience of disabled visitors, so there is no need to worry about wheelchair accessibility. This George’s cottage is a lovely and picturesque single storey cottage which can cater up to 4 persons conveniently. This self catering accommodation is a great base for families wishing to take advantage of the wide range of activities offered in the local area. This self catering accommodation is a well equipped cottage. It has a complete cozy ambience with traditional open fire has been carefully restored to keep a strong sense of the 350 years of history which George’s cottage has witnessed.

Above: The Johnny’s Cottage is a self catering accommodation which has a patio with beautiful views of Kilkeel River.  It has a large open fireplace for warm cozy nights.

The Johnny’s Cottage is a traditional cottage located in the heart of County Down at the foot of the Mourne Mountains. It is in a short distance from the fishing port of Kilkeel.  It is a self catering accommodation which has 3 bedrooms to sleep 5 persons. The Johnny’s Cottage has a living room which is located at the front of the house and looks out over the cottage’ private garden making it a perfect place for a private vacation at County Down. It has a patio with beautiful views of Kilkeel River.  It has a large open fireplace for warm cozy nights. This self catering accommodation has all the facilities and amenities for a comfortable stay as well as fully equipped kitchen featuring a Belfast sink and looks out over the river. This self catering accommodation is located near some of the most scenic places in County Down.If you come and visit County Down in spring guests at The Johnny’s Cottage will find the river banks a mass of native wildflowers, such as primrose and bluebells. The wooded river valley also has an extensive range of birdlife including herons, goldfinch and yellowhammer. There are a lot of exciting things to do around this quaint and scenic part of the Emerald Isle.

As typical of the dol- mens of Co. Down (Accommodation, Down, Ireland) the structure known as the Sliddery- ford dolmen at Newcastle may be mentioned. It is situated in a field close to the road from Dundrum to Newcastle, within 1 1/2 miles of Dundrum. The dolmen stands about 9 ft. high, and the granite cap-stone, which measures 8 ft. by 7 1/2 ft., is 3 1/2 ft. thick. A little distance from the dolmen is a large pillar stone measuring 11 ft. 3 in. in height from the ground. Another well-known Co. Down (Self Catering, Down, Ireland) dolmen is that of Legananny, which stands on the western slope of Boley Lough about 6 miles north- west of Castlewellan in the townland of Legananny. The cap-stone is a coffin-shaped granite slab, measuring ii ft. in length and 5 ft. in width at the broadest part; it is supported by 3 pillars. The Kempe Stone dolmen in the same county also deserves mention; it is not far from the village of Dundonald. The cap-stone is of large dimensions and covers a chamber formed of six large blocks. Human bones were discovered in 1830 on excavating the chamber, in which in 1897 Mr. Hugh Kirk of Newtownards discovered the fragment of a decorated food vessel of Bronze-Age date. Many of the dolmens arc in a ruined condition. The largest of the two monuments at Kilcloony deserves description. The; cap-stone measures 20 ft. long by 13 ft. broad, and is in places J ft. thick. It is supported by two pillars at the east end, each about 6 ft. in height, and slopes to the west, resting on a low slab which forms the end of the chamber. A smaller dolmen of similar construction lies some yards to the west of this. There is also a remarkable series of monuments in the townland of Finner, parish of Inishmacsaint, consisting of several dolmens, and a earn containing a dolmen-like chamber ; the earn has been ruined, and burnt human bones were discovered in the cist. A short distance from the earn were discovered a grave containing burnt bones, and an urn ; close by are traces of two stone circles.

In the town of Newtownards are the ruins of the once famous monastery of Movilla. The extant remains consist merely of the gables, and portions of the side walls of the ancient church, into which arc built an interesting series of Anglo-Norman slabs. They are of the usual type with a floriated cross; some bear a sword showing them to be monuments of knights, others bear shears for a lady. There is one slab with an Irish inscription to Dertriu, who is supposed to have been Abbot of Movilla in the tenth century. The ruins of the church at present to be seen probably belong to the fifteenth century. The original foundation is reputed to date from about a.d. 550, the monastery having been founded by St Finnian for Augustinian Canons.

Land Area: 2,448 km

County Town: Downpatrick

Population: 454,000 (estimate)

Province: Ulster