Gosford Dear

The red dear at Gosford Forest Park is a must see as they are a majestic animal.

The castle at Gosford has been renovated into private living quarters but you can still walk around the area and there are plenty of trails around the park with some amazing features, such as Dean Swifts Well and a couple of forts.

Pearlanda Park walks

One of the paths in Pearlanda Park which is a brilliant place to go if you love walking. 

 During the summer there is a miniature railway which plenty of kids enjoy and there are also loads of great information boards dotted all around the park.

Strangford Lough inlet

On a little inlet on the south side of Strangford lough near Whiterock is a beautiful little set of cottages. 

 This area is so gorgeous and it makes you feel like you are miles away from anyway when you are actually only about two miles from the main road, which runs parallel to the lough between Comber and Killyleagh.

If you would like to travel along this route the best place to start is at Comber, then take the main road towards Killyleagh and Downpatrick.  About half a mile along this road past the roundabout there will be a turn off on the left and it will have a sign post for Castle Espie, which is owned by the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust.  The centre has a art gallery, cafe and you came also see the birds which migrate to Northern Ireland during the winter.  Then following the signs for the bike trail continue taking most of the left turns along the route until you come back to the main road again.  

The journey usually takes about thirty mins continuously however there are plenty of stops with information posts along the and be sure to bring your camera as you will guaranteed great photo oppurtunities throughout the trip.

Moneypenny's Lockgates and Keeper's House on the Newry Canal

Moneypenny's lockgates and lock keepers house situated on the Newry Canal about 2 miles south of Portadown.

The Newry Canal was dug by thousands of men during a ten year period in the eighteenth century and was last used in the early 1920s.  Today you can walk along the length of the towpath from Portadown to Newry and many people travel to Newry on the train with their bikes so they can cycle up to Portadown, due to the flatness of the path.

The house and stable both house a small, but well informed museum about the canal and the local area.

A lovely place to stop on the way is Scarva Tea Rooms where you can have a cup of tea or coffee and a sandwich, soup, traybake or something from their slimmers menu.  

Also a real treat is their own Gelato, or Italian style Ice Cream, which is made in their Portadown premises.  You can choose from over fifty flavours and at least fifteen of which are on offer at any given time and you can also order an ice cream cake for special occasions.

Through the Trees

Clare Glen is a beautiful woodland walk about a mile in length along the Cusher River near Tandragee in County Armagh, Northern Ireland.  I love it and I have been walking through it since I was little.  

This photo shows a different view to what people usually see.  When we walk we mostly look down at the path or slightly ahead of us, but we very rarely look above us and this photo shows us what we miss.

Swan at Hillsborough

A beautiful day at Hillsborough Forest Park near Belfast, Northern Ireland and the swan was swimming gracefully in the lake.