Audleystown Wood

A proper woodland walk just outside Downpatrick, Audleystown Wood is the sort of place you'll stumble upon by accident and wonder why it's not rammed with people. The forest floor here is thick with moss and ferns, the kind of green that makes you remember why you came to Northern Ireland in the first place.

There's not much in the way of formal facilities or visitor infrastructure - it's genuinely just woodland you can walk through. That's rather the point. You'll find yourself on forest paths that wind between mature trees, occasional clearings where the light breaks through properly, and enough quiet to actually hear yourself think. Best done on foot, obviously. Allow a couple of hours if you're the type to meander and stop for photographs; forty minutes if you just want a brisk circuit.

Families with kids will get decent mileage here - there's enough to explore without it feeling like a proper hike, and the paths are manageable enough for most ages. History types won't find much to chew on, but walkers who appreciate simple woodland trails rather than marked tourist routes will find it worth the detour.

Its location between Downpatrick and the caravan parks at Castle Ward and Delamont makes it a natural addition to a longer park holiday in the area. Free to access, no entrance fee that we can find, and the kind of spot that rewards turning up without advance planning. Go when it's been dry - the ground can get boggy after rain and loses some of its appeal.