Clonallon Park

The walk down to Clonallon cuts through proper woodland before opening out onto the Newry Canal - and that's where things get interesting. It's a nature reserve that doesn't shout about itself, which is exactly why it works. You'll spot kingfishers if you're patient, along with herons picking their way through the shallows. The paths are well-maintained, flat enough for pushchairs though muddy after rain, and the whole loop takes about forty minutes at a leisurely pace.

It's worth knowing this is a quiet spot, especially midweek. You won't find ice cream vans or facilities, but that's the appeal - families wanting their kids to actually notice birds and insects rather than just run past them will get far more from Clonallon than from a busier nature centre. Serious birdwatchers come here. Photographers too, hunting that golden hour light across the water.

Newry's just a couple of miles away if you need a café or a loo beforehand. If you're staying at Kilbroney Caravan Park nearby, this makes a cracking morning before heading off elsewhere - close enough that it's no palaver to squeeze in, but interesting enough you won't feel like you've wasted the journey. Spring and early summer are peak for wildlife spotting, though autumn brings migratory birds worth the trip alone.