Cratlieve Mountain

The walk up Cratlieve Mountain rewards you with proper views across County Down, though it's not a long slog - you're looking at maybe an hour to the summit if you're not rushing. The mountain itself sits in open countryside between Lisburn and Castlereagh, close enough to Castlewellan that you could easily combine it with a visit to the castle and lake if you're spending time in the area.

It's a nature reserve, so you're walking through decent moorland and grassland rather than forest. The paths are straightforward enough for families with older kids, though younger ones might find the climb tedious. On a clear day you can see right across the valleys - genuinely worth the effort. On a grey Irish afternoon, less so, if I'm honest.

Walkers will get the most from this. It's not technical or particularly challenging, but it's the kind of place where you actually feel like you've walked somewhere, not just ambled around a visitor centre car park. There's no infrastructure to speak of - no café, no visitor facilities - which means you need to bring your own water and come properly dressed for the weather.

If you're camping at Slieve Croob just down the road, this makes an excellent morning walk before breakfast. Pine Tree Hollow and Escape Glamping are also close by, so it slots neatly into a few nights in the area. Free to access, open whenever you fancy it. Allow a couple of hours if you want to potter about at the top.