Drumlougher Lough

The water here sits flat and still most days, ringed by bog and low hills that rise without drama. Drumlougher Lough isn't the sort of lake that stops you dead - no sudden cliffs, no mountain backdrop - but it's exactly the kind of place that grows on you the longer you sit there. Newry's close enough for a morning drive, maybe twenty minutes depending on traffic, and the lough itself is proper accessible for a walk round the shore or just standing about with binoculars if that's your thing.

It's a solid spot for birdwatchers, genuinely. The water attracts wildfowl and the surrounding bog supports the kind of life you won't find in manicured parks. Walkers get decent paths, nothing arduous, and the light changes dramatically across the afternoon if you've got time to kill. Families with young kids won't be here for hours - the appeal is contemplative rather than active - but it makes a cracking break from a busy holiday itinerary.

If you're staying at somewhere like Hilltop Hideaway just down the road, this is the sort of local escape that justifies renting a place with your own space. No entry fees that anyone's advertising, and you can visit whenever suits. Best visited when it's not raining horizontally, which in Northern Ireland does require some patience. The lough isn't a destination in itself, but it's the kind of unassuming corner that makes a difference to a week spent exploring the area around Newry.