Harry Ferguson

The Harry Ferguson exhibition sits in Lisburn, a short drive from Hillsborough, and tells the story of the man who invented the three-point linkage - the bit that made tractors actually useful instead of just machines that broke farmers' backs. Ferguson was a proper engineer, and the museum lays out his life from motorcycle racing through to farming innovation in a way that doesn't require you to be a petrolhead to find it engaging.

You'll see original tractors, diagrams, photographs, and bits of engineering kit that show how one person's obsession with solving a problem changed agriculture. The space isn't vast - allow a couple of hours if you're really interested, maybe ninety minutes if you're just passing through. It's free to get in, which is a bonus.

Families with kids who like machines will get something from it; history buffs interested in industrial innovation definitely will. Those expecting a theme park experience will find it a bit quiet. It's the kind of place that rewards genuine curiosity rather than casual browsing.

If you're basing yourselves at Lakeside View Caravan Park just down the road, this makes a solid rainy afternoon option. Slieve Croob Camping is a bit further out but gives you more scope for exploring the surrounding countryside - the exhibition works well as a cultural break between walks. Hillsborough itself is worth a wander for its castle and market square.