Lismahon Motte

A lumpy grass mound in the middle of nowhere might not sound thrilling, but Lismahon Motte is genuinely worth the detour if you're into medieval history. This is a proper Norman motte - that raised earthwork fortification type - dating back to the 12th century, and it sits alone in the countryside near Newcastle, commanding views across the surrounding farmland.

What you're looking at is the remains of what would have been a significant stronghold: a defensive earthwork crowned with wooden palisades and likely a wooden tower. The site tells the story of Norman expansion into Ulster, and there's something quite atmospheric about standing on top of it, imagining the strategic importance it once held. It's free to visit and takes maybe twenty minutes to have a proper look around, though walkers and history buffs will spend longer exploring the setting.

It's the sort of thing that works brilliantly if you're basing yourselves at one of the nearby caravan parks - Mourneview, Edgewater or Murlough Cottage are all within a few miles. Won't entertain kids for long on its own, but it makes a decent leg-stretcher between more substantial attractions in the Mourne area. The location near Newcastle also puts you close enough to the larger park facilities without feeling you're stuck in a tourist hotspot. Bring decent shoes; the ground can be boggy even when it doesn't look like it.