Pump Tower

The Pump Tower rises from the landscape near Antrim like a Victorian punctuation mark - a squat, sturdy brick structure that once kept water flowing to the town below. Built in the 19th century, it's a proper bit of industrial heritage that doesn't shout for attention but rewards a closer look. The tower itself is modest but tells you everything about how Victorians approached infrastructure: no frills, solid engineering, the job done right.

You won't spend hours here - it's the sort of place you walk round in ten minutes, peer at the brickwork, read the information board if there is one, and move on. But it's well worth the detour if you're passing through or staying at one of the caravan parks nearby. Six Mile Water Caravan Park is just half a mile away, and Blair's Castlewood Holiday Park even closer, so it slots perfectly into a morning wander before breakfast or after supper.

Historically minded visitors will get the most from it - the tower represents the Victorian obsession with water systems and municipal improvement. Kids might find it a bit dull unless you can spin them a tale about what it did. What makes it genuinely interesting is context: standing there, you're looking at the bones of how a town actually functioned, not just its fancy high street. Antrim has some pleasant riverside walks nearby, so combine this with those and you've got a decent afternoon sorted.