Temple of the Winds

Perched on a hillside above Mount Stewart near Newtownards, this octagonal folly cuts an oddly romantic figure against the County Down sky. Built in the 1780s as a banqueting house - though I'd wager precious little banqueting happened here - it's the sort of structure that makes you wonder what the original owners were thinking. Step inside and you're met with simple stone walls and a spiral staircase that winds up to a viewing platform offering proper views across Strangford Lough and out towards the Mourne Mountains on a clear day.

It's a brief stop rather than a destination in itself. History buffs will find the folly concept interesting enough, but you're really here for the vantage point and the walk up through the Mount Stewart grounds. The effort involved - it's not a gentle stroll - means families with young children might find the payoff modest. Allow twenty minutes to climb, explore, and descend.

Freely accessible as part of the Mount Stewart estate (National Trust), which is genuinely worth half a day if you're staying at Sandycove or Dunroamin caravan parks nearby. Time it right and you can visit the temple at the end of an afternoon, catch the light on the lough, then wander back through the formal gardens as the crowds thin out. Winter visits are less busy, though the weather's less forgiving. Don't expect to linger long once you're up there - the wind at that elevation lives up to the name.