Newtownards

The old railway bridge spans the water like a reminder of grander times. Newtownards sits at the head of Strangford Lough, where the landscape shifts from rolling countryside to tidal waters in the space of a few miles. This County Down market town has proper character - none of your sanitised tourist traps here.

Mount Stewart commands the southern approaches, its grand estate and Temple of the Winds offering cracking views across the lough. The National Trust property is well worth the visit, especially for the formal gardens that cascade down towards the water. Architecture buffs will appreciate the BCDR Railway Bridge and the old crane - relics from when this was a proper transport hub.

Stewart Hill and Dalzell's Hill provide excellent walking, though it's a bit of a trek to reach the summits. The countryside here rolls gently towards the Ards Peninsula, with archaeology scattered about like an open-air museum. Ring Ditch and The Moat tell older stories for those who know how to read the landscape.

Getting here couldn't be easier - the A20 runs straight through from Belfast, barely twenty minutes away. The town makes perfect sense as a base for exploring the wider Ards Peninsula and Strangford Lough area. Ards Brewing Company does decent pints if you fancy something local after a day's exploring.

Staying at one of the nearby parks puts you right in the heart of County Down's finest scenery. The lough stretches away southwards, dotted with islands and teeming with wildlife, while the Mournes rise on the horizon.