Many of us look up ‘things to do near me’ when holidays and weekends are coming up. This article provides information about 19 top visitor attractions you can visit in Omagh, Antrim, Belfast, Markethill, Bushmills, Magherafelt, Belfast, Castlewellan, Newtownards, Hillsborough, Newry, Plumbridge and Claudy. For a list of what these attractions are and where exactly you can find them, see the end of this article. First though, here is some background to these top 19 places to visit.
It starts with DAERA, which has a small team in its Rural Affairs Division, delivering vital work in the field of rural tourism. Northern Ireland relies heavily on the tourism industry, employing approximately 65,000 people, accounting for one in every 12 jobs across Northern Ireland. DAERA’s Rural Tourism Scheme, part of the Department’s Rural Development Programme, was delivered in partnership with local councils and had a focus on creating unique and innovative visitor attractions throughout Northern Ireland. The scheme, which completed in March 2023, invested in natural and built heritage visitor attractions that act as a key driver for encouraging tourism whilst preserving the built and natural assets of our rural regions.
The Rural Tourism Scheme funded 19 projects delivering wonderful new attractions, located across Northern Ireland. Many of these have transformed tourism in our rural communities, offering visitors, both domestic and international, a range of quality attractions which embrace the built and natural assets of our rural areas.
This investment has also acted as a catalyst for increasing economic activity in our rural communities. We have seen new businesses created and existing businesses grow, even in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic and the current cost of living crisis.
Two of the projects funded through the scheme include Magheracross Viewpoint situated between Portrush and Bushmills and OM Dark Sky Observatory outside Cookstown.
The redeveloped site at Magheracross consists of two viewpoints, one looking towards White Rocks beach on the north coast and the other overlooking Dunluce Castle. The funding was also used for a new car park, increased accessibility, coach parking, new picnicking furniture, sympathetic landscaping as well as two vendor spaces.
The viewpoint is an important trail head for the Causeway Coast Way, a walking trail stretching to Ballycastle and passing through some of Northern Ireland’s most impressive tourist attractions, such as the Giants Causeway and Carrick-a-rede rope bridge, bringing visitors to towns and villages nestled in this Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
OM Dark Sky Observatory lies within Davagh Forest in the heart of the Sperrin’s and is the only one of its kind in Northern Ireland. It is one of two international Dark Sky Parks on the island of Ireland and is one of only 85 places around the world to hold this distinction.
Funding provided through the Rural Tourism Scheme has meant that the centre is now fully completed with a dark sky observatory on the upper level which can be used as a viewing gallery during the day. The centre piece is the new LX600 “Meade” telescope allowing for stunning images from our night sky to be projected on to large screens around the centre’s exhibition space.
This project has featured in Tourism NI’s “Embrace a Giant Spirit” campaign which launched at the World Travel Market in London in 2019. The site has already attracted much attention and has teamed up with Sperrin Glamping Village to offer the “Stars and Stones” experience, allowing access to the solar walk and observatory at night as well as viewing the night sky from your own glass ceiling glamping pod.
With the summer holidays kicking off, thanks to the continued investment in rural tourism, Northern Ireland has lots of experiences out there to enjoy over the coming months.
Both projects mentioned above are just a glimpse of what is on offer within our rural communities.
Below is a table of the 19 top visitor attractions, what they are and where you can find them:
| Link to Visitor Attraction | Address and Postcode |
|---|---|
| International Dark Sky Park | OM Dark Sky Park and Observatory |
OM Dark Sky Park and Observatory, 155 Davagh Rd, |
| Lough Neagh Gateway Centre | Antrim Lough Shore Park, Lough Rd, Antrim, T41 4DG |
| Trackman Driving Range - Colin Glen | Interactive Golf Driving Range, 115 Blacks Rd, Belfast, T10 0NF |
| OM Dark Sky Park and Observatory | International Dark Sky Park |
OM Dark Sky Park and Observatory, 155 Davagh Rd, |
| Play adventure trail at Gosford - Issuu | Colin Glen Alpine Toboggan, Markethill, Armagh, BT60 1GD |
| Black Bull Run – Colin Glen | 115 Blacks Rd, Belfast, BT10 0NF |
| Landscape Experience - OM Dark Sky Park and Observatory | OM Solar Walk, 155 Davagh Rd, Omagh, BT79 8JQ |
| Magheracross View Point – Bushmills – Causeway Coast & Glens (visitcausewaycoastandglens.com) | Magheracross View Point, Dunluce Rd, Bushmills, BT56 8NB |
| Seamus Heaney HomePlace | Co. Derry | Northern Ireland | 45 Main St, Bellaghy, Magherafelt, BT45 8HT |
| Ziplines – Colin Glen | 115 Blacks Rd, Belfast, BT10 0NF |
| Castlewellan Forest Park – Visit Mourne Mountains | Forest Park, Castlewellan, Castlewellan BT31 9BU |
| Ballycopeland | Windmill | Northern Ireland (ballycopelandwindmill.com) | Windmill Rd, Millisle, Newtownards, BT22 2DS |
| Official launch of this trail is expected in August 2023, so a web link will be published here as soon as it becomes available. In the meantime you can find some information here: Things To Do - Hillsborough Forest | visitlisburncastlereagh.com |
Hillsborough Forest Sculpture Trail, Hillsborough, BT26 6DP |
| Slieve Gullion Forest Park, Adventure Playpark and Fionn's Giant Adventure - Killeavy - Discover Northern Ireland | Slieve Gullion Amphitheatre, 89 Drumintee Rd, Meigh, Newry, BT35 8SW |
| Ballyronan Marina & Caravan Park - Magherafelt - Discover Northern Ireland | 135 Shore Rd, Ballyronan, Magherafelt, BT45 6JA |
| Official launch of this trail is expected on 4th July 2023, so a web link will be published here as soon as it becomes available. | Sperrins Sculpture Trail, Derry & Strabane, 274 Glenelly Road, Plumbridge, BT79 8LS |
| Official launch of this trail is expected on 4th July 2023, so a web link will be published here as soon as it becomes available. | Sperrins Sculpture Trail, Mid Ulster, Davagh Forest, Davagh Rd, Omagh, BT79 8JH |
| Official launch of this trail is expected on 4th July 2023, so a web link will be published here as soon as it becomes available. | Sperrins Sculpture Trail - Fermanagh & Omagh, Mullaghcarn Summit Area, Glenpark Rd, Omagh, BT79 8SU |
| Official launch of this trail is expected on 4th July 2023, so a web link will be published here as soon as it becomes available. | Faughan Valley - The Ancients Sculpture Trail, 268 Glenshane Rd, Claudy, BT47 3SN |
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