Newcastle is a charming seaside resort perched on the Irish Sea, where sandy beaches meet dramatic mountain scenery. Offering easy access to the dramatic landscapes of County Down, it’s also home to some of the most beautiful golf courses in the world.

Things to do

On a sunny day, it's hard to resist the call of the eight-kilometre-long Newcastle Beach. It is fringed with golden sand and offers an ideal spot for swimming, sunbathing or building sandcastles. Just a few steps inland you'll find fish and chip shops, ice cream parlours and colourful souvenir stalls.

Newcastle sits at the foot of Slieve Donard, one of Northern Ireland's famous Mourne Mountains. Scenic walking trails wind through the range and will take you past ancient stone walls, granite boulders, dense woodlands and windswept moorlands.

Built by an Anglo-Norman knight in the 1100s, Dundrum Castle is considered one of Northern Ireland's finest strongholds. It's set high on a hillside and commands sweeping views of the Irish Sea and the Mourne Mountains.

Golfers can tee off at the Royal County Down Golf Club, home to two 18-hole courses, each with its own unique challenges. Set in the Murlough Nature Reserve, the Championship Course is often crowned one of the most beautiful courses on the planet. Annesley Links is shorter and treats players to knockout mountain views.

Getting around

Newcastle is best explored on foot, while a rental car lets you explore County Down at your own pace. Belfast Airport is 45 minutes from Newcastle.