Downpatrick: Discover Culture, History and Trails

Downpatrick combines the history of Saint Patrick, a diverse cultural offering and marked trails with the landscape of the Lecale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Anyone looking for a holiday apartment in Downpatrick will find a place where museum visits, historical discoveries and walks can be combined to create different kinds of travel days. When choosing your accommodation, the main consideration is whether you would like to focus on culture, trails or a mixture of both.

Cultural history with many distinct themes

Down County Museum is housed in the historic buildings of the County Gaol of Down, dating from the 18th century. It presents permanent exhibitions and changing special exhibitions featuring objects from its diverse collections. General admission is free; however, a charge is made for some special events and guided tours. This makes the museum a clear option for a cultural day, whose itinerary you can combine with further sightseeing.

The Saint Patrick Centre focuses on Ireland’s patron saint. It houses the world’s only permanent exhibition about Saint Patrick. In addition, the Centre presents a five-part screen presentation about his history, lasting 20 minutes. Down Cathedral stands on the site of a Benedictine monastery established in 1183. Guided tours are available by prior arrangement.

The more contemporary cultural offerings also have their place: Down Arts Centre has a gallery with monthly changing exhibitions of photography, ceramics and other areas of visual art. The Down Arts Service offers theatre, music, workshops, exhibitions and learning opportunities throughout the year. This allows you to choose between historical themes and changing cultural formats when planning your trip.

Historic railway and trails

The railway museum in Downpatrick displays relics relating to the history of the Irish railways as well as artefacts from the Belfast & County Down Railway. The Downpatrick and County Down Railway operates historic trains to Inch Abbey and back. From its Inch Abbey station, the abbey ruins can be reached via an easy five-minute walk. This excursion combines a train journey with a subsequent short walk to a historic site.

Anyone wishing to explore Downpatrick on foot can use the Historic Walking Tour of Downpatrick as a self-guided walk. For longer hiking plans, Saint Patrick’s Way is an option: the signposted route is 82 miles long, runs between Armagh and Downpatrick, and ends in Downpatrick at Patrick’s grave. Struell Wells is also located nearby, a pre-Christian site to which pilgrims have travelled for centuries to St Patrick’s Well.

Choosing accommodation according to your preferred travel style

If you would like to rent a holiday apartment in Downpatrick, consider in advance how much of your trip you want culture and activity to occupy. For a focus on history, options include Down County Museum, the Saint Patrick Centre, Down Cathedral and the railway museum. Anyone who prefers to create varied days can combine these themes with the historic walking tour, the journey to Inch Abbey or a section of Saint Patrick’s Way.

The Downpatrick Visitor Information Centre provides high-quality literature and information for visitors. This gives you additional guidance for your choices once you are there. A holiday apartment in Downpatrick can be particularly appealing if you do not want to visit just one attraction, but instead include several different experiences relating to history, culture and trails in your travel plans.

Further places for planning your trip

For further destinations, you can also explore Dromore, Killough, Newcastle, Dundrum, Ballynahinch, Ardglass, Crossgar and Banbridge.

To the higher-level travel overview: Down.