Surroundings, Belfast

There are several different ways of getting to Lough Neagh, which with an area of 150sq.mi/388sq.km, is the largest lake in Northern Ireland (18mi/28km long, 11mi/18km wide and 39ft/12m at its deepest). Ten rivers flow into the lake which is well stocked with fish. There is no road running round the lough, nor even a good footpath, the lough shores being low and overgrown with vegetation.Each of the provinces of Northern Ireland have towns in the low lying region surrounding Lough Neagh.

Templepatrick is located between Antrim and Belfast on the A6.

Ballymena is the capital of the district of the same name in Northern Ireland. It is located just north of Antrim, in the Main River Valley, off the A26 that travels between the North Channel Coast and Antrim.

Ballymoney (pop. 5,750) lies in a primarily agricultural area. It is located off the main highway (A26) that travels north and south from Antrim to the A2 which travels east and west linking towns along the North Channel.

3 mi/5km outside Belfast to the east, at Stormont, stands the imposing Classical style building erected in 1928-32 to house the Northern Island Parliament. In front of it is a monument to Sir Edward Carson.

Beginning at St John's Point a superbly scenic road makes its way along what is surely the loveliest stretch of coast in Northern Ireland to Newry (39mi/62.5km), then on round the wide bay of Dundrum, large areas of which are exposed at low tide, to Newcastle.

Beyond Newcastle the road begins to ascend, with the sea on the left and the everchanging backdrop of the Mourne Mountains (the home of many rare plants) on the right. It passes through some quiet little fishing and farming villages including Glasdrumman and Annalong, from which Rocky Mountain, Slieve Bignian and a number of other peaks between 1700-2450ft/518-747m, can all be climbed.

On the north side of Carlingford Lough, surrounded by woodland (mainly oaks), is Rostrevor, a charming and peaceful little holiday resort (boating, ponytrekking, fishing, walking).Nearby is Kilbroney Park (open dawn-dusk) which offers pleasant riverside walks and an arboretum. The two-mile forest drive leads to a panoramic view of Carlingford Lough.

The open-air Ulster Folk and Transport Museum, in the spacious grounds of Cultra Manor about 7.5mi/12km north of Belfast, comprises a collection of 18th C. farmhouses, cottages and artisans' workshops painstakingly reconstructed brick by brick. There is also an indoor transport museum. A recently opened rail gallery is the largest of its kind in Ireland.Regular demonstrations and events.

The road from Kilkeel to Hilltown cuts through the Mourne Mountains, with steep gradients. Hilltown, in the shadow of the northwest side of the range, is a good base from which to climb and walk in the hills, richly colored with the changing hues of their granites and schists.

Annalong is a quiet little fishing and farming village, from which Rocky Mountain, Slieve Bignian and a number of other peaks between 1,700-2,450ft/518-747m, can be climbed.

Crumlin is located west of Befast near the shores of the Lough Neagh. The Crumlin WWII Airforce base is located here and you will find other sites that will be of interest to flyers.

Belfast International Airport is at Aldergrove, 15mi/24km to the northwest, from where buses run a shuttle service to the city center (Glengall Street/Great Victoria Street Bus Station, Oxford Street Bus Station).

Kilkeel is a favorite haunt of anglers, with good catches to be had not only from the sea and the River Kilkeel but also nearby Carlingford Lough. Around Kilkeel are a number of prehistoric chambered tombs.

Lisburn (pop. 42,110) is a market town located 8mi/13km southwest of Belfast on the Lagan.

Between Greencastle on the north side and Greenore on the south, Carlingford Lough cuts deep inland, with a road along either shore.

Hillsborough Fort was an artillery fort built in 1650 by Colonel Arthur Hill. Later it was remodeled for feasts and events.