Where The Mountains Of Mourne Sweep Down To The Sea.... (Newcastle in genral)

Member Name: kiddyfarm

Product:	Newcastle in genral
Date:	30/08/01 (340 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: beautiful scenery, plenty to do

Disadvantages: traffic can be very hectis on a Sunday as the town has a one way system

Newcastle, County Down is my home town. I'm also pleased to say that it looks like a scene straight off of a picture postcard. Breath-taking scenery and the friendliest people you could hope to meet.

In general, Northern Ireland has a very bad press with non-residents. Granted, some areas of the country are certainly worth avoiding, however, it's easy to be so taken over by the bad press and to totally miss the essence of the country.

Imagine waking up in the morning and opening your bedroom curtains. The first thing I see every morning are the stunning Mountains of Mourne. Lush green hills sprinkled with vivid purple through the spring & summer seasons and topped beautifully with snow throughout most of the winter. These same mountains actually sweep right down into the sea. It's a sight that I never tire of gazing at.

Newcastle, though, is not just about beautiful scenery. According to tourist board figures, it is the most visited town in Ireland, and its not hard to see why.

We have a fabulous outdoor fun pool called the Tropicana. It consists of 2 separate pools, one for toddlers, the other for the more adventurous swimmer complete with a flume. This is the pool that is used mainly by tourists. There is another outdoor pool used mainly by us locals. It is known as the rock pool, as it is built into the rock of the harbour. It is a sea water poor, unheated, so it is usually cold enough to freeze the most unreachable body parts! My kids spend nearly every dry day of the holidays at the rock pool, and we all love it.

Newcastle also has several really well equipped play parks. Downs Road park is a supervised play area with an adventure playground, go-carts and swings. You can sign your kids in for an hour and go off for an hour without the little devils, knowing that they are left in safe hands. Castle Park is about the biggest of the parks with a boating pond, miniature golf, a 'slippery dip' slide as
well as all the other usual features of a play park.

All along the mane street are burger bars, pizza shops and ice-cream galore. Amusement arcades abound and there are plenty of good shops to buy just about anything you could ever need.

Go out of the otwn centre, and you could visit Tullymore Forrest Park. This is one of the most beautiful places that I have ever seen. It goes through the forrest at the foot of the Mourne Mountains, and is a fabulous place to go for a walk to get away from the bussle of the town.

Newcastle has many little guest houses and hotels. Two of the best hotles would have to be the Slieve Donard & the Burrendale. Both have beautiful bars and restaurants, swimming pools & gyms and really great rooms.

The beach in Newcastle in one of the best in County Down. The promenade leads directly to the Tropicana swimming pool, Newcastle Leisure centre, which offers a great gym as well as a venue for many of the plays put on locally. Every Sunday during the summer season, the promenade is also home to a free magic show and face painting for the kids.

Add to all of that one of the top 10 golf courses in the world (the royal county down) ,dozens of excellent pubs and night clubs and the harbour itself, Newcastle has something for everyone.

I feel very lucky to live in such a beautiful area. It has been oficially designated an area of outstanding natural beauty.

If any of you DooYooers are ever planning to visit Ireland, swing past Newcastle. You won't be disapointed.

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