There is no doubt that there are plenty of beautiful places to visit in the UK. But there is one place that is often forgotten about, Northern Ireland.
The country has a troubled past, but it has came out the other side to be of the most welcoming countries in the world. People from Northern Ireland are considered some of the nicest (and sexist!*) people in the world.
If you look at a map of Northern Ireland, one of the most recognisable features is the Ards Peninsula. The Peninsula juts out into the Irish Sea and created a salt water lough for a variety of wildlife. The green countryside provides plenty of insta-perfect pictures and no filter is needed. But one of the best reasons to visit is the history.
Like I said, there has been trouble in the past, but if you go back further you will find a rich tapestry of legends and folklore.
Irish legends and stories can be found in the ruins of abbeys and castles. Vikings and Norman invasions have left their mark on the landscape and shaped the culture that is present today.
In North Down, there are plenty of abbeys to visit. But one of the more famous local landmarks is Scrabo Tower. The tower is the one of the newer landmarks which dominates the local skyline.
The most recent addition was built in 1875 as a memorial to Charles Steward, the 3rd Marquess of Londonderry. The walk to the tower can be direct and straight up the hill, or go through Killynether Forest Park. Today, you can climb the 122 steps to the top of the tower and take in the amazing views. From the top, you can see all across North Down. From this height, you can see everywhere that you would want to visit in the Ards area.
*Jamie Dornan aka Mr Gray is from my neck of the woods.
About The Author: Lindsay is mum to 2 kids and is pregnant with number 3 all while studying be a criminal psychologist. She can be found writing about a large range of subjects on her own blog Latte Lindsay or appearing on her youtube channel. However if you fancy a chat why not head over to Twitter.
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