The Victorian seaside town of Bangor could be called Belfast-by-the-sea: it’s just 13 miles fromthe centre of the city, to the south of the Belfast Lough, and verywell-connected by commuter roads. It makes an ideal base to explore the capitalfrom, while also enjoying the scenic sea views that Bangor itself can add into the mix.
The name Bangor comes from an Irish word (Beannchar) thatmeans a horned or peaked curve: when you cast your eyes out along the coast ofthis pretty seaside town you will notice that the bay does indeed resemble thehorns of a bull.
Along Bangor Baythere has been much sympathetic redevelopment, including the opening of a hugemarina and seafront improvements that have led to Bangor being widely regarded as the most desirable place to live inNorthern Ireland.
Family fun in Bangor
For families there is, of course, the beach to relax on, themarina to take boat trips from and Pickie Family Fun Park to let off steam inwhilst enjoying the amusements, rides and steam train.
To the east of Bangor,Ballyholme Bay has a long sandy beach flanked by wide green spaces that are perfectfor children to play in.
Historic Bangor
The town bears all the hallmarks of a Victorian seasideresort but it also displays evidence of a longer history for those curious toexplore.
The museum in the grounds of the old castle in Castle Park holds the oldest surviving Irish manuscript amongst other historicalcuriosities.
The fishing village of Groomsport,which nestles on the eastern edge of town, has a picturesque harbour that is overlookedby a row of cottages, one of which has been restored to resemble how a typicalfisherman would have lived in times gone by.
Sporting Bangor
Bangor has a highreputation for sailing and regularly hosts world events as we4ll as being hometo prestigious clubs such as the Royal UlsterYacht Club and Ballyholme Yacht Club.
Keep your eyes peeled for local practitioners of parkour(that’s urban acrobatics to you and me) as the sport has taken hold in Bangor and you can often see localshurling themselves over walls and somersaulting down steps.
Around Bangor
A 30-minute drive on the A2 past Belfast will take you tothe historic village of Hillsboroughwhere charming tearooms and antique shops greet you. Behind the old fort youwill find a deciduous forest curving around a lake stocked with brown andrainbow trout that offers pleasant hour-long strolls around its circuit.
Strangford Loughis a short drive away on the A21 and offers a nature lover’s delight. Thisbeautiful, calm inlet is fringed in colourful brown and yellow tangle weed, andplays host to a wide diversity of bird life during the warmer months and vastflocks of geese during the winter. Rocking gently in its waters are boats andyachts, and the whole scene can be taken in on foot or bycarefully appointed viewing points for cars.
