Places of interest

There are many too many places of interest with in the vacinity of the Old Schoolhouse for us to detail them. We have listed below some examples.

Strangford Lough

The Old Schoolhouse Inn is situated on the shores of Strangford Lough which is designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and also Northern Ireland's first Marine Nature Reserve, one of three in the whole of the United Kingdom. It's other national , european and international designations include: Special Area of Conservation, Special Protection Area, Areas of Special Scientific Interest and Ramsar site.

The largest sea inlet in the British Isles, it is one of the richest places for maritime wildlife in Europe. A large breeding ground for gray and common seals they are often seen hauled out on the rocks around the shores of the Lough. more details>>

Castle Espie Wildfowl and Wetlands Centre

Two minutes from the Schoolhouse this centre houses the largest collection of wildfowl in Ireland, many tame and rare birds will feed from your hand and many others can be seen form the bird views.

WWT Castle Espie holds the largest collection of ducks, geese and swans in Ireland.
Set on the shores of the beautiful Strangford Lough, the centre is famous for its wintering waders and wildfowl, including thousands of Brent Geese.
Limestone outcrops led to quarrying and other associated industries in the last century and the ponds, lakes and ancient limekilns on the site add facets of our industrial heritage to the wonders of Castle Espie's natural beauty.

Castle Espie covers nearly 60 acres, with a network of paths winding around ponds, lakes and hides and through woodland. Brand new extensions include a boardwalk meandering through wild swampland and a sustainable garden exhibit, with showcase reedbed sewage treatment system.

Castle Espie is proud of its gift shop specializing in local crafts and gifts. The Taste of Ulster coffee shop is situated in the wildlife art gallery, which exhibits a fine collection of painting by the renowned artist, Julian Friers. The gallery is available for function hire for special occasions, including corporate events. For young visitors, there is a great playground in the picnic site and, of course , by arrangement we can lay on a special pond room party.

Nendrum Monastery more details>>

Five minutes drive from the hotel is the finest example of an early monastery in Northern Ireland.

On Mahee Island, reached by twisting lanes and a causeway off the A22 (Killinchy Road) south of Comber, Nendrum is the best example in Northern Ireland of a pre-Norman monastic enclosure with buildings. It was associated with St Mochaoi in the 5th century until a fire in 976AD, perhaps during a Viking raid, destroyed the site. In the 12th century a Benedictine monastic cell was founded only to be abandoned in the 15th century. The site was excavated in the 1920's, the finds being displayed at the Ulster Museum. The site has now been restored so that the groupings of buildings can be seen. There is a small car park on the site. The site is open all year, admission free. A small visitors' centre is open adjacent to the site. more details>>

Mahee Island Golf Club

A 9 hole parkland course, set on and island with magnificent 360 degree views over Strangford Lough and its many islands. The course is maintained to a high standard with beautiful greens and fairways. The first professional of the course was the late Fred Daly, the only Irishman ever to win the British Open Championship and match play Championship. Two trees still stand on the first fairway where Fred practised his short game by chipping into a hole in one of them. It is an excellent test of golf and best professional score in a number of Pro-Ams is 65.

Scrabo Country Park, Newtonards more details>>

Scrabo Tower standing on the hill above the town of Ards was built in 1857 as a memorial to the third Marquis of Londonderry for his kindness to the people during the potato famine. The basalt topped sandstone hill at Scrabo is one of the dominant features of North Down. The Tower now stands tall in the Country park with its woodland walks and parkland through Killynether Wood. The view from the hill and the summit of the tower are breathtaking, across Strangford Lough, scattered with its many islands, to the Mountains of Mourne and the Scottish coast. The Tower houses two floors of displays and a climb of 122 steps takes the visitor to the open viewing level. Scrabo Country Park is always open, admission to the park and the tower is free.

Tower Opening Hours : June - Sept - Daily (ex Fri) 11:00am - 6:30pm more details>>

The Somme Heritage Centre, Newtownards

The Somme Heritage Centre is The Somme Association's flagship project. Situated adjacent to the Clandeboye Estate outside Newtownards, the Centre is a unique visitor attraction of international significance showing the awful reality of the Great War, and its effects on the community at home.
The centre commemorates the involvement of the 36th (Ulster) and 16th (Irish) Divisions in the Battle of the Somme, the 10th (Irish) Division in Gallipoli, Salonika and Palestine and provides displays and information on the entire Irish contribution to the First World War. The centre promotes cross-community contact, mutual understanding, an appreciation of cultural diversity, and is a major visitor attraction.

The Centre is built on ground kindly provided by Ards Borough Council in what is to be the Whitespots Country Park. It is linked to Helen's Tower on the Clandeboye Estate via the Ulster Way. Historically, the 36th (Ulster) Division trained over the Estate during the first few months of the war and German Prisoners of War were interned there. A replica of Helen's Tower was built on the Somme battlefield as Northern Ireland’s national war memorial.

Attractions include: Multi-media recreation of the battle. Experience 'The Somme'. Displays and exhibits. Walk-through British trenches. Hear veterans of the Battle recount their experiences. ‘Hands-on’ activity area - see the trench rations...try on the uniform worn by soldiers during the First World War Computer database - Did a relative die in the Great War? Souvenir shop.