In Ireland, a “banger” is something very impressive or great- the harbour town of “Bangor” in Northern Ireland has a very similar spelling. Is the town a “banger”? Read on…
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Intro
Bangor is a town with just over 20000 inhabitants in Northern Ireland. It is located just a short distance east of Belfast, right by the sea.
That’s where it has to be, because Bangor is a harbour town after all. Its beautiful location also makes it a holiday destination and a weekend getaway for the people of Belfast.
In addition to a beautiful harbour, you will also find many beautiful old buildings, two golf courses with sea views and a beautiful castle. And yet the town is still small enough to be cosy and charming. What you can do in Bangor, we’ll get to that now…
Sightseeing
Bangor Castle: 19th century manor house. The surrounding gardens and parks and the Walled Garden are open to visitors all year round. https://www.visitardsandnorthdown.com/things-to-do/bangor-castle-city-hall-p676451.
The North Down Museum provides information about the history of the region since the Bronze Age and is located next to the castle. See: https://andculture.org.uk/visit-us/north-down-museum
Scrabo Tower: In Newtownards, south of Bangor. Great old lookout tower on a hill overlooking Strangford Lough. See: https://www.visitardsandnorthdown.com/things-to-do/scrabo-tower-p675451.
Helen’s Tower: Very pretty historic tower with a great interior, in the middle of the forest of an estate south of Bangor. See: https://irishlandmark.com/properties/helens-tower/.
Mount Stewart Estate: Superb manor house with beautiful parks and gardens on the shores of Strangford Lough. See my article: https://irland-insider.de/mount-stewart-house-and-gardens-einfach-wundervoll/.
The Queen’s Paradepromenade at Bangor harbour can also be seen as a tourist attraction, as it used to be a seaside resort.
Music and Culture
Open House Festival: Music and events of all kinds, as well as funfairs in the harbour, can be found at this summer festival in Bangor – if you happen to be there. See: https://www.openhousefestival.com.
The Court House: Live music and events in a beautiful, historic building in Bangor. See: https://courthousebangor.com
Live music in the pub: For example here: http://www.thegoatstoe.co.uk, or: https://www.jennywattsbangor.com, or: https://www.hophousebangor.com.
Food and Drink
Esplanade Bangor: Beautiful seaside restaurant in the north-east of Bangor. See: https://esplanadebangor.com.
The Nines: Enjoy fine dining with sea views right on the harbour. See: https://theninesbangor.co
Guillemot Kitchen Café: Kitchen, deli, café and picnic packages right on the harbour. See: https://www.theguillemot.com.
The Rabbit Rooms: Experience modern Irish cuisine in a historic setting. See: http://www.therabbitrooms.com.
Bangor Market: Discover local produce and specialities at this weekly market. See: https://discovernorthernireland.com/things-to-do/bangor-weekly-market-p701461
Red Berry Coffee Company: Nice café right on the harbour. See: http://www.redberrycoffee.com.
Tours and Outdoor Activities
Bangor Ghost Walk: The Bangor Historical Society regularly organises a spooky guided ghost walk through the town. See: https://www.bangorhistoricalsociety.org/event/ghostly-bangor-walking-tours-2/2024-10-03/.
Bangor History Walking Tours: And the historical society also organises guided history walks – see: https://www.bangorhistoricalsociety.org/tours/.
Strangford Lough Boat Tour: Explore the beauty of this almost enclosed lough on a brisk boat trip (south of Bangor). See: https://strangfordloughactivitycentre.com/outdoor-activities/boat-tours/.
North Down Coastal Path: Walk along the picturesque coastline from Holywood via Bangor to Orlock – or part of it. Flat walking along the coast. See: https://www.visitardsandnorthdown.com/things-to-do/north-down-coastal-path-p673551.
Golf with a sea view – you can find it near Bangor here: https://www.carnaleagolfclub.co.uk, or here: https://www.helensbaygc.com.
Ballyholme Beach: This is the ‘home beach’ of Bangor – for walking or swimming.
More Activities
Ulster Folk Museum: Discover life in old Ulster (towards Belfast). See: https://www.ulsterfolkmuseum.org.
Explore the highlights of Belfast, see my article: https://irland-insider.de/die-stadt-belfast-sehenswuerdigkeiten-und-aktivitaeten/.
Conclusion
If you’re ever in Belfast, it’s worth taking a little detour along the coast to Bangor. The coast is beautiful and the small town is also very pretty,
You can make a wonderful day trip here, or even stay overnight if Belfast is too big and noisy for you.
You’ll definitely get that holiday feeling here at the harbour. Have fun in Bangor!
More interesting articles for you
Antrim – things to see and do
Castle Ward and Winterfell Castle
Belfast and the big ships
The wonderful Mount Stewart House and Gardens
Picture credits cover picture: Bangor seafront (photo: Jason on Google Maps)
