GO IRELAND:Hollywood is associated with stars of the screen but Holywood's big shot is now a green star. The Co Down town is a good place to explore from, writes SHIRLEY LANIGAN
HOLLYWOOD IS always in the news. This week however, the Holywood big shot is not a screen star but a green star – the wonderful Rory McIllroy. And Holywood, Co Down, his home town is rightly proud of its famous son. Within hours of his win at the US Open last Sunday night, even the town’s Wikipedia site was updated with news of the victory.
The town is a busy spot built on a series of hills, like its famous namesake. There are cafes and restaurants and small shops, making it a good place to spend the evening after a day out and about.
Another claim to fame is that it is home to the only working Maypole on the island. I passed this strange object several times, wondering what a tall ships’ mast was doing in the middle of the town before a local put me right.
Holywood is minutes from Belfast and a good base for forays into the city. But it is also a perfect hub for a more relaxed, exploring holiday on the Ards Peninsula, taking in walks, gardens, historical sites and perhaps even a round of golf.
Golf
What golfer wouldn’t want to take a turn about the course that McIllroy grew up playing on? There will be a perfect opportunity to play the Holywood Golf Club on August 19th when the Rory McIllroy Classic will be held (non-member entry £20) and the prizes will be presented by McIllroy himself.
Holywood Golf Club, Nuns Walk, Demesne Road, Holywood, Co Down, tel: 048-90423135.
Gardens
While golfers dream of victory at the Masters, there are more than enough things to keep golfing widows, orphans and widowers happy. McIllroy aside, Mount Stewart is the Ards Peninsula’s most famous attraction.
This World Heritage Site garden has been luring visitors from all over the world for decades. It is the jewel in the crown of Northern Ireland’s open gardens, a place full of iconic features including the Shamrock and Red Hand Gardens.
Mount Stewart House can also be visited. Check the website for news of garden fairs, jazz concerts and other events.
Portaferry Road, Newtownards, Co Down, tel: 048-42788387/42788487. May-September 10am-8pm; October, 10am-6pm. Admission to garden and house: Adults £7.80, children £3.90, family £19.30.
Gardens and history
In the Middle Ages, abbeys and monasteries created many of the most important gardens in Europe. The monks ran orchards, kitchen gardens and medicinal or physic gardens for themselves and their visitors.
Historical records and archaeological information about mediaeval physic gardens were called on to help in the recreation of the Grey Abbey Physic Garden in the grounds of a ruined Cistercian abbey in the village of Greyabbey.
Each bed houses a single herb and is fenced in by woven wicker hurdles. A small information centre describes the medicinal uses of each herb. I particularly noted that mugwort wards off evil, and rue can be used against witches and the plague. But betony must take a bow as it can cure 47 diseases.
Church Street, Greyabbey, Newtownards, Co Down, tel: 048-91811491. Admission free. Tuesday-Saturday, 10am-7pm, Sunday, 2pm-6pm.
History
The Ulster Folk and Transport Museum comprises an extensive series of reconstructions of country life in the 19th century. It includes whole transplanted villages, single houses and a range of recreations of historic rural life. Detailed domestic interiors show how life was lived and the fascinated horror on the faces of children poring over the wherewithal of making butter from scratch is always going to be fun. The collections held in the museum include Victorian costumes, wedding dresses, children’s clothes, hats and shoes, accessories, lace, patchwork quilting and linen.
The transport museum has steam engines, carriages, electric trams and vintage cars. There is even a Titanic exhibition telling the story of the ship and the people who made her.
153 Bangor Road, Holywood, tel: 048-90428428. Admission to museums: adults £8, children £4.50, family £21.50.
Nature
Crawfordsburn County Park is that blessed thing, a free amenity. Take your pick from a number of beach, woodland, meadow and riverside walks strung along the edge of Belfast Lough. Most of the walks are wheelchair accessible and if you contact the visitor centre they can arrange scooters for people with limited mobility.
Bridge Road South, Helen’s Bay, Tel: 048-91853621. Open 9am-9pm daily to the end of September. Visitor centre and café.
Castle Espie Wetlands Centre is a wildfowl reserve covering 65 acres. It was created in the 1990s from flooded stone and clay quarries near Strangford Lough. It offers great opportunities to view wild birds from all over the world. The wet woodland, salt marshes and mud flats sustain a huge range of birds as they pass through Ireland, including Brent Geese and rare White Headed Duck. You can also spot many species of butterfly, sparrow hawks and bats. Rare fossils found locally are on permanent display. For children there are pond dipping sessions and exhibitions on how to built bird and bat boxes.
Ballydrain Road, Comber, Co Down, tel: 048-91874146. Open seven days 10am-5pm. Admission: adults £6.50, children £3.20, family £17.50. Children under four and helpers assisting disabled people free. Shop and cafe.
Stay
Rayanne House was built in the late 19th century, when Holywood became a fashionable seaside resort. It is in the Holywood hills a short walk from the town centre. I would travel here just to eat breakfast and have memories of warmed fruit in rum, spices and whiskey cream, followed by pork and prune sausages with potato waffles in Dijon mustard, honey and cider sauce.
I stayed for a week as I toured the Ards Peninsula recently and after my daily breakfast spectacular it was possible to put in great mileage before topping up.
The hotel is also known for its Titanic Menu: a recreation of the nine-course dinner served on the last light in first class on the Titanic. The ship passed within view of the house as it left Belfast Lough on its fateful only voyage.
Staying by oneself for a week puts a hotel to the test. A place needs to be friendly, welcoming you back each evening after the day’s activities. Invariably, I was too late for dinner but instead was able to tuck into a tray of comforting room-service food, usually including one of the chef’s recommended sweets, which I think he sent up out of pity for someone who could not manage to reach proper meal times. Add in friendly staff, good style, impeccable housekeeping and I can say I was nicely spoilt. A single room at the height of summer including breakfast is about €90 a night and for two sharing about €67.
60 Demesne Road, Holywood, Co Down, tel: 048-90425859, rayannehouse.com
The Culloden Estate and Spa in Holywood have a special package to celebrate his win: the 19th Hole Dinner, bed and breakfast costs from €84 each. Tel: 048-90421066, hastings hotels.com.
Eat
With a modern menu that mixes mains and starters simply divided by portion size, Fontana is a busy, informal and pleasant place to eat. The dishes are seasonal and prices are reasonable, with two to three course options at £14/£17.50.
61a High Street, Holywood, Co Down, tel: 048-90809908.