Enjoy waggy-tailed walks from the doorstep of this coastal cottage – a wildlife-rich nature reserve within half a mile extends to a vast golden beach beneath the beautiful Mourne Mountains. After a day of outdoor adventures, there’s plenty of space for up to five people and two pets to unwind, with a wood burner in the lounge and a choice of three bedrooms.
Park your car and forget it for a while – this traditionally styled holiday home sits within 200 metres of the friendly inns, eateries and shops along Dundrum’s Main Street. Step inside and the cottage is equally full of character. The whole family will love the lounge, where there’s space to watch TV and plan your next day’s adventures while the dogs doze before the wood burner. They’ll spring into action the moment you move into the dining room at mealtimes – the kitchen has all the must-haves of home so you can self-cater effortlessly. Once the dogs are settled for the night, head upstairs where a family shower room and three bedrooms await; these include a double, a twin and a single room. For extra flexibility, one of the singles in the twin room is a fold-out bed. For fresh air or an al fresco feast, relocate to the partially enclosed garden, which comes complete with outdoor furniture and a BBQ.
Sniff out the ruins of the village’s historic castle, 500 metres away, or stroll alongside Dundrum Bay 250 metres from your doorstep. Just half a mile away, Murlough National Nature Reserve welcomes dogs on leads; along one edge there’s a 5-mile stretch of golden sands and, beyond, the beautiful mountains of the Mourne AONB. The highest of the peaks here is Slieve Donard – for a hiking challenge, set off to conquer it from Donard Park in Newcastle (4 miles).