A Day With the Kids

Start the day right with a relaxed family breakfast at one of Newcastle's cafés. Good coffee for the adults, pancakes and pastries for the wee ones. Plenty of options along the Main Street and promenade. Fill up — you've got a big day of adventuring ahead.

C.S. Lewis grew up looking at the Mourne Mountains from Belfast and later said they inspired the landscape of Narnia. Kilbroney Forest Park in Rostrevor (*Ros Treabhair*) brings that connection to life with a magical woodland trail featuring carved wooden sculptures of Aslan, Mr Tumnus, and the White Witch. The path is buggy-friendly on the lower section, and kids go absolutely wild spotting the characters among the trees. There's a brilliant adventure playground at the car park too — budget extra time because you won't get them out of it easily.

A scenic 25-minute drive through rolling Mourne countryside. Good time for the kids to have a snack in the back seat and recharge before the next adventure. If anyone needs a toilet stop, there are facilities at the Castlewellan Forest Park entrance.

Arrive at Castlewellan Forest Park and grab lunch at the café near the entrance before tackling the maze. Kid-friendly menu, good coffee, outdoor seating when the sun is out. Alternatively, pack a picnic and eat by the lake — there's a gorgeous stretch of grass overlooking the water with the castle behind you. Either way, let the kids burn off some energy on the green before you head into the maze.

The Peace Maze at Castlewellan is the world's largest permanent hedge maze — over 6,000 yew trees planted in 2001 to mark the peace process. Kids think it's the best game ever. Adults think it's the best game ever but won't admit it. Allow 30-45 minutes to find the centre (there's a bell to ring when you make it). After the maze, take the gentle lake walk — about 4km around the edge of the lake, flat and buggy-friendly. The Grange Yard playground is here too, with climbing frames and swings. This is a place where you can genuinely let the pace drop and enjoy the afternoon.

A 15-minute drive to Newcastle. Quick, easy, and the mountains get bigger in the windscreen the whole way. Nearly ice cream time.

Newcastle's sandy beach stretches out below Slieve Donard — the perfect end-of-day spot. Let the kids loose on the sand while you sit on the prom with a coffee (or join in — no judgement). Donard Park has an excellent playground right where the Glen River meets the sea, with climbing frames, slides, and swings against a backdrop of mountains that would make a Swiss resort jealous. If the tide is out, the beach seems to go on forever.

The non-negotiable highlight of any family day in Newcastle. The promenade has several ice cream spots — you can't miss them. Cones, 99s, or whatever the kids demand. Sit on the sea wall with the mountains behind you, the sea in front, and ice cream dripping down your hand. This is what summer holidays are made of.

Two excellent options for hungry, tired, happy families. Niki's Kitchen on the Main Street does brilliant casual food — burgers, pizzas, pasta — with a kids' menu and a relaxed atmosphere where nobody minds if your toddler is being loud. Or go classic: get fish and chips from one of the takeaways on the seafront and eat them on the prom, seagull-dodging included. Both are the kind of end to a day that everyone remembers.