Burial Island

The island sits in Strangford Lough just off the Ards Peninsula, accessible only by boat - which immediately tells you this isn't a casual stop-off. Burial Island is exactly what the name suggests: a small, windswept patch of land that's been a burial ground for centuries, with the remains of an old church marking the spot. You won't find gift shops or interpretation boards here. What you get is atmosphere, genuinely eerie atmosphere, and the kind of place that makes you understand why people thought certain locations were sacred.

Historians and anyone with a serious interest in medieval burial practices will find this worthwhile. It's the sort of thing that fascinates archaeology students and those doing family genealogy. Kids under twelve will likely find it dull unless they're already into that sort of thing - it's a bit of a walk across an exposed island for what amounts to old stones and water views.

You'll need to arrange a boat crossing yourself - there's no regular ferry service - which means it requires proper planning. Allow a couple of hours total, longer if you're doing any serious photography or sketching. Newtownards is your nearest base, about four miles away, and staying at Springvale Holiday Park puts you perfectly positioned for exploring Strangford Lough itself. The lough is genuinely worth the visit regardless, and Burial Island works as part of a bigger day out rather than a destination on its own. Spring and early autumn are best - summer gets crowded with boat traffic, winter can be rough.