Dolmen

The dolmen sits there, ancient and stubborn, a pile of massive stones that's been doing the same job for over five thousand years. It's the kind of thing that stops you mid-walk - you round a corner near Downpatrick and suddenly there's this Bronze Age burial chamber, all weathered granite and moss, looking like it could topple any second but somehow never does.

You get to walk right up to it, which is the good bit. There's no rope barrier or visitor centre nonsense, just you and several tonnes of rock arranged by people whose names nobody remembers. The capstone alone is enormous, balanced on uprights like a feat of engineering that probably took months to achieve. It's properly humbling, that.

Histor types will find this genuinely fascinating - it's a proper window into Neolithic life - but it's equally good for a family walk if you're based at Castle Ward Caravan Park or Coneyisland, both within easy driving distance. Kids seem to enjoy the scramble aspect of getting close to it, though there's not masses to do once you've had a look and taken photos.

It's free and accessible year-round, which is brilliant. Allow twenty minutes, maybe thirty if you're the type to sit and ponder why it's still standing. The real value is as part of a broader walk around the Downpatrick area rather than a destination in itself. Worth the detour if you're in the region, but don't expect facilities or interpretation - bring your own imagination.