Pleasurelands

Pleasurelands sits just outside Newcastle in County Down, a modest amusement park that's been around long enough to feel part of the local fabric. It's the sort of place where families go for an afternoon when the weather's decent - rides for kids, the usual arcade machines, fairground attractions. Nothing fancy, but honest enough if you've got young ones who need entertaining for a few hours.

The rides lean towards the gentler end of the spectrum: you won't find anything that'll make your stomach drop, but there's enough to keep under-tens happily occupied for an afternoon. It works well as a half-day outing rather than an all-day destination, honestly. The setting near Newcastle means it's convenient if you're staying in one of the caravan parks dotted around the area - Bonnys, Woodcroft, or Windsor Holiday Park are all within a mile or so.

If you're based at Camping Tollymore Forest Park or Enniskeen Estate, Pleasurelands makes a decent rainy-day fallback. The Mourne Mountains dominate the landscape round here, and there's proper hiking on the doorstep, so you're not short of options. Best suited to families with younger children rather than teenagers after proper thrills. Admission details aren't readily available online, so ring ahead or check locally in Newcastle before you go - opening hours can be patchy, especially outside peak summer.