Whitewater Brewing Co.

Whitewater Brewing Co. sits just outside Castlewellan in County Down, and it's exactly the sort of place that makes a caravan holiday feel properly local rather than just tourist-passing-through. They brew proper craft beer here - the kind you'll find on taps across Northern Ireland - and the brewery itself welcomes visitors keen to see how it all comes together.

The experience tends to run toward brewery tours and tasting sessions rather than sitting around for hours, which suits most people fine. You'll get the industrial side of things - fermentation tanks, the works - and a chance to sample what they've actually made rather than drinking mass-produced lager. It's a working brewery, so the vibe is straightforward and unpretentious. Not the place to bring toddlers, obviously, but perfectly decent for adults and older teenagers interested in how beer gets made.

If you're based at one of the nearby caravan parks - Murlough Cottage, Windsor, or Mourneview are all within three to four miles - this makes a decent afternoon detour before heading to the Mourne Mountains proper. It breaks up the outdoor walking routine without feeling forced. Check their website for tour times and whether you need to book ahead; the beer itself is good enough that even if they're not doing formal tastings on the day you visit, popping in for a pint at whatever bar they run is worth the short drive from Castlewellan.