Newry

Border crossings and smugglers' tales define this market town straddling the line between Northern Ireland and the Republic. Newry sits in a strategic gap between the Mourne Mountains and the Ring of Gullion hills, making it one of Ireland's oldest settlements and certainly one of its busiest commercial centres.

The Clanrye River cuts straight through the middle, giving the place an oddly continental feel with its canal system that once carried goods from Lough Neagh to Carlingford Lough. These days it's more about cross-border shopping than barges, with the main drag packed at weekends as people hunt for bargains.

Your best bet for exploration lies south along the Cooley Peninsula. Greencastle offers proper medieval atmosphere with its Anglo-Norman fortress commanding views across Carlingford Lough. The Greenore Railway Museum tells the story of the old Dublin-Belfast line, while Cranfield West Blue Flag Beach gives you proper seaside without the crowds.

Mourne Mountains rise dramatically to the southeast - C.S. Lewis's inspiration for Narnia, though he'd barely recognise the place now with all the wind farms. Kilfeaghan Dolmen proves people have been impressed by this landscape for millennia, while Haulbowline Lighthouse marks where the mountains meet the sea.

Dublin's about 90 minutes south, Belfast the same distance north via the A1. The real charm lies in having a base near the coast while being 20 minutes from proper mountain walking. Several holiday parks dot the area between Newry and the sea, putting you within easy reach of both Carlingford Lough's sheltered waters and the Mournes' granite peaks. It's an ideal spot for families wanting variety without endless car journeys.