Discover Holywood: History and Things to Do

Holywood combines historic sites with crafts, leisure activities and walking routes in the surrounding area. If you’re looking for a hotel in Holywood, you can plan your stay around whether you’d like to focus on the town’s history, an annual tradition, a class or time outdoors.

The activities also differ in when, or under what conditions, they’re available to visitors: the maypole is used on May Day, jewellery workshops take place year-round, and a visit to Holywood Priory Church requires an appointment. These differences can help you choose suitable dates and activities for your stay.

Holywood Motte and Priory Church

Holywood Motte is an Anglo-Norman mound. Its spiral path and tree-planted layout date back to 19th-century landscape design. The site therefore brings together the mound’s Anglo-Norman origins and a much later design for its path and planting.

Holywood Priory Church also tells the story of several periods. It stands on the site of a monastery founded by St Laiseran in the early 7th century. The present-day ruins are those of an Anglo-Norman Augustinian abbey built by Thomas Whyte in the 12th century. A visit to the church requires an appointment; arrange your visit before you arrive.

Maypole and Jewellery Making

The Holywood Maypole is used every year on May Day and is the only surviving maypole in Ireland. If you’d like to include this part of the town’s history in your travel plans, May Day is the date to note. The annual use and preservation of the maypole give the tradition a distinct place alongside the older stories of the monastery and motte.

At NI Silver, Ruth runs bespoke jewellery-making classes in her home workshop in Holywood. The workshops take place throughout the year, and visitors can make their own pieces, such as rings and bangles. As dates can change, check the course schedule in advance. Another option is Holywood Golf Club, which has an online booking system where visitors can book tee times around the clock. Here too, it’s a good idea to check the current booking arrangements before making plans.

Walking Routes, Sea Views and Leisure in Holywood

Redburn Country Park lies on the edge of Holywood. It has seven kilometres of paths that are open year-round. Another option for a walking trip is the North Down Coastal Path, which runs from Holywood in the west to Orlock in the east. These details offer different points of reference for planning: a network of paths in Redburn Country Park and a route with stated western and eastern endpoints.

Seapark Recreation Grounds are right by the sea and offer panoramic views across Belfast Lough. You can reach the grounds by car, on foot in about 15 minutes from the town centre, or by train via Holywood or Marino stations. There is a free car park on site. Facilities include tennis courts, a bowling green, a putting green and an enclosed children’s playground; sports facilities can be booked through Bangor Sportsplex. Check the latest travel information before setting off, as transport details can change.

For planning your schedule, it’s worth noting the different arrangements: the maypole is used annually on May Day, while jewellery workshops take place year-round. Tee times at Holywood Golf Club can be booked online around the clock; a visit to the Priory Church requires an appointment. This will help you match your choice of activities with the right dates and booking arrangements.

Discover more destinations: Newcastle, Ballynahinch, Bangor, Rathfriland, Banbridge, Crossgar, Downpatrick, Dundrum.

For the wider travel overview: Down.