Why go
- Town in County Down, Northern Ireland.
- Served by Mount Rule Farm Airstrip.
History
Downpatrick is a historic town in County Down, Northern Ireland. It is on the Lecale peninsula, about 21 mi (34 km) south of Belfast. In the Middle Ages, it was the capital of the Dál Fiatach, the main ruling dynasty of Ulaid. Its cathedral is said to be the burial place of Saint Patrick. Today, it is the county town of Down and the joint headquarters of Newry, Mourne and Down District Council. Downpatrick had a population of 11,545 according to the 2021 census.
Where to stay
Restaurants & places to go
Airports
✈ Airlines & flight paths — 6 airlines, 18 direct destinations
- Flybe BE (Dash 8-400, Embraer 175) · 12 routes: Aberdeen, Birmingham, Cardiff, East Midlands, Edinburgh, Exeter, Glasgow, Inverness, Leeds, Manchester, Newcastle, Southampton
- Aer Lingus EI (A320, A319) · 5 routes: Faro, London, London, Malaga, Palma de Mallorca
- American Airlines AA (A319) · 1 route: London*
- British Airways BA (A319) · 1 route: London
- Iberia Airlines IB (A319) · 1 route: London*
- Star1 Airlines V9 (L4T) · 1 route: Isle Of Man
Routes and aircraft from OpenFlights (open data; a point-in-time snapshot). * = codeshare. Linked destinations open their own guidebook. Flight numbers are not in the open data — they come from the airline or a paid schedule feed.
Getting there by ferry
Where things are
Photographs
credit: Wikipedia / Wikimedia Commons · See source page
When to go
The warmer, longer-day half of the year is the safest bet for a first visit.
Cooler and quieter, with fewer visitors and better value.
Short days and the coldest weather — check local conditions before travelling.
Getting there & around
Getting there. The nearest airport on record is Mount Rule Farm Airstrip; 1 other airport serves the wider area. Check rail and road links from the tourism sources below. By water: 3 ferry terminals within 12 mi (nearest: Strangford Ferry Terminal and Ticket Office, 7.1 mi); routes include Strangford Ferry, Strangford Ferry (Strangford => Portaferry), Strangford Ferry (Portaferry => Strangford).
Getting around. Use the map above to orient yourself; nearby hotels, attractions and places to eat are listed from the live Ultimate data for Downpatrick, Northern Ireland, UK. Local transit details will be added as the guide is expanded.