Holywood

Holywood sits on Belfast Lough's southern shore in County Down, just 15 minutes from Belfast city center via the A2 Coastal Road. This well-to-do town offers grand views across to the Antrim hills and connects easily to Bangor, Downpatrick, and Portadown. The A2 runs straight through from Belfast, while local routes reach Dundonald, Carryduff, and Comber. The seafront promenade makes good use of the lough-side setting. The town's claim to fame is its traditional maypole on the main street, one of the few still raised annually in Ireland.