The place to stay while Golfing in Northern Ireland

Let us recommend - Our Top 5...

• Royal Portrush Golf Club
• Royal County Down Golf Club
• Lough Erne Resort
• Kirkistown Castle Golf Club
• Clandeboye Golf Club

Golf Breaks in Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland is a place of stunning beauty and there is plenty to discover here – the beautiful cities such as Belfast, the beaches, historical monuments and even the angling will draw you in.
Whitethorn Cottages are located 10 miles from Belfast City airport with easy access to all the top golf courses in Northern Ireland. Northern Ireland is also the homeland of British Open Champion Darren Clarke, US Open Champions Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell, so this is a really exciting place for golf as this was their training ground. Book a golf break to some of the best golf resorts in Ireland, including Lough Erne Golf Club with a Faldo design, and the championship links golf courses which can be found at Royal County Down Golf Club are second to none.
Browse Golf Resorts on a Map to see how central Whitethorn Cottages are to all of them.
Two driving ranges right on our door step Blackwood and Bradshaws Brae. Bradshaws Brae Golf Centre is the oldest golf range in Ireland established in 1965. It has been run by Gordon Fairweather PGA Professional for the past 5 years and consists of 18 covered floodlit bays and a professional teaching bay.
It also includes a putting green and bunker. We use the Explanar Golf Training Aid. The Explanar has been helping 1000s of amateur golfers, club and touring professionals every year hit the ball consistently longer and straighter. 

 

Congratulations to Darren Clarke

Today Darren Clarke put Northern Ireland back in the news for all the right reasons. Something good to come out of Nothern Ireland and hopefully something to bring people to come and visit it Northern Ireland.  Darren Clarke won The Open Championship at Royal St George's with a nerveless display in the final round that saw him home three shots clear of the field.
The 42-year-old became the third Northern Irishman in the last six Majors to take one of the game's top prizes, following the US Open successes of Graeme McDowell and Rory McIlroy.

It seemed like half of Northern Ireland were shouting him on. They probably all thought it would be Rory who would lead our hopes but even better it was Darren.

With 14 golf courses within a ten mile radius (Royal Belfast in photo above) and Royal Portrush and Down Royal both within an hours drive, where better to stay than Whitethorn Cottages.

What's on close to us this Bank Holiday

Botanic Gardens plays host to Belfast Sizzle, a new and exciting extravaganza which will pair the best in local culinary excellence with large stage live musical entertainment.
An excellent way to kick-off summer enjoyment, the Sizzle will feature top local chefs who will set the tone with a tantalising array of hot barbecue favourites and cool summer side dishes, accompanied by live musical entertainment.


A Taste of the Peninsula – Mon 30th May
Conway Square, Newtownards 11-4pm
A gourmet food event featuring food from local suppliers and around the world. There will be cookery demos, music and children’s activities.


Journey of the Turtle –Mon 30th May
Lempen Puppet Theatre Company
Castle Espie
12noon &2pm
A beautiful story based on the trilogy of “just so” – style Turtle tales about following your dream, told with shadows, table-top puppets and traditional story-telling. Inspirational for anyone over 5 years old
Free Admission
02891810803

Time Blooms – 30th May Artists in Residence, Mount Stewart 2-5pm Come along and see the artists at work, they will be on site painting beautiful scenes of Mount Stewart at the peak season when the gardens are blooming Adult £7, Child £3.50, Family (2 Adults&3 Children) £17.50 Members free.
“I asked for Wonder” Sat 4th June-Sun 26th June The Loft Gallery, Portaferry: Mon-Sat 10-5pm, Sun 1-5pm Exhibition by Ceramicist LyndaB where she has taken a selection of friend’s stories and visually interpreted their words in porcelain. Admission free 028 42729882
Perspective – Sat 4th and 19th June Castle Espie, Comber A Les Jones Exhibition displaying an array of landscapes, seascapes and cityscape art. Admission free 02891 874146
Duckery Tours – Sat 4th June (Saturdays 11th, 18th, 25th & Sundays 5th, 12th, 19th , 26th June also) Castle Espie – 12noon-4pm Adult: (£6.50, Concession £4.95. Child - £3.20 (4-16years) Family: £17.50 (2 Adults & 2 Children) Under 4’s Free
Irish Clubman Championship – Sat 4th June Motorcycle Races , Kirkistown Race Circuit - 9am £10, Children under 12 half price. 02890402656
Car Boot Sale – Sat 4th June Mount Stewart : 9-12noon £5 per car, £10 per van and £15 per trailer. Free admission to car boot sale. Normal admission price for house and gardens: (Adult £7, Child £3.50, Family (2 Adults &3 Children) £17.50. Members Free


Pottery Workshop - Sat 4th June
1200 Centigrade Pottery, Portaferry: 10-12.30pm
Class run by Donald Nelson in his own working pottery studio. Each participant will make and decorate up to 2 pieces of pottery. No experience necessary. Please bring an apron.
£15 (Advance booking and payment required) 028 42728888


Grand Summer Fete – Sat 4th June
Movilla Presbyterian Church: 10-1pm
Interesting games and stalls. Teas and coffees scones with jam&cream.

I have to apologise, it has been a time since I last did the blog for the cottages. We have had some lovely guests staying with us and we hope they enjoyed their time at Whitethorn. The weather has been particularly good especially for April and so alot of the garden is ahead of itself. This is a photo of the rose outside the first cottage. You couldn't ask for better.

With the good weather has come the chance to barbeque and fantastic walks in our beautiful countryside. We always love to hear the children outside enjoying the facilities. The chickens too are out enjoying their time, sadly the fox got the young rooster. However the hens seem happy and are laying lots of eggs for us.

Spring is here, everything is bursting into life.

It seems like things are warming up and finally all the snow and signs of winter have disappeared.
Bert and his mate,( haven't yet discovered his name) have had a brilliant holiday with us. These are are longest staying guests at Whitethorn. Recently Bert has managed to take his rug off but his mate still finds it a bit nippy up here.
The primroses are out and the hens are enjoying the better weather. Sunshine means it is pleaseant enough to be out in the garden enjoying the trees coming into leaf and the plants flowering.

It is Valentine's weekend and half term from school. The sun is out and spring is in the air. So what about a lovely walk get out and about and see all the signs of spring. Snowdrops, crocus and signs of colour are bursting into life to cheer us all up after that cold and frosty winter.

Today at Whitethorn Cottages

The sun is shining and the place is white with snow. There is nothing nicer than a walk round the roads taking in the scenery. Here are some photos of our walk this morning.