Attractions and Places To See around Cherryvalley - Top 20
Best attractions and places to see around Cherryvalley include historical sites, scenic routes, and natural landscapes. This region, located near Strangford Lough in Northern Ireland, offers a blend of cultural heritage and outdoor exploration. Visitors can discover ancient ruins, historic towers, and dedicated pathways for cycling and walking. The area provides diverse opportunities for those interested in history and nature.
Best attractions and places to see around Cherryvalley
- The most popular attractions is Sketrick Castle, a castle that dates back to the 12th century. This large tower house was built in the mid-15th century and was actively involved in warfare during the 16th century.
- Another must-see spot is Nendrum Monastery Ruins, a historical site. Visitors can explore a pre-Norman monastic site with three round dry-stone walled enclosures, a church ruin, and a round tower.
- Visitors also love The Comber Greenway, a cycle way. This traffic-free footway and cycling path connects Belfast city centre with Comber, offering scenic views of wildflowers, trees, meadows, and grasslands.
- Cherryvalley is known for its historical sites, such as castles and monastic ruins, and its dedicated outdoor routes for cycling and walking. The region offers a variety of attractions for those interested in history, nature, and active exploration.
- The attractions around Cherryvalley are appreciated by the komoot community, with more than 45 upvotes and 16 photos shared by visitors.
Last updated: May 9, 2026
Sketrick Castle
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Nendrum Monastery Ruins
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Kilmood Church
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Helen's Tower
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The Comber Greenway
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Tips from the Community
Nendrum Monastery was a Christian monastery founded in the 5th century. The monastery finished somewhere between 974 and 1178, but the church survived until the 15th century. You can visit the ruins if you're riding past.
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Sketrick Castkle is a historic landmark situated on Sketrick Island near Whiterock. The castle dates back to the 12th century and the grounds are free to explore.
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This large tower house was built in the mid 15th century and was actively involved in warfare during the 16th century. It would have originally been four storeys high with a boat bay and subterranean passage. There were four chambers at ground level, the largest had a vault built on wicker centring and two ovens. The small unlighted room could have been a lock up or treasury. The tower-house was relatively complete until half of it collapsed in a storm in 1896. Part of the bawn wall survives to the north and east of the castle.
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This is the best example in Northern Ireland of a pre Norman ecclesiastical enclosure with its buildings. Nendrum is associated with St Mochaoi who died at the end of the 5th century, and is linked with St Patrick in a much later source. Notices of Nendrum clergy, including three bishops, begin in the 7th century and the excavation of a sophisticated tide mill on the shore near the site has shown that the mill was active in the early 7th century, which underlines the early importance of Nendrum. References continue until a fire in 976, perhaps a Viking raid, when the head of the church (erenagh) was burned in his house. In the late 12th century a small Benedictine monastic cell was founded on the site, but by 1302–1306 this was the parish church, abandoned for Tullynakill on the mainland in the 15th century. H.C. Lawlor excavated the site from 1922 to 1924, when enclosure walls, church and round tower were restored. The glacial hill is crowned with three concentric walled enclosures, irregularly oval in plan. Little is known of the outer cashel, only partly in state care. In the middle cashel on the south-west side are circular platforms for huts, which excavation suggested were craft workshops, and a rectangular building known as the ‘schoolhouse’, also a workshop. In the inner cashel were the most important buildings, including the church with its graveyard and the base of a round tower north-west of the church. The west wall of the church was rebuilt in the 1920s, incorporating a reconstructed sundial at the south-west corner. Finds from the 1920s excavation, including the well-known bell of Nendrum, are in the Ulster Museum and Down Museum at Downpatrick. Underwater archaeological work in the 1990s showed that there is a stone jetty south-east of the enclosure, now inundated in the lough, and medieval pottery was found close by. ( source: department of communities )
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Perfect way to get out to Comber. Connecting easily with nearby tours of Strangford Lough and Ards. You will be amazed just how quite things get, and all only 30 minutes from Belfast.
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Daft Eddy's Restaurant / Pub is very popular with Cyclists, and is just up the hill. There is also a Car park with full facilities if you look back to the mainland just on your left.
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Love spending time here. There is a park bench to the far east corner, and to the left of that hosts one of the best views of the Lough. When tides out you can see traces of the old Salmon fisheries. Its so quiet, and there is a picnic area just to the side of the visitors centre. The site also boasts fragments of an early Sun Dial that have been placed by the entrance to the Church.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What historical sites can I explore around Cherryvalley?
Cherryvalley is rich in historical sites. You can visit Sketrick Castle, a 15th-century tower house that played a role in 16th-century warfare. Another significant site is Nendrum Monastery Ruins, a pre-Norman monastic site with three dry-stone walled enclosures, a church ruin, and a round tower. Additionally, Kilmood Church offers a glimpse into local religious history, and Helen's Tower is a 19th-century folly and lookout tower with a unique story.
Are there family-friendly attractions in the Cherryvalley area?
Yes, several attractions around Cherryvalley are suitable for families. Both Sketrick Castle and Nendrum Monastery Ruins are marked as family-friendly historical sites where children can explore. For active families, The Comber Greenway provides a traffic-free path perfect for cycling and walking with scenic views.
What outdoor activities can I do near Cherryvalley's attractions?
The area around Cherryvalley offers diverse outdoor activities, especially cycling and running. You can explore numerous routes like the 'Bike Path to Belfast – Peartree Hill Path loop from Comber' for road cycling or the 'Running loop from Comber' for jogging. For longer cycling adventures, consider the 'Strangford Lough Cycle Trail'. Find more options in the Cycling around Cherryvalley guide.
Are there good cycling paths around Cherryvalley?
Absolutely! The Comber Greenway is a highly popular traffic-free footway and cycling path connecting Belfast city centre with Comber, offering beautiful scenery. For more extensive cycling, you can find various road cycling routes, including easy loops like 'Mahee Castle – Nendrum Monastery Ruins loop from Comber', in the Road Cycling Routes around Cherryvalley guide.
What kind of views can I expect from the attractions?
Many attractions offer scenic views. From Sketrick Castle, you can enjoy scenic coastal views, often spotting seals and otters. Nendrum Monastery Ruins provides excellent views of Strangford Lough, especially from its eastern corner. Helen's Tower is a lookout tower, inherently offering panoramic vistas, and The Comber Greenway features views of wildflowers, meadows, and grasslands.
What do visitors enjoy most about Cherryvalley's attractions?
Visitors particularly appreciate the blend of history and nature. The historical sites like Sketrick Castle and Nendrum Monastery Ruins are valued for their rich past and tranquil settings. The Comber Greenway is loved for its traffic-free environment and beautiful scenery, making it ideal for getting out into the countryside. The overall appeal lies in the opportunity for active exploration amidst cultural heritage.
Are there any easy hiking or running trails near Cherryvalley?
Yes, there are several easy to moderate trails for running and walking. For instance, the 'Pathway to Rough Island Beach loop from Castle Espie Wetland Centre' is an easy running route. The Comber Greenway also serves as an excellent traffic-free path for easy walks and runs. You can find more options in the Running Trails around Cherryvalley guide.
Can I find places for a picnic near the attractions?
Yes, Nendrum Monastery Ruins has a dedicated picnic area just to the side of its visitors centre, offering a quiet spot with views of the Lough. Many of the outdoor trails, such as The Comber Greenway, also provide scenic spots perfect for a packed lunch amidst nature.
What is the significance of Sketrick Castle?
Sketrick Castle is a historic landmark dating back to the 12th century, with the large tower house built in the mid-15th century. It was actively involved in warfare during the 16th century and originally featured four storeys, a boat bay, and a subterranean passage. Although partly collapsed in 1896, its ruins offer a fascinating glimpse into medieval history and provide scenic coastal views.
What is unique about Nendrum Monastery Ruins?
Nendrum Monastery Ruins is considered the best example of a pre-Norman monastic site in Northern Ireland, with origins potentially dating back to the 5th century. It features three concentric dry-stone walled enclosures, a church ruin, a round tower, and a graveyard. The site also boasts fragments of an early sundial and evidence of a sophisticated tide mill from the early 7th century, highlighting its early importance.
Are there any hidden gems or less-known historical spots?
While not entirely hidden, Kilmood Church is a pretty church situated on a rocky knoll, offering a peaceful historical stop. Helen's Tower, a 19th-century folly, is also a unique historical structure worth discovering, known for inspiring the design of the Ulster Tower in France.
How can I combine historical exploration with outdoor activity?
You can combine both by cycling or running to historical sites. For example, the 'Mahee Castle – Nendrum Monastery Ruins loop from Comber' is an easy road cycling route that takes you past the significant Nendrum Monastery Ruins. Many routes in the Cycling around Cherryvalley guide offer opportunities to visit historical points of interest.
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