We live in Northern Ireland and sometimes we forget what’s on our own doorstep. We decided to treat ourselves to a weekend in a good hotel, the Slieve Donard. It’s a beautiful hotel, and when eating in the restaurant you are overlooking the sea. It’s a five minute walk from the hotel into the town. The town has had a lot of work done to it recently. New paving, a new promenade and gardens. The shops are mostly small and independent. Mauds cafe, overlooking the sea, is a nice place to have a meal. The beach is great for a long walk. If you have a car, there are nice small towns nearby to visit. All in all, Newcastle is a great place to visit.