Crawfordsburn is a small idyllic village not far from Bangor in Co. Down and just 10 miles from Belfast. Its central feature is the 'Old Inn' (shown here) with its attractive thatched roof.
Close to Bangor and Helen's Bay, Crawfordsburn fronts onto the Belfast Lough and the beach is overlooked by the old Crawfordsburn House home of the Sharman-Crawford family.
Originally a 2 storey, 5 bay gable-ended C18 house it was enlarged in C19. In 1978 Crawfordsburn was a hospital and much altered.
Crawfordsburn is in the North Down which borders Belfast in the west and runs along the southern coast of the Belfast Lough. The area forms an middle class dormitory for Belfast, within easy commuting distance of the City. It is mainly Protestant and generally regarded as a 'nice' area.
The main towns are Bangor (pop. 48,000) and Holywood. The main economic activity is tourism and Bangor's multi-million pound seafront development has made the resort one of the main sailing centres in Ireland.
The glorious glen of Crawfordsburn Country Park has a waterfall and river running down through a railway viaduct to Crawfordsburn Beach, one of Ulster's best known bathing beaches. The Park has much variety; rocky coastline, wooded glens, flowery meadows, sandy beaches, a long coastal path and a number of interesting walking trails, a wartime fort, exhibition and restaurant. There is even a Scout Centre and campsite.
And, just in case this isn't enough, there is an old ghost story to go with it!