Belfast - Ireland 2014 - page 561

Orientation to Bangor
Bangor's TI is in a stone tower house (from 1637) on the harbor-front (Mon-Fri
9:00-17:00, Sat 10:00-17:00, Sun 13:00-17:00 except closed Sun Sept-April, 34 Quay
Street, tel. [phone], www.northdowntourism.com ) . You'll find Speediwash Laun-
derette at 96 Abbey Street, a couple of blocks south of the train station (Mon-Fri
9:00-18:00,Sat9:00-17:00,closedSun,tel.[phone]).Thelibraryoffersfree Inter-
net access (30-minute limit, Mon-Wed 9:00-21:00, Thu 9:00-22:00, Fri-Sat 9:00-17:00,
closed Sun, 80 Hamilton Road, tel. [phone]). Bangor Cabs provides local taxi ser-
vice (tel. [phone]).
Sights in Bangor
For sightseeing, your time is better spent in Belfast. But if you have time to burn in
Bangor, enjoy a walk next to the water on the Coastal Path, which leads west out of
townfromthemarina.Apleasantthree-mile walkalongthewaterleadsyoutoCrawfords-
burn Country Park in the suburb of Helen's Bay. Hidden in the trees above Helen's Bay
beach is Grey Point Fort, with its two WWI artillery bunkers guarding the shore (Sat-Sun
12:00-16:00, tel. [phone]). Allow 1.5 hours each way as you share the easy-to-fol-
low and mostly paved trail with local joggers, dog walkers, and bikers.
For a shorter walk with views of the marina, head to the end of the North Pier, where
you'llfindamosaichonoringtheD-Dayfleetthatrendezvousedoffshorein1944,farfrom
Nazi reconnaissance aircraft. Keep an eye out in the marina for Rose the seal. Little kids
may enjoy the Pickie Fun Park next to the marina, with paddleboat swan rides and mini-
ature golf.
The North Down Museum covers local history, from monastic days to Viking raids to
Victorian splendor. It's hidden on the grassy grounds behind the City Hall, uphill and op-
posite from the train station (free, Tue-Sat 10:00-16:30, Sun 14:00-16:30, closed Mon, tel.
028/9127-1200).
Sleeping in Bangor
Visitors arriving in Bangor (by train) come down Main Street to reach the harbor marina.
You'll find my first listing to the right, along the waterfront east of the marina on Seacliff
Road. The other two listings are to the left, just uphill and west of the marina.
$$ Hargreaves House, a homey Victorian waterfront refuge with three cozy rooms,
is Bangor's best value (S-£45, Sb-£50, Db-£65, large Db-£85, 10 percent discount with
cash and 2-night stay—only with 2014 edition of this topic in hand upon arrival, online