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THE LOCAL TOURIST CONTENTS


01 Kirsty explores Northern Ireland’s last working windmill


02 Grab a bargain bite in the City during Belfast Restaurant Week


03Emma and Chelsea make


a splash at Lake Kilrea!


05


Family fun at Castle Espie and a Taste of Autumn in Ards and North Down


07Sarah and


Erin get to revisit their childhood at one of W5’s adult nights


08Stay up-


to-date with Northern Ire- lands sights and sounds...


EXPLORING THE LAND WE LOVE


With the Covid restrictions all but a distant memory (almost) the time has come to once more to venture outside and rediscover our homeland. With three hotels planned for Belfast City centre and new tourist attractions springing up across the Province (thanks to new regeneration grants) there’s no better time to plan an adventurous day out or weekend staycation and explore more of the land that we all love.


Ginza A Bit More Says NI Travel News!


WITH the NI Travel News offices located right in the heart of Belfast,


the lunch-time offering has always been far too tempting.


Earlier this month, the NI Travel News Editorial team followed this temptation down the Lisburn Road to try the tantalising flavours of Ginza Kitchen. Paying homage to the Ginza district in Japan, renowned


for upmarket dining and entertainment. Ginza Kitchen provides an authentic and unique Japanese dining experience for restaurant-goers, with creative culinary delights and stellar service. Our lunch-time experience at Ginza Kitchen was a delight, the staff were accommodating and friendly from the very start of our dining experience and provided helpful insight into the menu’s specialities and their own recommendations. Not to mention the excellent lunch- time menu which offers a two-course lunch for just 12 pounds.


For starters, our group got two portions of the chicken


gyozas along with a portion of cucumber maki. The quality of the starters was delectable, Ginza Kitchen found the ideal balance between portion and beauty. The starter offering was a feast for both the eyes and the tastebuds. Thinking that our experience at Ginza Kitchen get


any better, we were blown away by the main course. All three of us opted to go for Chicken Katsu Curry, a staple choice! An aromatic dish complimented by the succulent breaded chicken fillet and rice. Ginza Kitchen’s offering is vast, with a fantastic range


of dishes including Sushi, Ramen, Tempura and a vast range of vegetarian dishes. Not to mention the cocktail menu, which infuse a piece of Japanese Culture into the classic cocktail offering. 245 Lisburn Road, Belfast


CHASING THE WIND


A towering giant, dormant for over a century, awakens


BY KIRSTY JOHNSTON kirsty@nitravelnews.com


AS Northern Ireland’s last working windmill, Ballycopeland has


been an


Windmill iconic


landmark on the County Down Peninsula since it was commissioned into use in the late 18th century. With an excellent grain growing landscape, strong winds and proximity to local ports, conditions in the area were ideal for windmills. Run by the McGilton family, the mill, along with many others dotted along with Peninsula, produced animal feed. However, in 1915 at the outset of the First World War, the windmill ceased operations. In 1937 the mill was passed into the care of the state. Left to fall into disrepair, the combination of elements which made the Peninsula the perfect place to build a mill, combined to cause severe damage to the windmill and its outbuildings. The last major set of reparis


EVER fancied feeding an Alpaca? Want to visit a Jurassic forest and take a ride on a tractor train? Situated on the A1 between Newtownards and Bangor, the Ark Farm is a fun-filled day out for all the family. From horses, donkeys, cows, pigs and chickens to owls, guinea pigs, rabbits, deer, meerkats and reptiles, kids of all ages can get closer to nature and make some fluffy friends.


There is an abundance of space to let children explore in a safe environment while having fun and learning.


Take a Quad Barrel Ride, bounce the afternoon away on the Kangaroo Bouner or be a fearless knight in the Dragon’s Den! Learn to drive your very own Tractor in the Indoor Play Barn or take a walk through the Fairytale Forest and visit the Three Bears... but be quiet.... Goldilocks is sleeping!


Animal feed pouches are available for only 50p per pouch. The onsite Cottage Cafe has a range of hot and cold food and drinks or you can grab a Glastry Farm ice- cream or slushy beside the onsite play park.


took place in 1970/80s. In 2010, the rail on which the cap turns suffered extensive damage and locked into position following high winds. Tha sails were also in a significant state of disrepair. A conservation effort was began in 2015 by the Historic Environment Division, marking 100 years since the mill’s sails were stilled. Since then, substantial restoration work has been carried out culminating in the opening of a new Visitor Heritage Centre on the site. Work included the rebuild of the failed tail gantry, and significant repairs to the shear beams, dead curb and a number of internal parts of the mill machinery. A new fantail was also designed and constructed. The reconstructed sails incorporated a blinds system – an integral


feature of the mill – designed by Capt. the


Stephen Hooper in the late 18th century. A large proportion of the original striking gear mechanism also remained on the tower and was refurbished. Ballycopeland is the last remaining mill in the world to still have this mechanism in existence, elevating the site to international importance. Ballycopeland windmill is a unique historical asset and the newly opened Visitor Heritage Centre brings to life the fascinating stories of those who lived and worked here. The


interactive elements in


the restored cottages and mill consist allow visitors to explore the history of Ballycopeland, the functions of the windmill, the stories of the millers who lived and made their livelihood at Ballycopeland and the efforts to preserve the windmill for future generations.


Visitors can try their hand at


milling their own flour and learn about the two distinct types of mill stone used at Ballycopeland. Walk inside the kilnman’s house and see where the wheat was dried before milling, explore the


restored miller’s cottage


and climb the wooden stairs in the windmill to discover the intricate mechanisms that make the windmill work.


Sit down for a video and audio story which bring visitors back in time to when the windmill was a working site (with talking silhouettes in the coal store and the authentic noise of the windmill in operation) and interact with an innovative 3D model of the windmill.


There is also a family-friendly activity guide that allows young visitors the chance to explore and engage with the attraction - Millie the Mouse - kids will love trying to find her hidden around the site.


A small visitor centre is located inside the Millers house with a Cafe onsite open to the public.


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