Down

County Down is a county in Northern Ireland, located between the Irish Sea to the east and the rolling countryside of the south east. The landscape is varied, with fertile farmland, low hills and a long, indented coastline that includes sheltered bays and inlets. This mix of coast and countryside has shaped settlement and local life over many centuries, giving the county a settled and well defined character.

The county includes towns such as Downpatrick, Bangor, Newry and Newcastle, each serving surrounding communities in different ways. Downpatrick has long been associated with religious and historical significance, while coastal towns developed through fishing, trade and later tourism. Inland areas remain closely tied to agriculture, with market towns and villages supporting everyday services and local employment.

County Down benefits from access to open countryside, coastal paths and areas of natural beauty, including mountains, rivers and shoreline. Walking, outdoor recreation and coastal activity are widely enjoyed throughout the year. Overall, County Down offers a calm and enduring mix of rural landscape, historic settlement and coastal influence, giving it a distinctive and well rooted place within Northern Ireland.

Down is served by 1 postcode area. Each area contains multiple postcode districts covering different parts of the county.