MOUNTAINS OF MOURNE

These mountains occupy just a small corner of County Down, with no more than a dozen peaks surpassing 600 m, and yet they attract thousands of visitors each year. Northern Ireland's grandest scenery  sweeps around in a great arc of granite mountains between Dundrum Bay and Carlingford Lough, a patchwork of tiny sheep-cropped fields with drystone walls lying below the peaks. As well  as being popular for rock climbing, this area can only be properly enjoyed on foot. The main recreation area is the Silent Valley with reservoirs and dams, and superb mountain panoramas. The best base for the Mourne area is the resort of Newcastle, "Where the Mountains o' Mourne sweep down to the sea". Some 35 km north of Newcastle, the Legananny Dolmen is one of the finest and most photographed ancient sites in the country.

The Mountains of Mourne, County Down, in the south east, provide fine walking country

 

COLUMBIA

Nestled in the heart of South Carolina and located at the confluence of the Broad and Saluda rivers, Columbia is the ideal mix of small-town charm, big-city sophistication and thrilling outdoor adventures. Columbia is in the centre of everything. It's the seat of state government; a hub of the arts, education and history; the home of fascinating museums, archives and libraries; the gateway to a wealth of recreation lands and waters, and from its birth a center of hospitality. Outdoor pleasure abound on nearby Lake Murray, a 50,000-acre impoundment of the Saluda River with 525 miles of shoreline and legendary populations of stripers, bass, bream and crappie. If ever a land offered "something for everyone," here it is - right in the middle of the action.

Smiling faces, beautiful places

 

For additional information: Experience Columbia SC

ALICE SPRINGS

Capital of the Outback

Alice Springs is named after the Alice Spring permanent waterhole, near which a staging post for the overland telegraph line was built in the 1870s. Situated in the arid centre of the continent, Alice Springs has long been an icon of modern Australian history, shaped in the hearts of explorers, pioneers, pastoralists and miners. Nestled between the East and West MacDonnell Ranges, ‘Alice’ is famous for its beautiful desert landscapes, colourful outback characters, opportunities for adventure and a strong Aboriginal culture. Alice Springs is a big, bold friendly town with lots of quirks, culture, things to see and do, and an adventurous free-spirit all its own! Alice Springs is one of those places where there’s always more than meets the eye.

 

 

 

Alice Springs Town Council: Visitor Info