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Dundrum is a coastal village where the Dundrum Bay estuary meets the southern Mourne foothills, sheltered behind the long bar of Newcastle beach to the north-east. Dundrum Castle, a royal castle in State Care that towers on a volcanic crag above the harbour, is the most prominent historical feature; below it the Dundrum Bay Inner National Nature Reserve occupies the inter-tidal flats with reedbeds, willow scrub, sea-aster and purple loosestrife through summer. The deep whitethorn and blackthorn hedgerows on the drumlin farmland north toward Clough and Seaforde carry heavy blossom in May; sycamore is the backbone of the early flow on the sheltered Mourne foothills lanes south toward the mountains. Himalayan balsam lines the Maginn River in August and the long ivy flow on Dundrum Castle walls and the coastal stone buildings closes a mild year.

Blackthorn on drumlin hedges opens the year; sycamore is the dominant May flow. Hawthorn is abundant. Lime in Newtownards, Bangor and Downpatrick gives a strong June crop. The Mourne Mountains carry ling and bell heather — a genuinely distinctive Mournes heather honey. Bramble is dense; coastal sea-aster on Strangford Lough adds character; himalayan balsam on the Lagan gives a long late flow. Ivy on whitewashed cottage walls closes a long, mild year.