Ballymacormick / Orlock
These two rocky outcrops are located along the northern shores of Co Down, on either side of the little village of Groomsport. Covered in gorse, they are good for rough walking, and for spotting birds, flowers and foxes. Because they are in a relatively natural state and close to large centres of population, they are vulnerable areas in need of constant care.
Ballymacormick is just on the edge of Belfast Lough, so there are interesting views north and west. It is impossible to avoid seeing the dominant profile of Kilroot power station, but sharp eyes on a clear day can identify other landmarks on the Co Antrim escarpment of black basalt – Carrickfergus, the Knockagh monument, and the coast curving towards Whitehead. There is nearly always a ship using the busy channel to Belfast. Out to sea, the coast of Galloway can be seen surprisingly sharply on a clear day.
There is something for birdwatchers at all times of the year. The combination of rough grass, gorse and rocks forms an inviting breeding ground for oystercatchers, skylarks, meadow and rock pipits, stonechats, reed buntings, willow warblers and linnets. In winter, waders such as dunlin redshank, curlew, purple sandpiper and ringed plover can be seen on the shore or among the rocks, while out to sea there is a likelihood of seeing redbreasted merganser, eider and shelduck, and almost a certainty of spotting cormorant and shag. Summer brings the sandwich terns – to join the nearby breeding arctic and common terns – with their eyecatching flights, loops and dives in search of fish.
How to get there
Both properties are signposted from Groomsport village. The best approach to Ballymacormick Point is by Groomsport, although at low tide it is possible to reach it from the east end of Ballyholme beach.
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Murlough National Nature Reserve
Murlough is an extraordinarily beautiful dune landscape, fringing on one of Northern Ireland’s most popular beaches and overlooked by the rounded peaks of the Mourne Mountains to the south.
A boardwalk, suitable for wheelchairs, leads from the National Trust car park through the dunes to the beach, a long arc of sand several miles long. An information centre and toilets are located in the car park and are open throughout the summer months, and nearby holiday cottages are available for rent throughout the year.
Murlough was declared Ireland’s first nature reserve in 1967 and has been cared for by the National Trust ever since, providing a haven for wildlife and rare habitats.It is a great place for of seal watching. Between 50 and 130 common and grey seals regularly use the area for moulting, resting and feeding. Their numbers reach their peak from July to October.
How to get there
- Bus: Ulsterbus no 20 between Belfast & Newcastle. Alight at Lazy BJ Caravan Park after Dundrum.
- Car: Follow signs on A24, 1ml south of Dundrum.
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Mourne Coastal Footpath and Bloody Bridge
Bloody Bridge and the Mourne Coastal Footpath can be found along a scenic stretch of the Co Down coastline, bordered on one side by the Irish Sea, and on the other by the foothills of the Mourne Mountains.
The property is located about three miles south of Newcastle, beside the Annalong road, and marks the beginning of one of the most popular access routes into the Mournes for hill walkers. It was declared an Area of Special Scientific Interest in 1995.
Newry and Mourne District Council has provided a car park, picnic tables and toilet facilities adjacent to the site.
Alternatively for those not wishing to walk into the mountains the Mourne Coastal Footpath (1.6 miles long) provides access to secluded areas of coastline ideal for picnics. Excellent views can be had across Dundrum Bay and, on a clear day, to the Isle of Man. The name Bloody Bridge refers to a massacre at the site in 1641.
How to get there
Car park located on seaward side of A2 Newcastle to Annalong road, 2 mls south of Newcastle. Drive time: 45 mins from Belfast.
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Blockhouse and Green Islands
These two small islands at the mouth of Carlingford Bay are of great importance for wildlife and their carboniferous rocks are rich in fossils. Leased by the National Trust to the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, they are a vital breeding ground for terns - common, arctic, roseate and sandwich. There are problems with erosion on both islands and from time to time the nests are flooded. To add to the terns' difficulties, they share their crowded, precarious breeding sites with common seals. Although visitors may not land on these fragile and vulnerable islands, great views of the terns can be had from the shore.
How to get there
Can be viewed from the main Warrenpoint to Newry road.
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Lighthouse Island
Located in the Irish Sea, three miles off the mouth of Belfast Lough, Lighthouse island is a paradise for birds and birdlovers alike. It is managed for the National Trust by the Copeland Bird Observatory, one of 16 observatories in the British Isles, monitoring bird migration and seabird populations.
Visits to Lighthouse Island can be arranged through the Copeland Bird Observatory. Contact Mr Neville McKee on 028 9443 3068, or visit the CBO website.
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Ballyquintin Point
Ballyquintin is a 64 acre farm set amid rolling drumlin countryside at the southern tip of the Ards Peninsula, beside the Ballyquintin National Nature Reserve. The property is located in one of the most secluded parts of Northern Ireland and is great for walking with stunning views across the Strangford Narrows to the Isle of Man, and of the Lecale coast stretching south towards the Mourne Mountains.
A path, suitable for wheelchair use leads to an old World War Two lookout tower.
The land is let for farming and is managed to provide habitats suitable for the Irish Hare and a number of species of bird that are declining nationally. An increase in the quality and quantity of the hedgegrows is particularly important towards achieving this aim.
How to get there
How to get there: From Portaferry head south along the Bar Hall road, which runs along the eastern shore of the lough. Ballyquintin is on first turning on right, 3 miles from Portaferry. Parking is available for less able people at Ballyquintin Farm, while the main visitor car park is located at Port Kelly some 200m away.
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