Murlough National Nature Reserve

Bluebells at Murlough National Nature Reserve, Co. Down — Bluebells cover the reserve in spring

A couple walks their dogs at Murlough National Nature Reserve — Around 250,000 people tread the dunes annually

Murlough National Nature Reserve butterfly discover — Children discovering butterflies at Murlough

Beach art at Murlough National Nature Reserve — Beach art at Murlough

View of Mourne Mountains from Murlough NNR — Take a walk on the wildside at Murlough

Important notice -

Our car parks are open daily for pay and display. Please note the main Car Park gate is locked at 7pm.

An extraordinarily beautiful dune landscape

Overview
Opening times
Prices
How to get here
Facilities and access
Contact us

Visitors walking through a garden in spring

Latest visiting update

Our gardens, parks, cafés, shops and countryside locations are open. Many houses are also open to visit. Advance booking for visits helps us keep everyone safe and socially distanced. At quieter times such as weekdays, booking shouldn't be necessary, but to guarantee entry we recommend booking in advance, especially at weekends and bank holidays.

Murlough National Nature Reserve

Our work

A view of Murlough National Nature Reserce — The boardwalk at Murlough spans 3km of the reserve

Murlough Boardwalk Appeal

We're restoring the boardwalk at Murlough and we need your help

Help us look after Murlough

Murlough National Nature Reserve

Things to see and do

A sea of bluebells at Murlough National Nature Reserve

Spring at Murlough

Spring is an exciting time at Murlough Nature Reserve. Lengthening days and a promise of release from the cold, encourages plants, animals and insects to come out of hibernation...

A couple walks their dogs at Murlough National Nature Reserve

Walks and Trails

Discover the trails we love on site, as well as new walks at some of the other amazing conservation sites we look after in Co. Down.

Beach art at Murlough National Nature Reserve

Activities for kids at Murlough Nature Reserve

With so much wildlife to spot and endless fun to be had on the beach, your family will love a day out at Murlough National Nature Reserve.

Murlough National Nature Reserve

Wildlife

Murlough National Nature Reserve bumblebee feeding

Wonderful wildlife

We're home to more that 600 species of butterfly and moths, rare birds and mammals and an array of stunning flora.

Murlough National Nature Reserve

History

View to the Mourne Mountains from Murlough National Nature Reserve, County Down, Northern Ireland

Human occupation and influence at Murlough

Discover how humans have influenced the landscape of our 6,000 year old dune system.

Murlough National Nature Reserve, woodland, trees, nature

The history of Murlough's trees and woodland

Most of the trees at Murlough date from the acquisition of the Dundrum estate (including Murlough) by the Downshire Estate in 1783.

Places nearby

List
Map

Map

Map Loading...

Walking towards the saddle of the Mournes, Slieve Donard

The Mournes

The most famous of the mountains in the country

Rowallane Garden bursting with colour

Rowallane Garden

A treasure trove of magical gardens and woodlands

Bluebells in the woodland at Castle Ward

Castle Ward

Unique 18th-century mansion, famed for its mixture of architectural styles

Strangford Lough

A most beautiful landscape of international importance

A cluster of white bluebells pictured outside Derrymore House

Derrymore House

Late 18th-century thatched house in gentrified vernacular style

Blossom zoom minnowburn small

Minnowburn

Close to the city, in the heart of the country

Join

Support special places with National Trust membership. Join today and help protect nature at the places in our care, for everyone, for ever.

Donate

Everyone needs nature, now more than ever. Donate today and you could help people and nature to thrive at the places we care for.

Ways to give

Murlough National Nature Reserve

Facilities and access

Murlough National Nature Reserve

Prices

Murlough National Nature Reserve Parking

	Gift Aid	Standard
Car	N/A	£5.00

What is Gift Aid?

Most of our places run the Gift Aid on Entry scheme at their admission points.

Under this scheme, if you're not a member you have the choice of two entry tickets:

Gift Aid Admission
Standard Admission

If the place runs Gift Aid on Entry, we'll offer you a clear choice between the Gift Aid Admission prices and the Standard Admission prices at the admission point. It's entirely up to you which ticket you choose.

Gift Aid Admission includes a 10 per cent or more voluntary donation. Gift Aid Admissions let us reclaim tax on the whole amount paid - an extra 25 per cent - potentially a very significant boost to our places' funds.

An extra £1 paid under the scheme can be worth over £3 to the National Trust as shown below:

	Gift Aid	Standard
Amount paid by visitor	£11.00	£10.00
Tax refund from Government*	£2.75	£0.00
Total received by the National Trust	£13.75	£10.00

*Gift Aid Admissions let us reclaim tax on the whole amount paid - an extra 25 per cent - potentially a very significant boost to our places' funds.

Please note...

Pay and Display in effect all year round. Car park charges will apply for non-members.
Car: £5.00 (March - October)
£3.00 (November - February)

Minibus: £7.00

Coach: £16.00

Motorbike: £2.00

Bicycles: Free

Murlough National Nature Reserve

Opening times

Important notice -

Our car parks are open daily for pay and display. Please note the main Car Park gate is locked at 7pm.

Please note...

Car park gates close at 5pm Oct - Feb, 7pm Mar - Sep. The toilet facilities are closed until March 2021. Pay and Display is in effect year round with Pay by Phone available.

Wed 23
Thu 24
Fri 25
Sat 26
Sun 27
Mon 28
Tue 29
See all opening times

Wednesday 23 June

Thursday 24 June

Friday 25 June

Saturday 26 June

Sunday 27 June

Monday 28 June

Tuesday 29 June