Murlough National Nature Reserve
An extraordinarily beautiful dune landscape
Sea Buckthorn at Murlough
Find out why it'll take us 5 years to remove the sea buckthorn at Murlough
Murlough National Nature Reserve
Overview
An extraordinarily beautiful dune landscape
Murlough National Nature Reserve is a fragile 6000 year old sand dune system owned by the National Trust and managed as Ireland’s first Nature Reserve since 1967. It is an excellent area for walking and bird watching due to its spectacular location at the edge of Dundrum Bay and the Mourne Mountains.
There is a network of paths and boardwalks through the dunes, woodland and heath from where you will see an array of butterflies and wild flowers, as well as access to one of the finest beaches in Co. Down.
The dune fields at Murlough are the best and most extensive example of dune heath within Ireland with over 720 species of butterflies and moths, one of which, the Marsh Fritillary butterfly, is of European importance. The site is internationally important for wintering wildfowl and waders.
- Telephone
- 02843751467
- murlough@nationaltrust.org.uk
Murlough National Nature Reserve
How to get here
- Address
- Keel Point, Dundrum, County Down, BT33 0NQ
- By cycle
- NCN99 (Belfast to Newry) passes entrance
- On foot
- 1 mile from south side of Dundrum village (follow Keel Point Road). From Newcastle is a longer walk (but includes beautiful 2-mile stretch along beach)
- By train
- The nearest train stations are in Belfast city centre (Belfast Great Victoria Station and Belfast Central Station), about 25 miles away. For more information visit Translink website
- By road
- Belfast is about 25 miles north on the A24. Newry is 25 miles west and Downpatrick is 10 miles to the east, both on the A25.
- Parking: open all year
- By bus
- Ulsterbus 20 Belfast to Newcastle, alight at Lazy BJ Caravan Park after Dundrum
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. |
| Minibus: £7.00 |
| Coach: £16.00 |
| Motorbike: £2.00 |
|
Bicycles: Free |
Murlough National Nature Reserve
Opening times
Please note...
Car park gates close 7pm Mar - Sep, 5pm Oct - Nov. Pay and Display in effect all year round.
Saturday 23 March
- Nature reserve Dawn to dusk
- Facilities 10:00 - 18:00
Sunday 24 March
- Nature reserve Dawn to dusk
- Facilities 10:00 - 18:00
Monday 25 March
- Nature reserve Dawn to dusk
- Facilities Closed
Tuesday 26 March
- Nature reserve Dawn to dusk
- Facilities Closed
Wednesday 27 March
- Nature reserve Dawn to dusk
- Facilities Closed
Thursday 28 March
- Nature reserve Dawn to dusk
- Facilities Closed
Friday 29 March
- Nature reserve Dawn to dusk
- Facilities Closed
Murlough National Nature Reserve
Contact us
- Telephone
- 02843751467
- murlough@nationaltrust.org.uk
- Address
- Keel Point, Dundrum, County Down, BT33 0NQ