Strangford Lough
A most beautiful landscape of international importance
Strangford Lough
Overview
A most beautiful landscape of international importance
Strangford Lough is a unique and wonderful place of immense international importance for nature conservation. It is the largest sea lough in the British Isles, covering an area from Angus Rock at its mouth on the Irish Sea, to the vast sand-flats at its northern end 20 miles (33 kilometres) away. It is one of only three designated Marine Nature Reserves in the United Kingdom.
The wealth of wildlife, unrivalled in Europe, is complex, delicately balanced, dependent on tides, and the variety of habitats found between seabed and shoreline, and of course, how we as humans interact with this precious resource.
- Telephone
- 02842787769
- strangford@nationaltrust.org.uk
Strangford Lough
How to get here
- Address
- Strangford, County Down
- By road
- The A20 runs along the picturesque eastern shore of the lough between Newtownards and Portaferry, before continuing on to Ballyquintin at the very southern tip of the Ards Peninsula. The A22 runs between Comber and Downpatrick to the west of the lough
- On foot
- Walking routes the Ulster Way, Lecale Way and St Patrick's Way, all take in parts of the Lough. Most of the shoreline is accessible on foot and if you time the tides right, some of the islands can also be explored
- By cycle
- Sustrans National Cycle Network route 99 takes cyclists from Belfast to the Lough shores. The winding, rural coast roads around the lough are very popular with cyclists
- By ferry
- Strangford Lough can be approached by yacht from the Irish Sea. Mooring available at Portaferry marina. A public car and passenger ferry crosses the southern Narrows between Strangford and Portaferry every half hour. The National Trust runs wildlife watching boat trips during the summer
- By bus
- Most of the towns and villages boardering the lough are served by Ulsterbus services. Service 10A takes you from Belfast along the picturesque Ards Pininsula on the East side of the lough terminating in Portaferry. Service 16E goes from Downpatrick to Strangford on the south west of the lough
Strangford Lough
Prices
Admission free
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.
Strangford Lough
Opening times
Wednesday 11 December
- Strangford Lough Dawn to dusk
Thursday 12 December
- Strangford Lough Dawn to dusk
Friday 13 December
- Strangford Lough Dawn to dusk
Saturday 14 December
- Strangford Lough Dawn to dusk
Sunday 15 December
- Strangford Lough Dawn to dusk
Monday 16 December
- Strangford Lough Dawn to dusk
Tuesday 17 December
- Strangford Lough Dawn to dusk
Strangford Lough
Contact us
- Telephone
- 02842787769
- strangford@nationaltrust.org.uk
- Address
- Strangford, County Down