Strangford Lough

A view over Strangford Lough from the Floodgates — Some of the most beautiful views in Northern Ireland

A view over the fields at Ardkeen on Strangford Lough — A view over the fields at Ardkeen

Important notice -

All our houses, gardens, parks, toilets, cafes, shops and car parks are now closed to further restrict the spread of coronavirus. Please do not travel here.

A most beautiful landscape of international importance

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

Which places are open and what you need to know before you visit

We’ve opened more than 100 gardens and parks in England and Northern Ireland through advanced booking. From Monday 6 July, we’re gradually opening gardens and parklands in Wales. Tickets are released on Friday for the following week. More than 200 coast and countryside car parks are open across England, Wales and Northern Ireland. All National Trust houses remain closed for now. Read this article to find out what's open and what to expect from your visit.

Strangford Lough

Wildlife

Strangford Lough County Down

Strangford Lough spring wildlife

Strangford Lough is a unique place to visit at any time of the year, and in spring there's a wide variety of wildlife to be found by the shore or in the wider countryside.

Find out more about the wildlife that inhabit Strangford Lough in spring

Habitats

Nugent's Wood in Portaferry on the shores of Strangford Lough

Woodland

Around the shores of the lough, the National Trust manages a number of interesting woodlands. Killynether, below Scrabo Tower, has a terrific display of woodland flowers every spring. Nugent’s Wood, at Portaferry, is one of the last refuges for the native red squirrel.

Farmland

We ensure our farmland is managed in a way that encourages wildlife. At Gibbs Island, you will see a meadow of wild flowers, teaming with butterflies, bees and other insects. Ballyquintin is one of the best places to spot Irish Hares and flocks of farmland birds such as finches, linnets, tree sparrows and skylark.

Strangford Lough

History

Strangford Lough through the ages

Mesolithic hunter gatherers, St. Patrick, Vikings, and Norman invaders have all left their mark on Strangford Lough. The wealth of archaeological evidence tells a story of mankind’s dependence on the lough that spans thousands of years.

The kelp industry

The kelp industry has significant commercial importance to the area. Records show the landowner could sell the rights to harvest seaweed from different areas of the shore.

Fish traps

The wooden traps were essentially a line of hundreds of posts driven into the sand which were then interwoven with long slender branches. This made a barrier that allowed the water through, during the falling tide, but not the fish.

Neolithic log boat

Over 5,000 years ago, a man trudged up and down the shores of Strangford Lough. He was frustrated, because he was fed up eating shellfish and seaweeds from the foreshore. He knew that there was an abundance of big, tasty fish out in the deep water, but he just couldn’t get to them. But he was ambitious and had an idea.

Strangford Lough

Our work

Island farming on Strangford Lough

For nearly 200 years, farmers around Strangford have transported their livestock to the rich grazing land of the islands in the Lough. Discover the role our rangers play in helping maintain this traditional form of conservation grazing.

Strangford Lough

Get involved

A group of volunteers working outdoors — Volunteers take part in many aspects of our work including coppicing, bird surveys and tree planting

Volunteer at Strangford Lough

The safety of our staff, volunteers, visitors and supporters is our top concern and in accordance with Government guidelines on social distancing, our houses, shops, cafes, gardens and parks are now closed, and from March 24 all of our car parks will close. However, many will be grateful for support when they reopen. If you are interested in volunteering, please keep checking for future opportunities.

	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

Strangford Lough

Important notice -

More about this place

Which places are open and what you need to know before you visit