Portaferry - Entrance of Strangford Lough on Ards Peninsula
Portaferry County Down is a small port town that is at the narrow entry to Strangford Lough where a daily ferry connects the town with Strangford. The town is well known for its festivals.
Portaferry is a small town in county Down, Northern Ireland, at the southern end of Ards Peninsula, near the narrows at the entrance to Strangford Lough. The atmosphere of this city might be different for being placed by the river and for being a fishing destination, but there are some other places which make Portaferry famous with them and thus tends to attract visitors all the time.
There is a marina in Portaferry that tends to carry around 500,000 people one mile across the sea to Strangford since this service operates daily at 15-minutes intervals (8am - 11pm), which stands as one of the important things that make highlight this small town. Portaferry also hosts its own small marina which is known as Portaferry marina.
The town centre of Portaferry has many old Georgian buildings along with Portaferry Castle, which is a 16th century tower, and which brings the history right into the mind and eyes of the tourist or visitor once he/she walks by them or even get the chance to get inside any of them. Even walking down the streets of this town and passing by all those different buildings is considered one of the things that one should do in Portaferry to experience it in exactly the right way.
Portaferry is known to be a popular location because of its wildlife and marine reserve which tends to attract lots of tourists and visitors to it, and that comes in addition to Exploris which is an aquarium; Exploris was opened by Ards Borough Council in 1987 and then it was extended and re-opened by prince Charles in 1994 and now it is under private management. Exploris is Northern Ireland's premier sanctuary and aquarium that features a huge walk-through tank and outdoor seal pools.
From the different places that one could check and visit in Portaferry, county Down, there are those which we have already mentioned and which include the transportation means that happens between Strangford and Portaferry, Exploris, as well as the 16th century old Portaferry Castle which is found there.
County Down is not just about Portaferry, but there are different places out there which one could discover in different cities and towns which are all placed in county Down. Kilbroney Park is one of the places located in county Down ( Newcastle is another destination with the famous Slieve Donard Hotel ( Donaghadee in county Down could also go on your list of places to visit in this county in Northern Ireland ( Bangor Harbour and Marina was another location we have visited in county Down and thus would recommend ( and that comes in addition to different other destinations that on the list of places that one could visit in county Down, Northern Ireland.
We walked through the town of Portaferry, we experienced the atmosphere of the whole place, we enjoyed our time by one of the cafes, and we got the chance to pass by those different attractions that mark this town and add to your memory when its name is mentioned. There are green spaces, there is water, there are old buildings and a castle; what else would you want to experience all in the same place?
Portaferry is not just a local place but it is also a touristic one for its beauty, history, wildlife and the other visitor attractions. One of those important attractions of the place is Strangford Lough which is the largest sea inlet in the British isles. Portaferry is actually Northern Ireland's first Marine Nature Reserve and is also renowned as an area of outstanding natural beauty and special scientific interest with six natural nature reserves within its reaches - Queen's University of Belfast have a Marine Research Laboratory on the shorefront and currently the town is also home to a tidal energy research project the Minesto Sea Kite.
There are over 2,000 species of marine animals which have been found in the Strangford Lough and internationally important flocks of wildfowl and wading birds converge there in winter, and it is also the most important site in Ireland for breeding common seals.
There are actually lots of things to be known and discovered about Portaferry even though it is considered a small town, but you could visit different touristic attractions in it and at the same time get the chance to experience the life by the lough and know more about its importance.
Have you ever got the chance to visit Portaferry in Northern Ireland before? If you had then share your experience with us and we would listen to all the comments as well.
Some of the best locations around Ireland / Northern Ireland and further afield. A travel blog/vlog of the hidden treasures that are on our doorstep.
The Ards Peninsula & North Down
Preview of 'The Ards Peninsula & North Down' on DVD - Scenic treasures
Places to see in ( Newtownards - UK )
Places to see in ( Newtownards - UK )
Newtownards, is a large town, townland and civil parish in County Down, Northern Ireland. Newtownards lies at the most northern tip of Strangford Lough, 10 miles east of Belfast, on the Ards Peninsula. Newtownards is situated in the civil parish of Newtownards and the historic baronies of Ards Lower and Castlereagh Lower. Newtownards is the largest town in the former Borough of Ards. It is known colloquially by locals as Ards.
The town of Newtownards is overlooked by the 100-foot (30 m) high Scrabo Tower. The tower is 41 metres high, and was erected as a memorial to Charles Stewart, 3rd Marquess of Londonderry, in recognition of his concern for the plight of his tenants during the great potato famine. It is open to the public and houses a historical and local environment exhibition. The basalt topped sandstone hill at Scrabo is one of the dominant features of north Down. The tower now stands tall in Scrabo Country Park with its woodland walks and parkland through Killynether Wood.
The Somme Heritage Centre, which is situated a little north of the town, is the Somme Association's flagship project. Situated adjacent to the Clandeboye Estate outside Newtownards, the centre is a unique visitor attraction of international significance showing the reality of the Great War and its effects on the community at home. The centre commemorates the involvement of the 36th (Ulster) and 16th (Irish) divisions in the Battle of the Somme, the 10th (Irish) Division in Gallipoli, Salonika and Palestine and provides displays and information on the entire Irish contribution to the First World War.
The centre promotes cross-community contact, mutual understanding, an appreciation of cultural diversity, and is a major visitor attraction. The centre is built on ground provided by Ards Borough Council in what is to be the Whitespots Country Park. It is linked to Helen's Tower on the Clandeboye Estate via the Ulster Way. Historically, the 36th (Ulster) Division trained on the estate during the first few months of the war and German prisoners of war were interned there. A replica of Helen's Tower was built on the Somme battlefield as Northern Ireland's national war memorial.
On the east shore of Strangford Lough, a few miles outside Newtownards and near Greyabbey, stands Mount Stewart, an 18th-century house and garden – the home of the Londonderry family. The house and its contents reflect the history of the Londonderrys who played a leading role in British social and political life. The ninety-eight acre garden at Mount Stewart has been proposed as a UNESCO world heritage site. Largely created by Edith, Lady Londonderry, wife of the 7th Marquess, in the 1920s, it has an unrivalled collection of rare and unusual plants.
( Newtownards - UK ) is well know as a tourist destination because of the variety of places you can enjoy while you are visiting the city of Newtownards . Through a series of videos we will try to show you recommended places to visit in Newtownards - UK
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County Down Walk | Northern Ireland | Irish Castles | NI
A walk through county Down in Northern Ireland...
Northern Ireland is formed of six different counties which county Down is just one of them, which is located in the northeast of the island of Ireland. County Down is one of the thirty two traditional counties of Ireland and is within the province of Ulster.
There are different things to be done in county Down and there are magical views and scenery to be spotted, and that is definitely one of the different reasons why the people of Belfast consider it their getaway since it is just a short drive away; they can hike, enjoy the calm and beautiful scenery, or just even play golf.
There are different things to be done in county Down - which you could definitely include in this walk - these things include climbing the Mourne Mountains, visiting Tollymore Forest ( enjoying a golf game, roaming Mount Stewart ( visiting the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum ( checking St.Patrick's ( enjoy the beauty of Strangford Lough ( visit Down County Museum ( and enjoy the beauty of nature in general which you will definitely fall in love with when it comes to county Down.
The combination between having a peaceful time, enjoying the nature, visiting some old Irish castles, playing around, and even checking some of the destinations that appeared in the famous movie series Game of Thrones, is considered the perfect combination that would be calling out for visitors and tourists to come and visit county Down with all the beauty that it tends to offer.
Game of thrones is one of the famous movie series that people all around the world are watching, and travelling to Northern Ireland in general will bring a dream true to all the fans because they will get the chance to see some of the locations in which the movie was filmed and even check some of the doors that appeared throughout the episodes. While being in county Down, checking Castle Ward will be one of the things to be done by those fans, which will tend to bring part of county Down to them as well.
County Down is divided into different towns, the largest of them is Bangor which is located on the northeast coast, and there are also three other large towns and cities on its border; Newry lies on the western border with county Armagh, while Lisburn and Belfast lie on the northern border with county Antrim.
County Down contains both, the southernmost point of Northern Ireland (Cranfield Point) and the easternmost point of Ireland (Burr Point). There are different interesting geographical information that one should know about county Down in Northern Ireland, such as the two significant peninsulas that it contains: Ards Peninsula and Lecale Peninsula.
Northern Ireland is known with its beautiful nature and the different greenery which the eyes will get to see and part of this is found in county Down. County Down has several islands off the Down Coast: Mew Island, Light House Island, and the Copeland Islands, all of which lie in the north of the Ards peninsula. Gunn Island lies off the Lecale coast, and this comes in addition to the number of small islands in Strangford Lough.
There are different places of interest to be visited when it comes to county Down in addition to the ones already mentioned. In county Down there is Exploris which is the Northern Ireland aquarium that is located in Portaferry, there is also Scrabo Tower which is located in Newtownards, Saul where St. Patrick said his first eucharist in Ireland, the Old Inn in Crawfordsburn is one of Ireland's oldest hostelries with records dating back to 1614, and lots of other beautiful places that one would not want to miss.
County Down borders county Antrim to the north, the Irish Sea to the east, county Armagh to the west, and county Louth across Carlingford Lough to the southwest, and this could pretty much sum up why county Down is considered one of the most favorite when it comes to tourists - it brings everything for them just like that.
This is all what you will need to know about county Down in Northern Ireland and the top attractions in it, and by now you should know where you want to go during your upcoming visit to Northern Ireland.
You could check more videos on our channel and get different suggestions and ideas about the places to go to, the things never to miss, and the destinations to choose in order to go and have some fun along the way.
Tell us about your opinion; have you been to county Down before? What did you enjoy the most? Share your experience with us.
The best locations around Ireland / Northern Ireland and further afield. A travel blog/vlog of the hidden treasures that are on our doorstep.
Donaghadee - County Down, Northern Ireland
Donaghadee has a great landmark in the lighthouse over the pier facing into the Irish Sea. There is a beautiful coastal walk here - also into the town where there is an old moat/castle structure and a great view of the surrounding area. Very close to Bangor and Belfast.
There are some small towns scattered around Belfast that open the eyes of the visitors and tourists who are staying in Belfast and give them the chance to think outside the box and go out of the city to any of these towns if they have some spare time to spend and this is usually a good plan because it will give them the chance to explore more parts of Northern Ireland during their trip.
Donaghadee is one of these different options related to small towns which we have to refer to and mention, it is only 18 miles away from Belfast and only 6 miles away from Bangor - which is not a long distance for someone to go. Donaghadee is a small town situated in county Down, Northern Ireland, that lies on the northeast coast of the Ards Peninsula; it is in the civil parish of Donaghadee and the historic barony of Ards Lower. The history of Donaghadee town and the different attractions that could be seen in it add to the encouragement that fills the visitor's heart and mind about going there.
Donaghadee town was actually featured in the Irish Rebellion of 1798; in the morning of Pike Sunday 10 June 1798, a force of United Irishmen mainly from Bangor, Donaghadee, Greyabbey, and Ballywalter attempted to occupy the the town of Newtownards, they met with musket fire from the market house and they were defeated. In addition to this historical part, Donaghadee harbour is also important when it comes to this town since it has its historical part as well; Donaghadee was used in the period between 1759 and 1826 by couples going to Portpatrick, Wigtown, Scotland in order to get married since there was a daily packet boat going there from Donaghadee harbour.
Of course when it comes to any new place you are visiting, the first thing that you will be doing is searching for the different touristic attractions that you could visit there. When it comes to Donaghadee town, there are a couple of things to consider visiting, such as the Moat, the Harbour and the Marina along with the lighthouse, and there are other minor places to consider such as the Parish Church.
The harbour and the lighthouse of Donaghadee town are famous because that harbour almost dates back to the 17th century and this harbour is well known for its lighthouse - it might be one of the most famous attractions related to this town, it has actually been a haven for ships for years and years.
In addition to the harbour and the lighthouse, there is also the Moat - or as it is also known and referred to the Motte - which was actually built to house the explosives used in building the harbour. The Moat is also one of the most prominent features of the town that dates back to 1818 but today it is now part of a park, giving views across the town and seawards towards the Copeland Islands (
These are the most common things to be done in this small town but there are still other activities which one could also include and which might be a walk by the town that includes the marine walk by The Commons: this is a semi-cultivated open space with bowls, tennis, putting, and an adventure playground. There are also those restaurants, hotels, and bars which you could choose from and enjoy sitting at, one of them is the famous Grace Neill's bar which opened back in 1611 as the King's Arms and which is considered the oldest bar to be found in Ireland.
When you are visiting Donaghadee town, you should always check the events that might be taking place there because you could get the chance to enjoy your time attending any of them. There are also those shops and boutiques which might be offering different products that you could go back home with any of them - make your visit count.
There are some other small towns and cities which are close to Donaghadee - and that of course in addition to Belfast the capital city of Northern Ireland and the one mostly visited ( - from these places, there is Bangor which is the closest to Donaghadee and which is mostly known with its harbour ( there is also Portaferry which is mostly known with its Exploris Aquarium ( and there is also Ballywalter which is considered not far away from Donaghadee (
These were the things we managed to visit in Donaghadee, county Down, and this was the trip we went on and enjoyed. Have you ever been there before? Share with us more of your stories and adventures.
Some of the best locations around Ireland / Northern Ireland and further afield. A travel blog/vlog of the hidden treasures that are on our doorstep.
Ardglass, County Down
Ardglass is a fishing village with castle ruins and a golf course
Mount Stewart - Ards Peninsula - N.I
Our first ever video!
Mount Stewart Visitor Centre Greyabbey Co Down
My brother and his wife are over from England for our daughter's wedding so we headed out for a visit to historic 19th Century Mount Stewart House on the shores of Strangford Lough outside Greyabbey for a pre wedding treat.
This is the flora and fauna of Mount Stewart Visitor Centre you pass close to to enter the big house.
Barn owl chicks at night on Ards Peninsula
Night time footage of barn owl chicks raised in a nest box on the Ards Peninsula hissing and being fed by the adult . These are the first known barn owls in Northern Ireland to have been raised in a man-made nest box.
Ards Peninsula Trip Part 1
A trip from Donaghaee to Portaferry on my Yamaha MT09 Tracer / FJ09. It takes in Millisle, Ballywalter, Ballyhalbert, Kircubbin, Cloughy and Kirkistown Race Track on the way to Portaferry. The main pictures is taken with a Drift HD 1080 and the inset a Kitvision Splash.
Scrabo Tower - Newtownards, County Down, Northern Ireland
Being in Newtownards means getting the chance to visit Scrabo Tower - and you should never miss such a chance! (
Scrabo Tower is located to the west of Newtownards in county Down, Northern Ireland, this turreted tower is a noted landmark which stands at 540 feet (which is 160 meters tall) above sea level and is 125 feet (35 meters) high; a tall building which is now banning people to go up for some security reasons.
For the length of this tower as well as for being placed on a hill, it could be actually spotted from almost all the north part of county Down. The history of Scrabo Tower began in 1857 as it was built as a memorial to Charles Stewart, the 3rd Marquess of Londonderry who was one of the Duke of Wellington's generals during the Napoleonic Wars.
Today, Scrabo Tower houses two floors of display with access to a viewing level via a climb of 122 steps, but in April 2014 it was closed for the safety of the visitors because the Northern Ireland Environment Agency said that the tower had suffered serious water ingress that had damaged the electricity supply. In 2015, the tower started to reopen occasionally until it opened completely once again in 2017, allowing all those who might be visiting Newtownards for Scrabo Tower to climb it and see the views from up there.
There is a country park just beside the tower - or which is considered part of the tower itself - which is always open to the public and has several woodland walks and parkland through Killynether Wood. As much as this is considered a historical building to check and know more about while being in Newtownards, the scenes and views which you will get the chance to receive are magnificent; actually the view from the hill extends across Strangford Lough to the Mountains of Mourne and the Scottish coast.
The name Scrabo which is given to the tower is said to come from the Gaelic word for a cow pasture for the days when there was a community pasture for cattle on the hill, but unfortunately the stone or hut circles were destroyed by the creation of the golf course.
Building this tower went through different stages and there were even different designs created before settling on the one given to this tower, and all that was just to commemorate the Marquis. The first tenant of the tower was William McKay, a foreman at the quarry, who with his wife brought the family of 8 children in the tower and even the keys of the tower were handed back to Londonderry Estate by his granddaughters.
Getting these mesmerizing views from Scrabo Tower and enjoying the green area that is surrounding it is only one thing that you could enjoy doing in Newtownards because there are still other things to be visited and other places to be considered.
If you came to check this tower in Newtownards then you should also consider some other places as well, such as the Greyabbey ( the Kiltonga wildlife reserve which will provide you with a walk along the birds' view ( and there is also Mount Stewart House and Gardens (
On the other hand, there are lots of places that are located in county Down, Northern Ireland, and even if they might not be all close to one another or within reach, we can mention some of those which we have been to: we have been to Rostrevor ( Donaghadee ( Portaferry ( Dundrum Castle ( Crawfordsburn ( Bangor ( Ballywalter ( and Tollymore Forest in Newcastle ( these are some of those which we have visited, but you could still find lots of other places in county Down.
We personally recommend visiting Scrabo Tower if you happen to be in Newtownards, not just to check this as an old historical building but also to indulge in the scene that you are going to receive if the tower is open and you are allowed to get inside, or even just by getting this view while standing on the hill right next to the tower; it is all worth it! We have already been there several times and we are happy about them all.
If you have been to Newtownards before and visited Scrabo Tower, tell us about the experience you have had and share with us any of the discoveries which you have managed to find out about the place - we will be very excited to hear from you all.
This was our trip to Scrabo Tower in county Down, Northern Ireland, and the the views we have managed to receive - just amazing!
Some of the best locations around Ireland / Northern Ireland and further afield. A travel blog/vlog of the hidden treasures that are on our doorstep.
Strangford to Portaferry ferry, crossing Strangford Lough at the Narrows.
Strangford to Portaferry ferry, crossing Strangford Lough at the Narrows.
Note how it struggles against the current, one of the strongest in Britain.
Strangford Lough, sometimes Strangford Loch,[1] is a large sea loch or inlet in County Down, Northern Ireland. It is separated from the Irish Sea by the Ards Peninsula. The name Strangford is derived from Old Norse: Strangr-fjǫrðr meaning strong fjord; describing the fast-flowing narrows at its mouth. It is called Loch Cuan (formerly anglicised as Lough Cuan) in Irish, meaning calm lough (describing the still shallow waters of the mud flats), and Strangfurd Loch or Strangfirt Lough in Ulster-Scots.[2][3] The fretum Brene (called in some of the other Vitaey fretum Brenasse) was the ancient name applied to the narrow entrance to Strangford.[4]
It is a popular tourist attraction noted for its fishing and the picturesque villages and townships which border its waters. These include Portaferry on the Ards Peninsula, which is connected to Strangford across the lough by a car ferry.
The island studded sea lough is the largest inlet in the British Isles, covering 150 km². Almost totally landlocked, the lough is approached from the Irish Sea through the eight kilometre long fast-running tidal narrows, which open out into more gentle waters where there are 70 islands. Countless tidal rocky outcrops called pladdies litter the lough and mudflats, along with marshes, rocks, bays and headlands. The lough is a conservation area and its abundant wildlife recognised internationally for its importance.
Recorded from The Windmill Viewpoint at Portaferry, using Panasonic HDC SD 900.
Edited on Sony Vegas Pro 11.
Music by Kevin MacLeod, Incompetech.com, licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0. ...ISRC: USUAN1200016.
Many thanks again Kevin !
Strangford, County Down
Strangford on County Down coast road taken on-board BMW K1200R Sport with my Panasonic HM-TA1
Island Hill Newtownards Co Down N Ireland
Found on the coastline half way between Comber and Newtownards is scenic Island Hill. A small island conneced to the mainland by a narrow man made concrete causeway which is submerged for hours with the incoming tide.
A great place to unwind and getavf back to nature because you are surrounded by wonderful coastal views of Strangford Lough, views of drumlin farmland and then you have also a vibrant bird life all the year round.
Seabirds, ducks and Geese abound especially in Winter.
Irish ferry crossing, Strangford to Portaferry
Strangford to Portaferry ferry, crossing Strangford Lough at the Narrows.
Note how it struggles against the current, one of the strongest in Britain.
Strangford Lough, sometimes Strangford Loch,[1] is a large sea loch or inlet in County Down, Northern Ireland. It is separated from the Irish Sea by the Ards Peninsula. The name Strangford is derived from Old Norse: Strangr-fjǫrðr meaning strong fjord; describing the fast-flowing narrows at its mouth. It is called Loch Cuan (formerly anglicised as Lough Cuan) in Irish, meaning calm lough (describing the still shallow waters of the mud flats), and Strangfurd Loch or Strangfirt Lough in Ulster-Scots.[2][3] The fretum Brene (called in some of the other Vitaey fretum Brenasse) was the ancient name applied to the narrow entrance to Strangford.[4]
It is a popular tourist attraction noted for its fishing and the picturesque villages and townships which border its waters. These include Portaferry on the Ards Peninsula, which is connected to Strangford across the lough by a car ferry.
The island studded sea lough is the largest inlet in the British Isles, covering 150 km². Almost totally landlocked, the lough is approached from the Irish Sea through the eight kilometre long fast-running tidal narrows, which open out into more gentle waters where there are 70 islands. Countless tidal rocky outcrops called pladdies litter the lough and mudflats, along with marshes, rocks, bays and headlands. The lough is a conservation area and its abundant wildlife recognised internationally for its importance.
Recorded from The Windmill Viewpoint at Portaferry, using Panasonic HDC SD 900.
Edited on Sony Vegas Pro 11.
Music by Kevin MacLeod, Incompetech.com, licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0. ...ISRC: USUAN1200016.
Many thanks again Kevin !
Jim Shannon highlights water disruption in Ards Peninsula
Strangford DUP MLA Jim Shannon highlighting problems faced by residents of the Ards Peninsula who have had their water supply disrupted regularly over recent weeks & pressing the DRD Minister to take action.
Dairylink: welcome rain greens up Down
Rainfall at the weekend was welcome on Bill Brown’s farm at the top of the Ards Peninsula in Co Down.
Ards Flight
take off on 17/05/2013
The grave of William Steel Dickson 1744 -1824 United Irishman
another Prebyterian minister and yet another United Irishman.
Born on 25 December 1744, William Dickson was the eldest son of John Dickson, a tenant farmer of Ballycraigy, Carnmoney, Co Antrim. He received his early education from the Rev. Robert White, the Presbyterian Minister of Templepatrick. In Glasgow University he studied under Adam Smith and John Millar.
Pastor of Ballyhalbert in 1771 and Portaferry 1780, in 1793 he was chosen Moderator by the Synod of Ulster. An enthusiastic member of the Volunteers he was a strong and consistent advocate of immediate Catholic emancipation and of parliamentary reform. He took an active part in the political campaigns of Robert Stewart Sen. - later Lord Londonderry (1781) and the young Robert Stewart - later Lord Castlereagh (1790). When in 1791 the Society of United Irishmen was formed in Belfast. Dickson became a member. In 1798 he was reputed to have been Adjutant General of the County Down forces and, while this was never proved, he did not deny it.
On 5 June 1798, two days before the attack on Antrim that started the Rebellion in Ulster, Dickson was arrested in Ballynahinch. Not charged with any offence, he was moved, in August of that year, to a prison ship in Belfast Lough where he remained until transferred, with the other State Prisoners from Dublin to Fort George in Inverness, Scotland. Set free on 13 January 1802 he found himself without employment until he was called by the new Congregation of Second Keady and installed in March 1803.
His campaign to clear his name from the imputations of being implicated in treasonable or seditious practices leveled at him by the Synod of Ulster in 1799 succeeded when, in 1813, a meeting of the Synod declared that the words were inaccurately used of him. In 1812 he published his A Narrative of the Confinement and Exile of William Steel Dickson, DD.
In 1815 he resigned from his congregation and retired to Belfast where he died on 27 December 1824. He is buried in Clifton Street burying ground.
Dickson surviving written works are a testament to his progressive mentality and his detestation of the arbitrary abuse of power by government. His was the driving force in the spread of the gospel of liberalism, from which the United Irishmen derived much of their strength.
Greyabbey
A short film about Greyabbey and surrounding area.