Soak up the stillness of Strangford Lough
Just beyond Belfast lies a place of serene beauty, where life goes slowly. Bordered by undulating hills and graced with fairytale castles, story-filled abbeys and the staggeringly beautiful stately home of Mount Stewart, Strangford Lough offers a complete escape into nature. Here, days are spent rambling along pretty coastal paths, hiking around shoreside trails, exploring ancient monastic sites, or skimming through the silvery-grey water on a kayak. It’s a destination that invites you to feel more, to pause and enjoy the laid-back pace of Ireland Unrushed.
Designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, a UNESCO Global Geopark and an Area of Special Scientific Interest, Strangford boasts over 100 miles of shoreline. Travel at your own pace – ideally by electric vehicle – through sleepy villages and along the scenic shoreline. And when the day winds down, relaxing places to stay await, such as the elegant Cuan hotel in Strangford town.
Timeless beauty
History and nature meld to perfection in this part of the world. Mornings could be spent discovering the stony shores of the lough on a coastal walk from the historical Kearney Village, with its pretty whitewashed cottages. In the afternoon, you could find yourself in the crumbling ruins of 12th-century Inch Abbey, a Game of Thrones® filming location. And by evening, seafood restaurants, such as The Lobster Pot in Strangford, offer the perfect end to a day outdoors.
Whether you are winding along beautiful Lough Shore Road past Ballyhenry Island to the pretty town of Portaferry in the south, or skirting the edge of the western shores around Whiterock Bay and Sketrick Island, you’ll find that the journey here is just as enjoyable as the destination. Just look at the ferry from Portaferry to Strangford. Linking the Ards and Lecale peninsulas, it lasts less than 10 minutes, but this idyllic crossing boasts gorgeous village views, rolling green hills and wildlife-rich waters.
Getting out on the water is a rewarding experience here, and a boating, kayaking or stand-up paddleboarding tour is a great introduction to the lough. As Rory Martin of Strangford Lough Activity Centre explains: “You’ll see shipwrecks and hear about cults and gangs, clans, castles and settlements. You’ll very likely see seals, geese, ducks and birds, herons, buzzards and the occasional dolphin. There may be lobster fishermen potting in bays against the backdrop of old abbeys.”
Delving into history
Vikings, Normans and medieval monks have all left their mark on Strangford over the years. Even St Patrick once visited. You can trace his route from the lough to Saul Church, and his final resting place in Down Cathedral, Downpatrick, also home to the St Patrick’s Centre.
At Nendrum near Comber on the northern shores, the 5th-century monastic site sits on Mahee Island, surrounded by navy-blue waters and rolling green fields. It’s a place that Rory Martin says will “make you leave your worries in your wake”. Both Grey Abbey and Inch Abbey also offer hauntingly beautiful ruins in tranquil settings, where the rustle of leaves and the call of birds are often the only sounds. At Castle Ward, you can enjoy the unique blend of architectural styles that define this 18th-century manor house before getting your blood pumping at theClearsky Adventure Centre.
A short distance from here is the delightful village of Killyleagh. Tracey Jeffery of Tracey’s Farmhouse Kitchen says this picturesque spot “is home to the oldest inhabited castle in Ireland, built in the Loire Valley style of a chateau”. Just beside the castle, Tracey recommends enjoying a meal at The Dufferin Arms, an old coaching inn: “It serves great local food and a fantastic pint of creamy Guinness.”
Food experiences
Settled snugly on some of the most fertile arable land in Ireland, it’s only natural that Strangford scores highly when it comes to food, with great places to eat including the 19th-century Old Post Office in Lisbane, The Artisan Cookhouse in Strangford, and The Poacher’s Pocket and Balloo House in Killinchy, both renowned for their fine fare.
For those looking for deeper food experiences, Strangford delivers. Get to know the area’s whiskey culture with the Echlinville Distillery Tour and Tipple just outside Newtownards, or embark on a culinary odyssey with A Wee Taste of Strangford Lough with Indie Füde.
At Tracey’s Farmhouse Kitchen, you can try your hand at baking or enjoy a fun Canoe and Cake outing. “Our experiences connect the local foods in season with the land and with our tradition,” Tracey notes. “It’s very easy for us to live sustainably here as this is the Garden of Northern Ireland”.
Finnebrogue Woods, a 230-acre estate just outside Downpatrick, also offers a memorable experience connected with the land, with feasts set in tents, wild cooking courses, seasonal foraging and camping. Or try Ballyburren Outdoor Escapes’Foraging Walk and Bushcraft Cookery Course, which takes you from plant to plate.
Magical mountains
Strangford’s location offers easy access to Belfast, but it’s also very close to the magnificent Mourne Mountains, which offer memorable tracks and trails. Scale Slieve Donard, hike through the hills to the Silent Valley, and explore the myths, legends and secrets that are packed into the peaks and folds of this beautiful range on an exhilarating walking tour with Walk the Mournes.
Garden delights
On the eastern shores, along the magnificent Portaferry Road, sits one of the lough’s crowning treasures – Mount Stewart. Careful design is in perfect balance with rustic beauty here, which has made Mount Stewart one of the top 10 gardens in the world. You can experience a wilder side of nature at Castle Espie Wetland Centre. Visit in the autumn and you’ll see 90% of the world’s population of light-bellied Brent geese.
Sumptuous gardens and enchanting walking trails await at Montalto Estate in Ballynahinch, where you can immerse yourself in nature, followed by a luxurious afternoon tea and private tour of the house. Close to Lough Neagh, the impressive Elizabethan-style Brownlow House also boasts a large parkland of more than 250 acres along with an elegant tea room.
Getting around
Electric vehicles are available for hire from several providers in Belfast, including Europcar and Enterprise. There are numerous EV charging stations in Northern Ireland. Strangford Lough is around 45 minutes to an hour by car from Belfast city.
Accommodation
Surround yourself with shoreside luxury at The Cuan Hotel in Strangford, winner of The Times and the Sunday Times Best Places to Stay 2025 award. Manse on the Beach is a lovely guesthouse where you can enjoy holistic yoga events and wellness therapies. Clandeboye Lodge is a luxurious four-star countryside retreat just outside Bangor.
Staying longer
Delightfully under-the-radar and only a short distance from Strangford, Lough Neagh boasts scenic villages, rustic beauty and is the perfect place to relax and unwind. Delve into the life and work of one of the world’s greatest poets at the Seamus Heaney HomePlace,, head out on a memorable boat tour with Abháinn, or stroll the woodlands at Drum Manor Forest Park.
EV car hire providers
· SIXT – Pick up branches: Belfast International Airport, Belfast City Airport, Newtownards, Belfast Titanic Quarter, Lisburn.
· Europcar – Pick up branches: Belfast International Airport, Belfast city, Portadown.
· Enterprise – Pick up branches: Belfast city, Lisburn, Newtownards.
EV charge point maps
· Zap-Map
