Ballyreagh Car Park
Less than 1.5 miles (2 km) south-east of Newtownards town centre, along the A20 Portaferry Road. This small layby provides exceptional views across the extensive Northern mudflats of Strangford Lough, which are owned and protected by the National Trust. A big threat to the mudflats and adjoining saltmarsh is the introduced Cordgrass, more commonly known as Spartina. The Trust is currently controlling this highly invasive plant on parts of the shore it has responsibility for.
Look out for
• Wintering wetland birds - over 70,000 wetland birds regularly spend the winter across the Lough making it one of the top fifteen sites in the whole of the UK
• Pale-bellied brent geese are the most significant, arriving en-masse each autumn from their breeding grounds in Arctic Canada. Up to 75% of the global population can be present at Strangford Lough
• Other bird species include large numbers of wading birds such as golden plover, dunlin, redshank, bar-tailed godwit and knot, together with waterfowl such as pintail and shelduck.
Greyabbey Car Park
On the southern outskirts of Greyabbey, along the main A20. The Trust manages several sites across Greyabbey Bay, including Skillen’s Wood, Mid Island, South Island and Chapel Island, as well as a substantial area of foreshore and Lough bed off Greyabbey.
Look out for
• Large flocks of wintering waterfowl and wading birds
• Archaeological monuments including medieval fish traps and kelp grids
• Our series of guided walks which explore the wildlife and archaeology of this area. For further details contact the National Trust on +44 (0)28 4278 8387.
Horse Island
1.3 miles (2 km) south of Kircubbin. This area of wet grassland and saltmarsh is managed by the Trust using grazing stock, including traditional breeds of livestock. There is a small car park off the A20 Rowreagh Road. The island can be accessed by foot at low tide.
Look out for
• One of the best examples of saltmarsh on the Lough
• Little egrets
Mount Stewart House and Gardens
Signposted from Newtownards. The wildlife information centre, the Strangford Lough Lookout, is in Mount Stewart car park overlooking Strangford Lough. A team of staff are on hand to show visitors a variety of wildlife, together with a range of fascinating exhibits. Common seals are an important feature of the Lough and up to 200 animals can be present with peak numbers generally occurring in September. The Trust monitors common and grey seal populations on the Lough every month. Admission is free. Find out more about the Lookout. Within the grounds of Mount Stewart, there is a 1 mile (1.7 km) red squirrel trail along well surfaced paths. Mount Stewart and the Ards Peninsula has one of the few surviving populations of red squirrels in Northern Ireland.
The Ards Red Squirrel Group has been set up to protect this vulnerable population, as the non-native invasive grey squirrels are now firmly established in Newtownards and Donaghadee. For information on opening times and admission prices to Mount Stewart House and Gardens contact Mount Stewart on +44 (0)28 4278 8387 or visit nationaltrust.org.uk/mount-stewart.
Look out for
• Live pictures of nesting seabirds on a nearby island, which can be viewed in the Lookout during the breeding season
• 6 miles of Trails with further Trails opening, plus our new Natural Play Area.
• Seals hauled up on islands, particularly at low tide
• Red squirrels, one of the most iconic native mammals in Northern Ireland
• Five of the eight species of bats found in Northern Ireland roost around Mount Stewart buildings. You may see them coming out in the evenings to hunt insects
Glastry Clay Pits
0.65 miles (1 km) south-west of Ballyhalbert on the Outer Ards Peninsula. There is a car park in the southern half of the clay pits and a short trail along mown grass paths. The area to the north of the road includes former clay pits and an old landfill site, which has been capped and sown with a wildflower mix. The pits are affected by several non-native invasive aquatic plant species and the Trust is undertaking a programme to control them. Please do not empty the contents of fish tanks or ponds at Glastry. The Trust does not allow fishing at the Clay Pits. Please keep children under close supervision due to deep water within the pits.
Look out for
• A variety of waterfowl throughout the year.
