Kearney village and coastal path
On the Outer Ards, is located 3 miles (5 km) east of Portaferry. The village and coastal path have been in National Trust care since 1965 and was the Trust’s first purchase in Northern Ireland through the Enterprise Neptune scheme. The first recorded dwellings at Kearney date back to the 18th century. At one time, 30 fishing vessels operated out of Kearney and nearby Tara. Following acquisition, the Trust completely reconstructed the village based on the 1834 Ordnance Survey and all the houses are now occupied. There is a car park, public toilets and small interpretative centre at Kearney village. Visitors are welcome to walk around the village, but please respect the privacy of residents. You are welcome to walk along the coast in either direction. The Trust maintains about 2 miles (3 km) of paths along the coast, which are mostly mown grass, but can be rockier and uneven towards Knockinelder. The coastal grassland to the south of the village is grazed with traditional cattle.
Look out for
• The Silurian rocks along the shore at Kearney dating back to 400-430 million years ago when they would have been at the bottom of a deep sea
• Rare plants growing on shingle banks along the shore, including oyster plant, sea kale and yellow-horned poppy. This is the most northerly site in Ireland for the yellow-horned poppy
• Common blue butterflies during the summer.
Knockinelder
Immediately to the west of Kearney Point. The Trust manages a couple of car parks which provide access to the lovely sandy beach. Much of the landscape around Knockinelder and Kearney is protected by a National Trust Deed of Covenant, which preserves its traditional character.
Look out for
• Pale-bellied brent geese and sandwich tern along the coast
Bar Hall / Ballyquintin Farm
About 3 miles (5 km) to the south-east of Portaferry. This 47-hectare farm at the southern tip of the Ards Peninsula is managed using traditional mixed farming methods and was purchased by the Trust in 2000. The property is signed from Portaferry and there is a small car park, together with a 3-mile (5 km) trail. The trails follow rough tracks and country lanes. Please be careful of vehicles and as there is stock on site at times, please avoid taking dogs into parts of the site where cattle are grazing. The environmentally friendly farming methods adopted by the Trust provides valuable habitats to a range of increasingly rare farmland wildlife.
Look out for
• On a clear day, fabulous views of the Isle of Man and Mourne Mountains from the World War II lookout post and Bar Hall hill
• The Irish hare, which is endemic to the island of Ireland
• Farmland bird species such are Skylark, Tree Sparrow and Linnet.
• Shoreline birds, including large numbers of whimbrel stopping off to feed on migration from their wintering grounds in West Africa to their breeding haunts in northern Scotland and Iceland
• Offshore, large numbers of feeding seabirds can often be seen, the most noticeable are plunging gannets
• You may spot the elusive otter - keep a look out for their tell-tale spraints (otter droppings).
Nugent’s Wood
Along the shore of Strangford Lough immediately to the north of Portaferry. There is a 0.65 mile (1 km) linear walk through the wood. There is a loop at the end, which involves a steep section and the path can be muddy in places. You can park in Portaferry itself. Portaferry has a good range of shops, public toilets, information centre, places for refreshments, and visitor attractions such as the Exploris Aquarium. Portaferry is also a popular destination for boat trips on Strangford Lough. The National Trust runs several boat trips during the summer for visitors. To book, please contact: +44 (0)28 4278 8387. The Strangford Lough Ferry, a car and passenger transport service, operates between Portaferry and Strangford. Contact +44 (0)28 4488 1637 for timetable and charges.
Look out for
• Carpets of bluebells in spring
• Occasional sightings of the red squirrel
• Harbour porpoises in the Narrows.
Ballyhenry Island
1.3miles (2 km) north of Portaferry. There is space for parking a couple of cars. The island can be reached on foot at low tide, although there are no formal paths. Much of the foreshore between Ballyquintin Point and Ballyhenry Island is owned by the National Trust.
Look out for
• The wreck of the cargo liner Empire Tana, which was used in the World War II Normandy landings, sticking out of the water to the south of the island
• Rare seaweed called free-floating knotted wrack in the intertidal area at Ballyhenry. In Northern Ireland, it is only found in Strangford Lough
• Cormorants drying their wings after feeding. The aptly named Bird Island off Kircubbin has the largest colony of cormorants in Northern Ireland
