Portavogie has a wealth of fishing heritage, and two outstanding beaches with beautiful bays.
Getting to Portavogie
Located on the east coast of the Borough and of Northern Ireland, is the large fishing port, surrounded by picturesque views. Take the scenic road from Portaferry and reach the village within half an hour, or if coming from the north, it can be reached within 45 minutes of the City of Bangor, or in just over 60 minutes from Belfast.
Best accessed by road and Translink public transport (bus)
See Sat Nav details and Distance Guide at the bottom of the page.
Plan your trip
Portavogie, a renowned Fishing Hub
Portavogie is one of the main fishing ports in the province and is a seafood lover's paradise. Portavogie is famous for its prawns and herrings, which have given rise to a fish processing industry as well as boat building.
The village's history can be traced back to the late 16th and early 17th century when a settlement was established north of the present village at a sheltered bay called Stablehole.
The village has become an important maritime centre because of its location and the rich supply of superb seafood in local waters. In fact, seafood is one of County Down’s most highly-prized exports. The celebrated Portavogie prawn features on many restaurant menus, locally and globally.
McCammon Rocks is a reef that lies just out to sea from Portavogie and at low tide you can walk to them. Historically, fishermen anchored their boats on the rocks, today it is very common to see seals gather.
Tide and Turf Food Festival
This annual event is a celebration of our local food from land and sea, with a host of family fun, food stalls, kids entertainment and live music. Find out more about the popular event that forms part of our Taste Autumn season.
Kirkistown
A little inland is Kirkistown Race Track. This is a former RAF airfield and now the venue for regular car and motorcycle races that draw crowds throughout the summer season.
Homegrown talent
To the right of Portavogie harbour, there is a George Best mural. The famous footballer lived in Portavogie in the years before his death and locals remember him well. Villagers also celebrate Eileen Palmer, who set up the Fishermen’s Choir, which still thrives today. The founding fishermen in the choir all wore black sweaters, knitted by relatives. Poignantly, each garment had a unique pattern, ensuring that the wearer could be identified if they were lost at sea.
Ulster-Scots in Portavogie
Explore the influence of Ulster-Scots in the fishing village.
Sat Nav details
Latitude 54°27'33"N and longitude 5°26'28"W
Driving distances (approx, depending on route):
Belfast - Portavogie | 1 hour 10 minutes
Bangor - Portavogie | 40 minutes
Comber - Portavogie | 40 minutes
Portaferry - Portavogie | 25 minutes (via the east coast)
