Overview
Strangford Lough is a large sea loch or inlet in County Down, in the east of Northern Ireland. It is the largest inlet in the British Isles, covering 150 km². The lough is almost totally enclosed by the Ards Peninsula and is linked to the Irish Sea.
Description
Both an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and an Area of Special Scientific Interest, Strangford Lough is one of the most richly bio-diverse regions in Europe, with over 2,000 marine species spread across 150km2. And yet, with all the birds and badgers, seals and starlings, there’s an unmistakable tranquility to this place.
Perhaps due to its sheer size alone, samphire-spotted Strangford has been a hub of activity for millennia, attracting artists and aristocracy, saints, sinners – and even Vikings! Stop for a moment by the sparkling shore and root yourself in the history of this storied spot, while a cornucopia of vibrant gorse, wild thyme, yarrow and sorrel decorates the fertile banks behind you.