Walks & cyclingFamily day out
Castle Ward
Explore the mansion, historic farmyard, gardens and estate trails beside Strangford Lough. There are routes for short walks as well as longer days on foot or by bike.
Around Slievemoyle
Things to do in and around Strangford
Plan a day or a full weekend around Strangford, Castle Ward and the County Down coast. From estate walks and ferry trips to beaches, local history and family attractions, there is plenty to explore from both Slievemoyle locations.
Local favourites
Places to visit
Harbour & ferryFood nearby
Strangford village & ferry
Spend time by the harbour, stop for something to eat, then take the ferry across the Narrows to Portaferry and the Ards Peninsula.
Walks & play parkFamily day out
Delamont Country Park
A spacious lough-side park near Killyleagh with waymarked walks, picnic areas and an adventure playground. The miniature railway operates seasonally.
History & heritageIndoor option
Downpatrick & St Patrick’s country
Discover the Saint Patrick Centre, Down Cathedral and Saint Patrick’s grave, then visit the free Down County Museum in the town’s former gaol.
Family day outIndoor attraction
Exploris Aquarium
Cross to Portaferry for Northern Ireland’s aquarium and seal sanctuary. It is a useful family option when the weather is less suited to walking or the beach.
Coast & beachesWalks nearby
Kilclief & Ballyhornan coast
Stop at Kilclief for the beach and nearby tower house, or continue to Ballyhornan for a longer beach, coastal scenery and sections of the Lecale Way.
Ideas for days out
Castle Ward and Strangford
Spend the morning at Castle Ward, then head into Strangford for lunch and a walk by the harbour.
Coast and countryside
Walk or cycle at Castle Ward or Delamont, get out on Strangford Lough, or stop at Kilclief or Ballyhornan beach. For a longer day, carry on towards Newcastle and the Mournes.
If the weather turns
Cross to Portaferry for Exploris, or spend a few hours in Downpatrick at the Saint Patrick Centre and Down County Museum.
Two days around the lough
A weekend near Strangford
If you are staying for two nights, these nearby places fit comfortably into a weekend without trying to cover too much ground.
Saturday
Castle Ward and Strangford
Spend the morning walking at Castle Ward, then head into Strangford for lunch and time around the harbour.
Sunday
Portaferry or the coast
Take the ferry to Portaferry and visit Exploris, or drive towards Kilclief and Ballyhornan for a few hours by the coast.
Where you'll stay
Cottages near Strangford Lough
Compare five self-catering cottages and Ringcladdy Barn across our two countryside locations near Strangford.
Image credits & licences
The photographs below are from Wikimedia Commons and remain available under their stated licences. They are resized and cropped for responsive web presentation.
- Castle Ward House by Ardfern · CC BY-SA 3.0
- Delamont Country Park by Paul McIlroy · CC BY-SA 2.0
- MV Portaferry II at Strangford Quay by Eric Jones · CC BY-SA 2.0
- Down Cathedral by Gareth James · CC BY-SA 2.0
- Ballyhornan Beach and Guns Island by Eric Jones · CC BY-SA 2.0
