Daft Barrys

Castle Espie, situated on the shores of Strangford Lough near Comber, County Down, is the newest Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust (WWT) visitor centre and the Trust’s first in Ireland. Castle Espie’s main draw, though, is its magical mix of wide estuary views, tidal lagoon, eel-grass mats, woodland walks, salt marshes and reed beds; the presence of Ireland’s largest collection of native and exotic water-birds

Castle Espie, situated on the shores of Strangford Lough near Comber, County Down, is the newest Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust (WWT) visitor centre and the Trust’s first in Ireland. Castle Espie’s main draw, though, is its magical mix of wide estuary views, tidal lagoon, eel-grass mats, woodland walks, salt marshes and reed beds; the presence of Ireland’s largest collection of native and exotic water-birds

The trail takes in the path around the lake, formal and informal gardens including Rhododendron Hill as an alternative route.

Welcome to the Red Trail on the Mount Stewart estate. Mount Stewart gardens were acquired by National Trust in 1957, with the house following in 1977. The wider estate was acquired in 2014, bringing the total area to just under 1000 acres. The first areas that have been opened to visitors incorporate the Red, Blue, and Yellow Trails. The Red trail is the main circular walk, and loops through a mixture of woodland and farmland. There are a number of points of interest along the walk, including working farmland, the ruins of a folly, and water features. Red squirrels may be seen in the trees, or running along the ground to get into a tree. The best times to walk the Red Trail are early in the morning or late afternoon, especially in Autumn.

The walk takes in the summit of Scrabo Hill and the famous Scrabo Tower built in 1857, one of Ireland’s best known landmarks. The views over Strangford Lough and North Down are some of the finest in the country. The walk then descends to the disused sandstone quarries which provided building stone since Anglo-Norman times. The old quarries have major geological importance and have been designated an Area of Special Scientific Interest.

This is the 2nd section of the Lecale Way Trail. The Lecale region of County Down is characterised by pretty villages, wild coastline and a liberal scattering of historic sites. This walking route uses a combination of country roads, tracks and footpaths to explore the best of the scenery, with lowland terrain and frequent signposts making it suitable for most levels of walking experience. The off-road trails along the shore of Strangford Lough provide the highlights of this section.

Let's see the countryside of Strangford and his castle. This trail leads along the shores of Strangford Lough and then winds through the woodlands surrounding Audleys Castle. The trail then leads through farmland before a narrow trail leads back to the car park. This trail leads through fields where there may be livestock.

A short community trail facilitating access to Slans Graveyard with incredible panoramic views overlooking Cloughey.