Strangford Lough - Follow the Tide, 3 Day Itinerary

Engage your senses, emotions and feelings the natural way - follow the tide around Strangford Lough.

Time works differently here. In this beautiful area, you can walk in the steps of St Patrick and see the world through his eyes, because little has changed in this place where the land meets the sea again and again along our protected inland coastline. Try new things. Visit new places. This three day itinerary will help you squeeze as much as possible into your short break.

Day 1

St Patrick’s Centre, Downpatrick

Visit the only permanent exhibition in the world about Saint Patrick, who is buried close by at the Medieval Cathedral of Down. Browse the shop and sample superb lunches at the terraced café. Satisfy your sense of adventure by walking the Saint Patrick's Way, the Camino of Ireland. Available every Saturday with their fascinating Guides through the breathtaking Mourne Mountains. 

Denvir’s Coaching Inn, Downpatrick

Established in 1642, Denvir’s is the oldest surviving Coaching Inn in Ireland and is a grade ‘A’ listed building. It has been extensively and sympathetically renovated and includes six beautifully restored bedrooms, restaurant, lounge and snug bar, all full of original character. Weekly flavourful specials feature locally sourced produce such as oven-seared East Coast seafoods like sea bass and fresh Strangford lough mussels. “Dancing at the Crossroads” is a traditional Irish Dancing Experience which is coming soon to Denvir’s. It has been developed by Josephine King of Celtic Storm Irish Dancers, injecting high energy and intoxicating rhythm for all to enjoy. 

Finnebrogue Woods, Downpatrick

Are you ready for an unforgettable feast night? An evening filled with fire, food, music and good craic showcasing the finest local ingredients cooked over coals and embers and enjoyed beneath the trees in the heart of the wild kitchen at Finnebrogue Woods. Each immersive experience is designed to be informative yet relaxed. Expect to get your hands dirty and hair smoky around the campfire in the great outdoors, designed and led by talented chef Dan Carling. Dan will guide you through how to cook a range of delicious, locally sourced, seasonal wild plants, meat and fresh fish using different grills, spits and the clay oven in the Tipi Kitchen with plenty of opportunity to enjoy the fruits of your labour.

Horseshoe Cottage

4* Self Catering in Killinchy Down winding country roads, along the shores of Ballymorran Bay, and tucked away among flora and fauna, you’ll find this 18th century converted stable block with exposed beams, wood burning stove, open plan kitchen living area and sleeping accommodation for up to four people. With a sun terrace for alfresco dining, BBQ facilities and a welcome hamper including tasty home-made bread and fresh eggs from Tracey’s Farmhouse Kitchen, you’ll feel at home. Then step out on a giant foodie adventure with Tracey through St Patrick’s country into the Mournes where you will meet local producers like the farmers of Castlescreen Farm in Downpatrick. They blend tradition and innovation by ensuring their herd grazes on organic grass with a high white clover mix that grows naturally in our little corner of Ireland. Horseshoe Cottage, find out more.

Day 2 

Castle Espie Wetland Centre, Comber

Enjoy breath-taking vistas and spectacular birds-eye views across Strangford Lough. Every autumn, approximately 25,000 of light-bellied brent geese leave their breeding grounds in Arctic Canada and travel to Ireland to spend the winter. Like their ancestors before them, most will arrive on the mud flats of Strangford to refuel on the nutritious eel grass that grows in abundance here. They undertake a 2,900-mile journey which is the longest, and one of the most dangerous, migrations made by any of the geese species. For centuries they have returned to appreciate the revitalising nature of this place and now you have an opportunity to experience the same. Castle Espie Wetland Centre, find out more.

Glide with the Tide, Mobile Team Adventure & Indie Fude, Whiterock

Embark on an exploration of the stunning Strangford Lough via kayak under John’s expert guidance. Learn all about the beauty and the history of the area. Laura from Indie Füde will be co-host on your adventure introducing you to an artisan feast from local cheesemakers to innovative charcuterie creators. To top it all, John is a trained chef and, if the tide and season is right, he will take you foraging for mussels which you can cook together with local Dunville’s Whiskey, from the Echlinville Distillery collection. Glide with the Tide, find out more.

Indie Füde, Comber

There’s very little Johnnie, Laura and the team don’t know about the local artisan food and drink scene. Here you will discover an unrivalled selection of exclusive produce crafted on the island of Ireland by some incredible people. Admittedly, they have a hefty focus on awesome cheesemakers, why? - Cos they “just blooming love cheese”! Don’t leave without picking up your own Irish Smorgasbord featuring mouth watering local foodies finds like Mike’s Fancy Cheese “Young Buck Blue”, Northern Ireland’s first raw milk cheesemakers and famous oak & beech smoked salmon by Marty Johnson at Ballyhornan, located within Strangford Lough Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Indie Füde, find out more.

Grey Abbey, Greyabbey

This historic building dating from 1193 is one of Ireland’s most impressive examples of early gothic architecture. The remains of the Abbey are situated in beautiful parkland on the outskirts of the village. Access to the grounds and Exhibition Centre is free to all. Local volunteers offer information and guided tours which are complemented by an interactive exhibition centre offering information on how the Abbey was built, the monks’ life and their impact on the surrounding area. Grey Abbey, find out more.

The Portaferry Hotel

The Portaferry Hotel is at the heart of the community. Here you will find the warmest welcome from the owners who are passionate about Portaferry and the beauty of the Lough. Offering a monthly book club, gin afternoons and excursions to Downpatrick Race course, this is the perfect base for a giant adventure around Strangford Lough. Sample the best seasonal, local produce and have a drink in their cosy bar, or stay in one of fourteen charming, individually decorated bedrooms – several with stunning lough views for a sense of calm and reflection.

Day 3

The Portico of Ards, Portaferry

This beautifully restored church, with unique ‘grade A listed’ Greek-style architecture, reopened in 2016 as an Arts and Heritage Centre. Built in 1841, it retains original pews and columns and boasts a fabulous refurbished pipe organ with a spectacular new console designed for everyone to have a go on. Guided tours at Portico include the architecture, the organ loft, a fascinating local history timeline and exhibitions including Neolithic artefacts from nearby Millin Bay. Tours are available at any time of year but must be pre-booked. Seating over 300 and with stunning acoustics, Portico’s events programme is highly popular with concerts most weekends, ranging from all kinds of music to theatre, film and comedy. Journey back to Downpatrick and discover Ireland’s largest population of seals as you travel to Strangford from Portaferry on Strangford II, vehicle and passenger ferry at the lough’s narrowest point, a service which has taken people across this narrow passage for over 400 years. The Portico of Ards, find out more.

Sustainable Journeys Ireland

Brigid will welcome you to the beautiful county of Down where you will experience warm Irish hospitality as you listen to the fascinating stories of the people and the place. In small groups, Brigid can help you research your family history and by ‘reading the landscape for people’ will give you ‘a sense of the place’ in an entertaining and informative way, enjoying some ‘craic’ along the way. You will journey off the beaten track to fascinating sites which most visitors never see, listen to the birdsong, reconnect with nature and enjoy life at a slower pace. Sustainable Journeys Ireland, find out more.

The Cuan, Strangford 

The Cuan has been a landmark in the centre of Strangford village for over 200 years. In 2020, under new ownership it underwent an extensive renovation and upgrading. Now a stylish modern hotel full of character and style offering a chance to relax at a table by the fire in the bistro to sample Authentic Neapolitan pizzas prepared in their wood fired oven.