AND Sustainable Giants – A Green Tourism Network

Our tourism businesses really care about this place and are leading the way in sustainable tourism in Northern Ireland.

The AND Sustainable Giants are a passionate group of businesses, who want to make a ‘giant’ difference through their commitment to sustainability. These local people care deeply about the area, and constantly strive to operate in ways that reduce negative impact on the environment.

The AND Sustainable Giants work together to share best practice, support each other, lend a hand and genuinely care about the community they are part of.

Find out more about their Purpose and Vision

They build sustainability into their everyday business practices helping to preserve and protect the planet now and for future generations to enjoy but don’t take our word for it … come and visit!

AND Sustainable Giant Members

Core members, May 2024

Ballyboley Dexters	Lightfoot Kitchen and Deli	NI Silver
Princetown Guesthouse	Strangford Lough Activity Centre (SLAC)	Sustainable Journeys Ireland
The Studio Helen’s Bay	The Walled Garden Helen’s Bay	WWT Castle Espie

Associate members, update August 2024

Clandeboye Estate	NMNI: Ulster Folk and Ulster Transport Museums
Clandeboye Lodge Hotel	Open House Festival
Exploris Aquarium	Tracey’s Farmhouse Kitchen
Kiri Cottage Crafts	Welig Heritage Crafts
Mrs Maker is Art

Plan your sustainable short break in AND today

Offering fantastic accommodation, food and drink, on the water adventures and unique immersive experiences, booking your short break here is an opportunity kick back and relax, safe in the knowledge that you will be supporting the local community and nature - bringing you closer to both.

Need a little inspiration?

Hear from our AND Sustainable Giants in the short videos featured in each profile pod below as they describe their business and why sustainability is so important to them, then, book your sustainable break in Ards and North Down today…

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Core members

Ballyboley Dexters

Ballyboley Dexters is a family run farm breeding Pedigree Dexter Cattle and a handful of Galloway and Black Galloway Cattle. They are committed to sustainablity.
Lightfoot Kitchen and Deli

A zero waste market selling grocery products, which promote zero waste; ecological; ethical; environmentally friendly; healthy and local products.
NI Silver

NI Silver, is an environmentally friendly micro-business. They use recycled silver, one of the only Fair-Trade providers in NI, utilise solar energy for their electricity and hot water, use electric cars for deliveries and harvest rain-water for their garden. They want to harness the spirit of the local community to help retain and reclaim our local environment.
Princetown Guesthouse

Situated in a quiet leafy area of Bangor, this Victorian guesthouse dates back to 1898 and has 10 comfortable bedrooms situated over two floors, with public rooms on the ground floor. Delicious homemade healthy food is made to order and sustainability is core to the owner's ethos. Hear more from this AND Sustainable Giant...
Strangford Lough Activity Centre

This experiential adventure centre offers a range of outdoor activities in an area of outstanding natural beauty, SLAC specialises in both land and water sports including Paddle Boarding, Kayaking, Canoeing or Boat Tours. Their fun, energetic, experienced instructors are advocatess for Leave No Trace practices. Hear more from this AND Sustainable Giant...
The Studio Helen's Bay

"Sustainability for us is not only about the environmental impact of our business, but also supporting other local businesses and working together to see visitors come back to our area in the future."
Sustainable Journeys Ireland

Owner Brigid Watson set up Ards Peninsula Tours to build on her background in environmental and sustainability education and offer guests intimate insights into the natural heritage of her locale. Hear more from this AND Sustainable Giant...
The Walled Garden Helen's Bay

This listed 1-acre sustainable Walled Garden in Helen’s Bay grows and sells organic fruit and veg and hosts specialised events such as Yoga, Meditation and Brunch in the Garden. Hear more from this AND Sustainable Giant...
WWT Castle Espie Wetland Centre

Based in Comber, the centre is an international exemplar of habitat restoration, sustainable design and green tourism. One of ten safe, accessible wetland centres in the UK and the only one in Northern Ireland. Hear more from this AND Sustainable Giant...

Associate members

Clandeboye Estate and Courtyard

This 17th Century estate's historic parklands near Bangor are a model of diversification and sustainable land management practice. Building on the Marchioness of Dufferin and Ava's legacy, there is a powerful commitment to enhancing the biodiverse, social and economic role of the estate. Hear more from this AND Sustainable Giant...
Clandeboye Lodge Hotel

Clandeboye Lodge is a 4 star boutique hotel, in a secluded woodland setting on the outskirts of Bangor, only 15 minutes from Belfast. Our Coq & Bull Brasserie located within the Hotel and boasting a beautifully lit outdoor terrace is a popular standalone Brasserie providing good, honest, locally sourced, seasonal food.
Kiri Cottage Crafts

Christine Casey is a textile worker who lives close to the shores of Strangford Lough on the Ards Peninsula close to Portaferry. Christine runs a variety of workshops in her workshop, serving up tea, coffee and homemade made soda bread and cake to her workshop participants.
NMNI: Ulster Folk and Ulster Transport Museums

National Museums NI preserves, protects and promotes Northern Ireland's cultural assets, knowledge and collective memory. We create shared and trusted spaces to explore who we are, where we have come from, and where we might we be going.
Mrs Maker is Art

Kerrie who is better known as Mrs Maker is art was born and raised in Bangor. Kerrie graduated from The University of Ulster with a degree in Fine Art. “When I am not out and about saving the world through my belief in the healing power of art you will find me in my my studio..."
Open House Festival

Open House is a small independent arts charity based in Bangor and run by local people, whose aim is to transform people and places through music and arts events. We run an annual arts festival each summer in Bangor, showcasing local creative talent alongside international artists.
Tracey's Farmhouse Kitchen

Just 30 minutes from Belfast, Tracey’s Farmhouse Kitchen is located at Killinchy on the shores of Strangford Lough is in an area of outstanding natural beauty in County Down, the garden of Northern Ireland. Hear more from this AND Sustainable Giant...
Welig Heritage Crafts

Welig Heritage Crafts is run by basketmaker and traditional countryside skills practitioner Clive Lyttle and artist Elaine Burke from their smallholding near Portaferry on the Ards Peninsula in rural County Down where they run a sustainable business based on quality, heritage, traditions and on their creativity.
Exploris Aquarium and Seal Sanctuary

Exploris, Northern Ireland’s only Aquarium & Seal Sanctuary, has lots to see and do. With 100’s of Native & Tropical species, your journey will begin with a focus on the lough and Irish Sea before venturing into a tropical paradise.