Experience Strangford Lough & Lecale.
The Strangford Lough and Lecale AONB office is based in Downpatrick, covering the whole of the Strangford and Lecale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, taking in much of the Ards Peninsula, Strangford Lough and Lecale
Find out about what we doAbout our Landscape and Heritage in Strangford & Lecale AONB
Welcome to the Strangford & Lecale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), a place where daily life is closely connected to nature, built heritage and cultural landscapes. Situated in the east of County Down, this distinctive area tells the story of a glacial past, with one of the world’s finest examples of drumlin hills and island landscapes shaping both land and sea.
Strangford Lough and the surrounding landscapes form a vital part of the Mourne Gullion Strangford UNESCO Global Geopark, a UNESCO-designated landscape that brings together mountains, lowlands, coast and marine environments across south-east Northern Ireland.
Our People and Culture
Strangford Lough Marine Protected Area
Strangford Lough’s nature conservation importance has been recognised by a host of both national and international designations, which aim to protect the range of important habitats and species. Strangford Lough’s…
Tourism
Tourism This area has an abundance of major, high quality visitor attractions, with three National Trust estate houses and parks, country parks at Scrabo and Delamont, Northern Ireland’s Exploris aquarium,…
People, Place & Heritage
About our People, Place and Heritage The old Irish name for Strangford Lough was Loch Cuan – lough of the harbours. Literature tells that the Irish Sea god Manannan Mac…
Landscape & Seascape
Landscape and Seascape The patterns of the enclosed sea lough with its 70 or so islands and numerous pladdies (submerged at high tide) are echoed inland with hills and inter-drumlin…
Things to do
Strangford and Lecale offers a variety of Things To Do for visitors to enjoy the countryside. Walkers and cyclists can follow a number of routes ranging in length and difficulty all of which give users the chance to explore the geology, archaeology, wildlife and legend of the area.
On Water
The Strangford Lough and Lecale AONB office is based in Downpatrick, covering the whole of the Strangford and Lecale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, taking in much of the Ards…
Educational and Field Trips
We offer educational programs to explore our unique geology, history and biodiversity. These are designed to engage young minds to consider our impact on the environment and how this has changed…
Places to go
Things to do in Strangford & Lecale
Strangford & Lecale Galleries
Latest News
Using Eco-Moorings To Protect Seagrass in Strangford Lough
3rd February 2026Advanced Mooring System Installation in Strangford Lough Seagrass meadows are essential to marine ecosystems, functioning much like forests on land by capturing and storing carbon, making them pivotal in the…
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Amateur Photography Competition
Read moreAONB and Geopark Amateur Photography Competition Winners Announced!
Read moreLAUNCH OF PORTAFERRY HERITAGE FEST
Read moreJob Opportunities
Read moreMost viewed pages on the website
Check out these easy access links to some of the websites most visited pages.
Marine Wildlife Disturbance Guidance
These documents have been produced by the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA). They should be referred to by all water users, including the general public, for best…
