Strangford Lough is right outside: boat tours give a different angle on the water, and the short ferry crossing to Strangford village is worth taking.
Free options are solid. Audley's Castle overlooks the lough at no cost, and the ruins at Audley's Field served as the Dreadfort in Game of Thrones. Kearney Beach is free and usually quiet. Divers will find four separate operators based right on the lough.
The best days out near Portaferry
Guide
Exploris Aquarium
Animals & farms
1 mi
Guide
Strangford Lough Boat Tours
Boat trips
1 mi
Guide
Kearney Beach
Beaches
Free · 2 mi
Guide
DV Diving
Diving & snorkelling
2 mi
Guide
Strangford Lough Ferry
Boat trips
2 mi
Guide
DiveClub Northern Ireland
Diving & snorkelling
2 mi
Guide
Strangford Dive Centre
Diving & snorkelling
2 mi
Guide
Audley's Castle
Ruins
Free · 2 mi
Guide
Audley's Field & Castle (Dreadfort GoT)
Film & TV
Free · 2 mi
Guide
Audley's Castle Strangford Lough Dive
Diving & snorkelling
Free · 2 mi
Guide
Strangford to Castle Ward Shoreline
Coastal walks
Free · 2 mi
Guide
Strangford Lough Wildlife Centre
Wildlife watching
2 mi
Guide
Winterfell Tours Castle Ward
Adventure & trails
3 mi
Guide
Castle Ward (Winterfell)
Castles & Estates
3 mi
Guide
Clearsky Adventure Centre Castle Ward
Adventure & trails
3 mi
Guide
Lecale Way
Greenways & cycle trails
Free · 3 mi
Guide
The Narrows Sea Safari (Clearsky)
Boat trips
3 mi
Guide
Kearney Village Loop (National Trust)
Coastal walks
Free · 4 mi
Guide
Cloughey Beach
Beaches
Free · 4 mi
Guide
Kirkistown Racing Circuit
Driving experiences
5 mi
Guide
Kirkistown Race Circuit Trackday
Driving experiences
5 mi
Guide
Killyleagh Yacht Club
Sailing
5 mi
Guide
Killyleagh Castle
Castles & Estates
Free · 5 mi
Guide
Echlinville Distillery
Distilleries
5 mi
Guide
Portavogie Skatepark
Skate parks
Free · 6 mi
Guide
Delamont Country Park
Forest & woodland
6 mi
Guide
Ballyhornan Beach
Beaches
Free · 6 mi
Guide
Delamont Miniature Railway
Funparks
6 mi
Guide
Cloughey to Burr Point
Coastal walks
Free · 7 mi
Guide
Bishopscourt Racing Circuit
Driving experiences
7 mi
Guide
Saul Church
Ruins
Free · 7 mi
Guide
Ardglass / Coney Island Beach
Beaches
Free · 7 mi
Guide
Burr Point — Easternmost Point of Ireland Stargazing
Stargazing & observatories
Free · 8 mi
Guide
Quoile Castle
Ruins
Free · 8 mi
Guide
Struell Wells
Ruins
Free · 8 mi
Guide
Sketrick Castle
Ruins
Free · 9 mi
Guide
Dunleath Urban Sports Park
Skate parks
Free · 9 mi
Guide
Down Arts Centre
Theatres & galleries
9 mi
Guide
The Saint Patrick Centre
Heritage sites
9 mi
Guide
Omniplex Cinema Downpatrick
Cinemas
9 mi
Guide
Nendrum Monastic Site (Mahee Castle)
Ruins
Free · 9 mi
Guide
Down County Museum
Museums
Free · 9 mi
Guide
Down Cathedral
Heritage sites
Free · 9 mi
Guide
Inch Abbey (Game of Thrones)
Film & TV
Free · 9 mi
Guide
Down Leisure Centre
Pools & leisure
9 mi
Guide
Downpatrick & County Down Railway
Heritage sites
9 mi
Guide
Ballywalter Park
Castles & Estates
10 mi
Kearney Bay wild swim
Wild swimming
Free · 2 mi
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