A pretty seaside town on the Ards Peninsula — a picture-perfect harbour, a white lighthouse, ice cream by the water and one of the oldest pubs in Ireland — that also happens to be the real-life "Port Devine" from the BBC crime-drama Hope Street. A proper day-by-the-sea and a fun filming trail rolled into one.
What you'll do — stroll the harbour and out to the white lighthouse, spot the Hope Street / "Port Devine" filming spots dotted around town, call in at Grace Neill's (said to be one of the oldest pubs in Ireland), grab an ice cream, climb the little grassy Moat for the view, and wander the seafront.
How long — an easy half-day; longer if you settle in for lunch, a coffee or a harbour-wall sit with an ice cream.
Price — free to wander the harbour, seafront and town. You only spend on food, coffee, ice cream or a pint if you fancy them.
Getting there — Donaghadee sits on the coast about six miles east of Bangor; head for Donaghadee Harbour and everything is within a short walk.
Parking & cafés — there's parking near the harbour and along the seafront, and plenty of cafés, chippies, ice-cream spots and pubs a few steps from the water.
It's a working town and harbour. Boats come and go and traffic runs along the seafront — keep a quick eye out crossing roads, and mind little ones near the pier and quay edges. Grab your photos and move on rather than lingering in the way.
You don't need to know the show to love it. Hope Street fans get a fun spot-the-location trail, but Donaghadee is a lovely seaside day out either way — come for the harbour, the views and the ice cream.
Plan your visit
Can I visit? Yes — just turn up and wander.
There's nothing to book here — Donaghadee is an open seaside town, and the harbour, seafront and lighthouse are free to explore any day. Park near the water, walk the pier out to the lighthouse, and let the town do the rest. If you're on the Hope Street trail, most of the "Port Devine" spots are around the harbour, the seafront and the streets just behind it, all within an easy walk. The only things you pay for are food, coffee, ice cream or a drink — and Grace Neill's and the seafront cafés are right there when you want them. Opening times for individual pubs, cafés and the Moat vary, so check ahead if there's a specific one you have your heart set on.
Cafés & ice cream by the waterHarbour & lighthouse walkSeafront parking nearbyHope Street filming spots
Good to remember:
This is a real working harbour town, not a set. Boats, traffic and the pier edges are all part of it — grab your photos, keep little ones close by the water, and be a friendly guest around the shops, pubs and homes that feature in the show.
Before you set off
What to bring
🧥A jacket or layersIt's right on the open sea, so the breeze can be fresh even on a bright day — a layer keeps everyone comfy along the harbour.
📷A camera or phoneThe lighthouse, the boats and the "Port Devine" spots are all made for photos — you'll want to snap the harbour at least once.
🧢A hat on sunny daysThe seafront is open with little shade — a hat and some water make a warm afternoon by the water more comfortable.
💷A little cash or cardFor an ice cream, a coffee, chips or a pint — the whole day out is free to wander, so the only spend is the treats.
Good to know
Everything before you go
Cost
Free to wander the harbour, seafront and town. You only pay for food, drinks, ice cream or a pint if you choose to. Individual attractions may have their own charges — check ahead.
Booking
None needed — just turn up. If you want a table at Grace Neill's or a busy seafront café at the weekend, it's worth checking their own opening times.
Difficulty
Easy. Flat harbour and seafront strolling, with a short grassy climb if you want to go up the Moat. Good for all ages.
The show
Donaghadee is the real-life setting that doubles as the fictional "Port Devine" in the BBC/BritBox series Hope Street. Many scenes were filmed around the harbour, seafront and town.
Buggies
The harbour and seafront are largely flat and buggy-friendly; the Moat itself is a grassy mound, so you'd leave the buggy at the bottom for that bit.
Weather
A lovely day out in most weather — bright days are best for the harbour and photos, but a wrap-up-warm winter wander with a hot chocolate has its own charm.
Food
Cafés, chip shops, ice-cream spots and pubs are dotted along the seafront and back streets, including Grace Neill's, said to be one of the oldest pubs in Ireland.
Parking
There's parking near the harbour and along the seafront. It can get busy on sunny weekends, so arrive earlier in the day if you can.
How long
Allow about half a day — longer if you stop for lunch, ice cream or a proper harbour-wall sit-down.
Questions
Before you go
Is Donaghadee really where Hope Street is filmed?
Yes — the seaside town of Donaghadee is the real-life setting that doubles as the fictional "Port Devine" in the BBC crime-drama Hope Street, with many scenes shot around the harbour, seafront and town. Wandering the same streets is half the fun for fans of the show.
Do I need to know the show to enjoy it?
Not at all. Donaghadee is a lovely seaside day out in its own right — the harbour, the lighthouse, the ice cream and the sea views stand up whether or not you've watched an episode. The filming trail is a fun bonus for fans.
How much does it cost?
It's free to wander the harbour, seafront and town. You only spend on food, coffee, ice cream or a drink if you fancy them, and any individual attraction with its own entry price.
Is it good for families and little ones?
Yes — it's easy, flat strolling with plenty to look at, boats to watch and ice cream to be had. Just keep little ones close near the pier and quay edges, as it's a real working harbour.
How long should I allow?
About half a day is plenty for the harbour, lighthouse, town and a treat — but it's easy to stretch into a full day if you settle in for lunch, climb the Moat and take your time along the seafront.
What else is there to see?
Grace Neill's (said to be one of the oldest pubs in Ireland), the grassy Moat with its little tower and camera obscura, the lighthouse at the end of the pier, and the ice-cream and café spots along the water. It all sits within an easy walk.
Getting there
Donaghadee, County Down — a seaside town on the Ards Peninsula, about six miles east of Bangor. Head for Donaghadee Harbour and the lighthouse, seafront, town and filming spots are all within an easy walk, with parking nearby.
Long before any camera crews arrived, Donaghadee was a busy little port on the Ards Peninsula — for centuries the shortest sea crossing between Ireland and Scotland, with packet boats coming and going from its harbour. That great stone harbour and its white lighthouse, finished in the 1830s, still shape the town today, and the seafront behind them is lined with the pubs, cafés and ice-cream spots that make it such an easy place to spend an afternoon. Grace Neill's, tucked just off the water, is said to be one of the oldest pubs in Ireland, trading since 1611.
Then came the television cameras. The BBC crime-drama Hope Street, first shown in 2021, is set in the fictional seaside town of "Port Devine" — and Donaghadee is the real place that plays it. The harbour, the seafront, the lighthouse and the streets just behind them turn up again and again on screen, which is why fans of the show love to walk them for real. Come for the day and you get both stories at once: a proper Co. Down seaside town, and a fun spot-the-location trail through the place that became Port Devine.