Days Out NI
Nature & wildlife Ardglass

Lecale Coast Nature Trail

A free coastal walk with grey seals, summer orchids and big sea views.

4 photos
OpenOpen all year, every day. Orchids and but…
FreeNo ticket needed
ArdglassNature & wildlife
Get directionsOfficial website
2 hoursHow long
FreeEntry
Around 5 and up…Best for
Not permittedDogs
FreeParking

Lecale Coast Nature Trail — A free coastal walk with grey seals, summer orchids and big sea views.

  • What you'll see: Grey seals on Cloghy Rocks, herons, gulls and seabirds, summer wild orchids and blue butterflies.
  • Season: Open all year, every day. Orchids and butterflies are at their best roughly June to August.
  • Dogs: Not permitted. The reserve is grazed by livestock and ponies as part of its management.
  • Parking: Free layby parking at Mill Quarter Bay on Killard Road, with a second access point at Ballyhornan, both off the A2.
  • Food: None on site. Bring a picnic; Ardglass and Strangford have shops and cafes.
  • Toilets: None on site.
Plan your visit

Seals, seabirds and orchids the kids will actually spot

The big draw is the grey seals that haul out on Cloghy Rocks near the mouth of the lough, often easy to pick out from the shore. Walk the grassy headland and you'll also see herons, gulls and other seabirds along the rugged coastline. From roughly June to August the clifftop grassland is dotted with thousands of small wild orchids, with blue butterflies on the warm slopes. It's a low-key, real-nature outing rather than a petting farm, so a pair of binoculars goes a long way with younger children.

Free Grey seals Summer orchids Sandy beach Sea views Open all year
Good to know before you go:

Lecale Conservation and partners run occasional guided walks and wildlife events along this coast through the warmer months, and parts of the shore may be closed at times for conservation. Check before you travel, especially in autumn.

Before you set off

What to bring

  • 🔭BinocularsHalf the fun is spotting the birds, seals or deer before they spot you.
  • 👟Walking shoes or welliesPaths can be soft, grassy or muddy after rain — comfy waterproof feet win.
  • 🧥A coatOut in the open the weather changes fast; dress for it and enjoy the fresh air.
  • 💧Water and a snackReserves are quiet places — few have a café, so pack a little something.
Good to know

Everything before you go

Cost
Free
Opening / season
Open all year, every day. Orchids and butterflies are at their best roughly June to August.
Best for ages
Around 5 and up who can manage a mile of uneven ground; younger ones in a carrier.
What you'll see
Grey seals on Cloghy Rocks, herons, gulls and seabirds, summer wild orchids and blue butterflies.
Food
None on site. Bring a picnic; Ardglass and Strangford have shops and cafes.
Toilets
None on site.
Parking
Free layby parking at Mill Quarter Bay on Killard Road, with a second access point at Ballyhornan, both off the A2.
Dogs
Not permitted. The reserve is grazed by livestock and ponies as part of its management.
Accessibility
Not buggy- or wheelchair-friendly. Grassy paths with short steep sections, and a rocky shore that can be cut off at high tide, so check tides before you go.
How long to allow
1 to 2 hours.
Address
Killard National Nature Reserve, Killard Road / Shore Road, near Strangford, Ardglass, Co. Down (Grid Ref J604434).
Questions

Before you go

Is it free?
Free
What will we see?
Grey seals on Cloghy Rocks, herons, gulls and seabirds, summer wild orchids and blue butterflies.
When is the best time to go?
Open all year, every day. Orchids and butterflies are at their best roughly June to August.
Can I bring the dog?
Not permitted. The reserve is grazed by livestock and ponies as part of its management.
Where do I park?
Free layby parking at Mill Quarter Bay on Killard Road, with a second access point at Ballyhornan, both off the A2.
Getting there

Lecale Coast Nature Trail is at Killard National Nature Reserve, Killard Road / Shore Road, near Strangford, Ardglass, Co. Down (Grid Ref J604434).. Free layby parking at Mill Quarter Bay on Killard Road, with a second access point at Ballyhornan, both off the A2. Tap below for directions.

Directions on Google MapsOfficial website See it on our map
Nearby

Make more of the day

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The story

About the place

Killard sits on a small peninsula where the strong tides of Strangford Lough pour out into the Irish Sea, all within the Strangford and Lecale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The mix of clifftop grassland, heath, dunes and rocky shore packs an unusual variety of wildlife into a short walk, which is why it's protected as a National Nature Reserve.

The grassland is grazed by livestock and ponies to keep it rich in wildflowers, including the orchids that appear in their thousands in summer. Grey seals favour the nearby Cloghy Rocks, where the churning tidal water suits them.

The wider Lecale coast between Ardglass, Ballyhornan and Killard is cared for with the involvement of Lecale Conservation, a long-running local volunteer group that works to protect this corner of the Co. Down shoreline.