- Portaferry is in County Down, Northern Ireland.
- Strangford Lough entrance
- Check access, weather and local guidance before travelling.
About Portaferry
Portaferry is a small town at the mouth of Strangford Lough in County Down, facing the village of Strangford across the fast tidal narrows. It is the gateway to the Ards Peninsula and the landing point for the ferry crossing the Narrows to Strangford.
The story of Portaferry
Portaferry developed around the harbour at the narrow entrance to Strangford Lough and was held by the Savage and Nugent families from the medieval period; the castle that overlooks the shore is a 16th-century tower house built by the Savage family. Strangford Lough, Britain's largest inlet, is a Marine Nature Reserve and one of only three in the UK, its Narrows carrying one of the fastest tidal streams in the British Isles at up to 8 knots. The Strangford to Portaferry ferry has operated since the 17th century and is now run as a vehicle ferry linking the Ards Peninsula to the Lecale coast. Exploris, the Northern Ireland Aquarium, opened at Portaferry in 1987 to display the marine life of Strangford Lough and the Irish Sea.
Visiting with care
Take the Strangford-Portaferry car ferry across the Narrows and visit Exploris and Portaferry Castle on foot. Follow the coast road around the Ards Peninsula or the Lecale shore toward Downpatrick for the wider landscape.
Interesting facts
- Portaferry Castle is a 16th-century tower house built by the Savage family.
- Strangford Lough is Britain's largest inlet and a designated Marine Nature Reserve.
- The Narrows carries one of the fastest tidal streams in the British Isles.
- The Strangford to Portaferry ferry has operated since the 17th century.
Getting there
Parking and access details — check locally for the latest information.