Killard National Nature Reserve
Situated at the mouth of Strangford Lough, opposite Ballyquintin. The rich wildlife include orchids and other rarities, and interesting rock formations can be seen.
County Down
Distance 1.4 miles
OS Map Sheet 21
Terrain Coastal grassland, beach
Nearest Town Strangford
Route Shape Circular
Grid Reference J604434
Route Type Beach, Coastal
From the layby at Mill Quarter Bay, walk towards the shore. Keeping the sea on the left follow the line of the coast around the headline.
A sandy bay marks the end of the walk, turn and retrace your steps along the shore or over the grassland to Mill Quarter Bay.
Views of Lough and Sea, orchids
Take the Shore road out of Strangford. Cars may be left at lay-bys at Mill Quarter Bay.
Translink – journeyplanner.translink.co.uk
None
Grade 5
- There may not be a formalised path, and variable, single file trails are to be expected.
- Gradients and cross slope could be expected to be steep and not limited.
- Obstacles and surface breaks of greater than 75mm measured across the line of the path to be expected.
- Overhanging branches are possible. Passing places and rest areas may not be formalised or provided.
Comments will be reviewed and those that cause offence will be removed. This is at the discretion of WalkNI.
We want everyone to be able to enjoy the walking routes listed on WalkNI safely and easily.
If you have come across any problems whilst walking a route, please let us so we can pass on any issues to the appropriate management body responsible for maintaining the walk.
Walk Route
Killard National Nature Reserve
Enjoyed a fantastic walk today. Blue butterflies, meadow full of wild flowers. A heron at the water’s edge. Swallows darting about.
I have lived in Downpatrick for 35 years and was only recently introduced to killard Point walk by my daughter and I was utterly amazed by its beauty and bird spotting opportunities.My wife and I did the walk along the waters edge and came out on the most marvellous sandy beach .We had come prepared and had our coffee and sandwiches sitting by a sand dune.
The tide was full in and the there was hardly a ripple on the water.With a cloudless blue sky I may have been sitting on a beach on the Mediterranean and this place is practically on my doorstep.
The different types of birds I spotted are to numerous to mention but I did spend some time watching a large grey seal close to shore.
Magical.