Ards Forest Park

Ards is unusual among Irish forest parks in reaching the sea. It covers about 480 hectares on a peninsula in Sheephaven Bay, and its waymarked trails - several loops from short to about thirteen kilometres - pass through conifer plantation and remnant native woodland, then out onto sand dunes, salt marsh and four separate beaches. There are also archaeological remains scattered through the trees: several ring forts and a dolmen, most of them unexcavated and lightly signed. The land belonged to the Stewart family and later to a Capuchin friary, which still occupies part of the estate and is not open to visitors. A viewpoint at Lough Lilly looks over the bay to Muckish and the Derryveagh mountains. Because much of it is planted conifer, sections are dark and uniform, and clear-felling operations periodically close trails.

History

The forest park was once part of the Ards Estate, bought by Alexander Stewart in the 1780s and owned by the Stewart family until the early 1930s; Ards House, at its centre, was pulled down in the early 1960s (Wikipedia, Ards Forest Park).

What's there

• The four beaches - reached directly from the forest trails.
• The ring forts - several, unexcavated, scattered through the trees.
• The salt marsh and dunes - the transition from woodland to shore.
• The bay view - Muckish and the Derryveagh mountains across the water.

When to go

April to October. Trails are muddy in winter. Forestry operations close sections at times - check signage at the entrance. The beaches are unguarded at all times.

What to expect

Much of it is commercial conifer plantation and looks like it. Felling work closes trails without much notice. No lifeguards on any of the beaches. Car park charges in season.

Nearby

Creeslough and Doe Castle are close; Dunfanaghy and Horn Head are west.

Key facts