Ards Forest Park
About
Coillte's forest park on the Ards peninsula across Sheephaven Bay, about nine kilometres from the village by road and five kilometres north of Creeslough on the N56. Coillte gives it about 480 hectares of sand dunes, beaches, salt marsh, saltwater lakes and woodland, and nine waymarked trails, from the half-kilometre Salt Marsh Trail and the one-kilometre Sand Dune Trail, both multi-access, up to the 13-kilometre Red Trail, which is graded strenuous. There is a bird hide at the end of the Salt Marsh Trail for the winter geese, a playground on sand near the sea, toilets, and the remains of four ring forts, a holy well and a mass rock for anyone following the Heritage Trail. The car park opens 08:00 to 21:00 from April to September and 08:00 to 17:00 from October to March, and the parking charge is paid by card or app; Coillte's annual card is also accepted.
Photos
Highlights
- ✓Nine waymarked trails, from 0.5 km to 13 km, per Coillte
- ✓A bird hide on the Salt Marsh Trail for the winter visitors
- ✓Beaches, dunes and saltwater lakes inside the park
- ✓Four ring forts, a holy well and a mass rock
Tips
- →The car park is cashless: pay by card or app at the barrier.
- →Check the closing time before a late walk: 17:00 from October to March.
- →The Salt Marsh and Sand Dune trails are the multi-access options for buggies and wheelchairs.