Site Name:

National Grid Reference

C 068 347   Understanding grid references

Ordnance Survey Ireland Discovery Series:

2

Location

Ards forest park is situated 5km north of Creeslough on the N56.  Download location map

How do I get there?

Ards Forest Park is located mid way between the towns of Creeslough and Dunfanaghy on the N56

Ards Forest Park Trail(s)

• Salt Marsh Trail
• Sand Dune Trail
• Nature Trail
• Red Trail
• Green Walk
• Yellow Walk
• Marine Trail
• Heritage
• Binngorm Trail
• Download Map - All Trails

A visit to Ards Forest Park will reward everyone at any time of the year. The park covers approximately 480 hectares (1200 acres) and includes a variety of habitats, among them sand dunes, beaches, salt marshes, salt water lakes, rock face and, of course, coniferous and deciduous woodlands. With such a variety of landscapes, it is possible to spend many hours exploring this wonderful park. The sea is one of the real treasures of this forest park and there are several trails, the Binngorm trail, the Salt Marsh Trail and the Sand Dune Trail, which offer the hiker an opportunity to experience it in all its facets.

There are a large number of trails in this park giving the walker the opportunity to explore a variety of habitats from foreshore and sand dunes to semi natural oak woodlands on rock outcrops. By “stitching together” a number of trails, it is possible to hike for 5/6 hours on forest tracks and trails, taking in the full circuit of the park. The opportunities are endless.

There is a diverse range of flora and fauna in the park ranging from blackberry and bramble in the oak forest to water lilies which thrive in a fen area near Lough Lilly to orchids on the sand dunes. There are small areas of semi-natural woodland comprising trees such as oak, ash and birch giving you the feel of primeval woodlands in Ireland. There are also areas colonised with Rhododendron – which, although an unwelcome visitor, gives a great display in May and June. The park is also home to a wide selection of animals and birds and the special hide at the end of the salt marsh trail allows the visitor to watch our winter visitors feed on the salt marsh.

For those interested in human history, there are a number of historical and archaeological features. There are the remains of four ring forts together with a holy well and a mass rock.

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