# Strangford Lough and the Mourne Mountains

> 3-day road trip of about 125 km (78 mi) with 8 stops, from Belfast to Carlingford. About 1 h 44 min of driving in total.

Source: https://camping-spirit.com/guides/b15-mournes-strangford/

**At a glance:** 3-day road trip of about 125 km (78 mi) with 8 stops, from Belfast to Carlingford. About 1 h 44 min of driving in total. Down the Ards Peninsula, across Strangford Lough by ferry, then to Newcastle and the Mournes, finishing over the border in Carlingford.

| | |
|---|---|
| Distance | 125 km (78 mi) |
| Driving | 1 h 44 min |
| Suggested days | 3 |
| Stops | 8 |
| Route | Belfast → Carlingford |
| Countries | United Kingdom, Ireland |
| Updated | June 13, 2026 |

## Route description

Leave Belfast on the A20 through Newtownards and follow the eastern shore of Strangford Lough. Mount Stewart is about 30 minutes out, with its house and formal gardens right on the water. Continue down the Ards Peninsula to Portaferry, a small harbour town at the narrow mouth of the lough. The A2 on the outer coast is an alternative on the way back, with sea views and small fishing villages.

From Portaferry the Strangford Ferry carries cars across the fast tidal narrows to Strangford village in under ten minutes, usually every half hour. Castle Ward is just west of Strangford, a National Trust estate with lough-side trails and the farmyard used for Winterfell in Game of Thrones. Allow half a day if you want to walk or cycle the estate paths.

Take the A25 to Downpatrick and then the A2 via Dundrum to Newcastle, a seaside town where the Mourne Mountains drop to the sea. Slieve Donard, the highest peak in Northern Ireland at 850 m, is climbed from here. Tollymore Forest Park is five minutes inland, with riverside paths along the Shimna and a large car park; you pay at the barrier on the way in.

The A2 hugs the coast south to Annalong and Kilkeel, where a road turns inland to the Silent Valley Reservoir, surrounded by the dry-stone Mourne Wall. Continue via Newry and cross the open border into the Republic for Carlingford, a medieval town on Carlingford Lough. Note that once you cross the border, speed limits are in km/h and prices are in euro.

## Stop-by-stop itinerary

1. **Belfast** (United Kingdom)
2. **Mount Stewart** (Greyabbey, United Kingdom): A 19th-century house with some of the most admired gardens in the British Isles, on the shore of Strangford Lough. The National Trust charges entry; it lies on the A20 about 25 km from Belfast.
3. **Portaferry** (United Kingdom)
4. **Castle Ward** (Strangford, United Kingdom): An 18th-century house with one Gothic and one classical front, and a farmyard used as Winterfell in Game of Thrones. The National Trust estate has trails along the lough shore; pay at the entrance off the A25.
5. **Newcastle** (United Kingdom)
6. **Tollymore Forest Park** (Newcastle, United Kingdom): Old woodland along the Shimna River at the foot of the Mourne Mountains, with stone bridges, stepping stones and follies. Pay at the barrier on the way in; waymarked trails range from short loops to half-day walks.
7. **Silent Valley Reservoir** (Kilkeel, United Kingdom): A reservoir in the heart of the Mournes, ringed by granite peaks and the dry-stone Mourne Wall. NI Water runs the car park and charges a fee; walk along the dam or up the valley towards Ben Crom.
8. **Carlingford** (Ireland)

## FAQs

**How long is Strangford Lough and the Mourne Mountains?**
3-day road trip of about 125 km (78 mi) with 8 stops, from Belfast to Carlingford. About 1 h 44 min of driving in total.

**How many days do you need for Strangford Lough and the Mourne Mountains?**
We suggest 3 days: about 1 h 44 min of driving, which leaves time for the stops.

**Where does Strangford Lough and the Mourne Mountains start and end?**
It starts in Belfast and ends in Carlingford.

**Which countries does Strangford Lough and the Mourne Mountains pass through?**
United Kingdom and Ireland.