Location: Portaferry
Top Things to do in Portaferry
8 Things to Do in Portaferry That You Shouldn't Miss
Portaferry (from Irish Port a' Pheire, meaning 'landing place of the ferry') is a small town in County Down, Northern Ireland, at the southern end of the Ards Peninsula, near the Narrows at the entrance to Strangford Lough. It is home to the Exploris aquarium and is well known for the annual Gala Week Float Parade. It hosts its own small Marina, the Portaferry Marina. The Portaferry - Strangford Ferry service operates daily at 15-minute intervals (8am to 11pm) between the villages of Portaferry and Strangford, less than a mile apart, conveying about 500,000 passengers per annum. It had a population of 2,514 people in the 2011 Census. .
Restaurants in Portaferry
1. Grey Abbey
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 33 reviews
Reviewed By Alastair W - Dorset, United Kingdom
Quite hard to find beside the church community centre. A small private car park and free admission to interesting and we'll displayed abbey ruins with lots of grass for kids to run around and enjoy themselves.
2. Exploris
Overall Ratings
3.5 based on 352 reviews
Reviewed By Charlene M
Very disappointed takes about 25 mins to walk around Defo not worth the drive or the money that was spent!
3. Kearney Historical Village
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 22 reviews
Reviewed By Trevor C - Bangor, United Kingdom
Carefully restored by the National Trust to give the authenticity of a traditional fishing village. The village lies three miles to the east of Portaferry, with views across to Scotland, the Isle of Man and the Mountains of Mourne. The Trust owns a number of cottages at Kearney and these have been restored to their natural form giving authenticity to this place of character. No unsightly telephone poles or electric pylons cluttering up the view.
4. Portaferry Library
Overall Ratings
5 based on 6 reviews
Public Library.
Reviewed By Peter D - Portavogie, United Kingdom
Called in to register last Saturday and found a small but well organised library. The staff were friendly and helpful and were assisted by a child who showed me how to use the self service system.
5. Ardminnan Golf Club
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 5 reviews
Reviewed By GrubHunter60 - Northern Ireland
Great little 9 hole parkland course nestled away on the Ards Penninsula and a real test of golf. Often windy due to its coastal location, accuracy is key if you're to avoid the duel perils of water ( in play on 6 of the holes ) and rough that you could get lost in ( just about everywhere! ). Add in 2 blind approach shots for good measure. That nice new GPS will help a little, but don't forget the wind I mentioned earlier.
On the plus side, the course is reasonably priced, well maintained and has one of the nicest par 3's in Ireland ( 5th hole ). Pub grub is available in the restaurant and is both reasonably priced very tasty.
All in all a great spot that will either reward you richly or punish you in equal measure.
Enjoy!
6. Nugent's Wood
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 3 reviews
Reviewed By Trevor C - Bangor, United Kingdom
Enjoy a beautiful walk through wonderful mixed woodland at Nugent's Wood, where you can spot red squirrels and see bluebells, lesser celandine and cowslip in the spring.
Queens University Belfast students were a experiment about Red Squirrels when we went.
A really nice place to relax not far from Portaferry.
7. Welig Heritage Crafts
Overall Ratings
5 based on 1 reviews
Reviewed By Catherine K - Portstewart, United Kingdom
A group of 5 of us booked a private class making willow wreaths last Christmas. We spent the morning learning how to prepare the willow and twist it into the wreath form. We then decorated it with lovely bits of foliage (holly, ivy, spruce etc)from the grounds of Welig Crafts. We had a bit of time left at the end so Clive showed us how to make simple star decorations, which then looked lovely on our Christmas tree. Both the wreath and the stars will be used every christmas now. Clive was so friendly and the class took place in a lovely wooden cabin with the fire burning.
8. Portaferry Visitor Information Centre
Friendly, knowledgeable staff can help you make the most of your visit with a wide range of free information on attractions, activities, accommodation and events around beautiful Strangford Lough, Ards and North Down and throughout N Ireland. Well stocked gift shop with books of local interest and souvenirs. Free family entertainment Saturday afternoons in July & August.
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