Strangford Lough situated on the eastern side of County Down is an area of outstanding natural beauty and great ecological interest. Its name comes from the Norse and means strong fjord, which is understandable when you consider the vast amount of water that funnels through the narrow gap with each tide. Originally it was called Lough Cuan or 'Lough of the Harbour'.

Strangford Lough enters the Irish sea through the narrows between Killard point to the west and Ballyquintan point on the peninsular of Ards, the tidal stream in the narrows is the fastest in the British Isles and Ireland running at a rate of 7.8 Knots at spring tides, four hundred million tons of water rush through this narrow gap twice a day. Many shipwrecks have occurred within the Lough and particularly in the narrows where there are fifty nine recorded wrecks since 1715 when the Eagle's Wing was wrecked on the Angus Rock with a loss of seventy six lives.

In May 2008 an underwater turbine has been installed in the Narrows, which will generate enough hydro electric energy to power a thousand homes. This is the first of many underwater turbines designed to harvest the power of the underwater currents which will be located a strategic sites around the world. The Lough is 18 miles long from the narrows to the mud flats at Newtownards. The twisting shores of the Lough amount to about 150 miles it has about 120 islands. And with about 2000 species of marine animals which make it the richest place for marine life in Europe.

In September flocks of Canadian Brent Geese arrive to feast on the swards of Eel grass on the northern mud flats. Wigeon from from Iceland and the Soviet Union, Knots from Greenland join flocks of Turnstones, Lapwings and bartailed Godwits in the salt marches. Later in the year Shelducks and Wooper swans from Iceland are to be seen.

With little human disturbance and so many secluded islands with an abundant supply of food nearby, Strangford is host to about 40 species of nesting birds

One place which is a classic example of wildlife profiting from mans past industrial endeavor's is Castle Espie Wildfowl reserve, just North of the village of Whiterock on the Western shore. Here on the small lakes which formed when a brickwork's was abandoned, are to be seen a vast array of water fowl, the reserve is open to the public.