Ards Peninsula
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Ards Peninsula
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|---|---|
 Kirkistown Castle, near Cloghy on the Ards Peninsula. | |
 Location of the Ards Peninsula in County Down. | |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| County | Down |
The Ards Peninsula (from Irish nAird Uladh, meaning 'peninsula of the Ulstermen')[1][2] is a peninsula in County Down, Northern Ireland that separates Strangford Lough from the North Channel of the Irish Sea on the north-east coast of Ireland. Several towns and villages are located on it, including Donaghadee, Newtownards and Portaferry. Newtownards is considered to be the largest conurbation, as the larger town of Bangor, which is also geographically located on the north end of the peninsula, is excluded from the Ards district (part of the larger Borough of Ards). The peninsula has a mild marine microclimate, with dry and fertile soils suitable for extensive agriculture.[citation needed]
History
The Ards peninsula was once known as "The Ards", and was conquered by the Normans in the 12th century. The Norman family Savage built a number of local castles and priories.
The peninsula was the site of a number of airfields during World War II, including RAF Ballyhalbert and a satellite airfield, RAF Kirkistown, both now closed. Kirkistown site is currently used as a car and motorcycle racing circuit.
Places of interest
- Scrabo Tower overlooks Newtownards and the northern end of the Ards Peninsula. It is in a country park and was built in 1857 as a memorial to Charles Stewart, 3rd Marquess of Londonderry.
- Mount Stewart, an 18th-century house and garden owned by the National Trust near Greyabbey. It was the home of the Vane-Tempest-Stewart family, Marquesses of Londonderry.
- Grey Abbey, a ruined Cistercian abbey].
- Kirkistown Circuit, Northern Ireland's only MSA-licensed permanent motorsport circuit.
Settlements
Towns and villages of the Ards Peninsula include:
Archaeological sites
- Ballyfounder Rath
- Derry Churches
- Grey Abbey
- Kirkistown Castle
- Portaferry Castle
- White House, Ballyspurge
References
- ^ Placenames Database of Ireland
- ^ Anthony David Mills. "A Dictionary of British Place-names". Oxford University Press. Retrieved 24 July 2012.
54°30′N 5°30′W / 54.5°N 5.5°W
