Ards Peninsula

Ards Peninsula an Aird or Leithinis na hArda (Irish) Tha Airds (Ulster-Scots)
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: Aird Uladh, meaning "peninsula of the Ulstermen")^[1] 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. The Ards Peninsula contains, near Portavogie, the most easterly point on the island of Ireland.

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.
The Echlinville Distillery, Northern Ireland's newest whiskey distillery in over 125 years. Set in the magnificent grounds of the Echlinville Estate, near Kircubbin

Settlements

Towns and villages of the Ards Peninsula include:

Archaeological sites

References

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Coordinates: 54°30′N 5°30′W / 54.5°N 5.5°W / 54.5; -5.5

Places in County Down
List of places in County Down
Cities	Belfast (part) Lisburn (part) Newry (part)
Towns	Ballynahinch Banbridge Bangor Carryduff Comber Donaghadee Downpatrick Dromore Dundonald Holywood Kilkeel Newcastle Newtownards Warrenpoint
Villages and townlands	Annahilt Annalong Annsborough Ardglass Attical Aughnacloy Ballela Balloo Ballybannan Ballydargan Ballygowan Ballyhalbert Ballyhay Ballyholme Ballyhornan Ballykinler Ballylesson Ballylough Ballymacmaine Ballymartin Ballynagarrick Ballynahatty Ballynoe Ballyskeagh Ballywalter Benraw Blackskull Bleary Braniel Bryansford Burren Cabra Carnalea Carrowdore Castlewellan Clandeboye Cloghy Clough Conlig Corbet Corcreeny/Gibson's Hill Crawfordsburn Cregagh Crossgar Cultra Derryneill Dollingstown Donaghcloney Dromara Drumaness Drumbeg Drumbo Drumlough, Hillsborough Drumlough, Rathfriland Dundrum Dunnaval Edenderry Gamblestown Gilford Gilnahirk Gransha Greencastle Greyabbey Groomsport Helen's Bay Hillhall Hillsborough Hilltown Katesbridge Kilcoo Kilcooley Killinchy Killinure Killough Killowen Killyleagh Kinallen Kircubbin Lawrencetown Legacurry Legananny Leitrim Lenaderg Loughbrickland Loughinisland Lurganare Lurganville Magheraconluce Magheralin Mayobridge Maze Millisle Moira Moneyreagh Moneyslane Monteith Portaferry Portavogie Poyntzpass Rathfriland Ravernet Ringhaddy Rostrevor Saintfield Saul Scarva Seaforde Seahill Sheeptown Shrigley Spa Strangford Struell Tievenadarragh Tullylish Tullynakill Waringsford Waringstown Whiterock
Landforms	Ards Peninsula Burr Point Carlingford Lough Cloughmore Copeland Islands Cranfield Point Lecale peninsula Lough Island Reavy Mournes Slieve Croob Strangford Lough
Baronies	Ards Lower Ards Upper Castlereagh Lower Castlereagh Upper Dufferin Iveagh Lower Iveagh Upper Kinelarty Lecale Lower Lecale Upper Lordship of Newry Mourne
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