Boat Trip

I picked up Richard, another NT volunteer, just before noon today and we motored straight to the picturesque village of Strangford in County Down. We were meeting up with Craig, who was supervising a boat trip round part of Strangford Lough.

The boat, MV St Brendan, arrived at one o'clock and several dozen of us embarked. We sailed southwards, past Cloghy Rocks and Kilclief Point; before approaching Killard Point. En route we spotted many seals, cormorants, shags, grey herons and black-headed gulls.

At Killard Point, we changed direction and made towards Ballyquintin Point at the very tip of the Ards Peninsula. Now we sailed northwards and back into Strangford Lough again. We passed Portaferry and the Old Court estate, including the pretty little Katherine Quay with its boat-house or lodge; thence the boat took us past Ballyhenry Island, Chapel Island and Jackdaw Island; and back past Audley's Castle.

We finally disembarked at three o'clock; and three of us strolled over to the Cuan Bar in the village where we found a table and ordered food and drink: Richard had scallops; Eric, the confit of duck; while I devoured a rather good - though pricey - open prawn sandwich, at £14.50. I washed it down with a half shandy.

Despite inclement weather, it was a most agreeable outing.