Sandy Island

Sandy Island is a small islet in Strangford Lough, County Down, about 1.3 kilometres from Strangford, in the eastern part of the lough. It covers about 1.4 acres.

Sandy Island lies in the Strangford Narrows close to the Lecale shore north of Strangford village, near the group known as the Black Islands and the Isle O’Valla farm on the shore road.

Landscape

It is one of the lough’s many small rocks and pladdies, low reefs and islets that stand among the drumlins, uncovered and covered again by the tides. The eastern shore of the lough runs along the Ards Peninsula, past the villages of Greyabbey and Kircubbin, with low farmland coming down to a coast of small bays, points and islands. Grey Abbey, founded in 1193, stands just inland near Greyabbey. Its nearest neighbours include Isle O’Valla, Beardy Rocks and Swan Island, Strangford Lough.

More about Sandy Island

Its name describes its sandy shore. Strangford Lough holds at least seventy islands and many more islets, and their names, a mix of Irish, Norse, Scots and English, record centuries of farming, fishing and seafaring around its shores.

Visiting

There is no public access to Sandy Island, but it can be seen from the shore and from boats and kayaks on the lough. The tides run fast and the mud can be soft, so take local advice before heading out on the water, and keep clear of seals and nesting birds. You can collect Sandy Island as a sighting in your Island Passport.

Wildlife and area

Strangford Lough is a Marine Nature Reserve and one of the richest wildlife sites in Ireland. Around this part of the lough look out for Harbour Seal, Oystercatcher, Common Eider, Brent Goose and Cormorant. In winter around three quarters of the world’s pale-bellied brent geese feed on the lough’s mudflats.