Strangford Lough (Loch Cuan)

A vast sea lough of tidal islands and rich wildlife.

Strangford is the largest sea inlet in the British Isles, dotted with drumlin islands and famed for seals, brent geese and one of Europe's strongest tidal races at its narrow mouth. Its name comes from Norse for 'strong fjord'.

At a glance

• Largest sea inlet in the British Isles
• Loch Cuan: 'the calm/harbour lough'
• A haven for seals and wintering birds

In County Down

Strangford Lough is in County Down, An Dún in Irish, which means “the fort”.

More in Down

• The Mourne Mountains (Beanna Boirche): A range of granite peaks in County Down, and the inspiration for songs and for the land of Narnia.
• Slieve Donard (Sliabh Dónairt): The highest peak in Northern Ireland, rising straight from the sea.

Other places of this kind

• Lough Neagh (Loch nEathach): The largest freshwater lake in Ireland and the British Isles.
• The Lakes of Killarney (Loch Léin): Three beautiful lakes ringed by mountains and ancient woodland at the heart of Killarney National Park.
• Lough Erne (Loch Éirne): A vast island-studded lake system in County Fermanagh, dotted with early Christian sites.
• Lough Gur (Loch Gair): A horseshoe lake in County Limerick surrounded by one of Ireland's richest ancient landscapes.
• Lough Ree (Loch Rí): A great lake on the River Shannon, dotted with islands and bordering three counties.
• Lough Corrib (Loch Coirib): The Republic's largest lake, dividing Galway city from Connemara.

The Irish name

The Irish form of Strangford Lough is Loch Cuan. You can hear it spoken, and take apart names like it, in the Placename Explorer. The authoritative record for any Irish place-name is logainm.ie.