A ferry well-kept secret
On the southern end of the Ards Peninsula lies the quirky village of Portaferry, Co Down. And, with a stay at the local Portaferry Hotel, you’re guaranteed to take in the breathtaking landscape of the surrounding Strangford Lough
For 364 days a year, the Portaferry-Strangford Ferry operates every 30 minutes, bringing visitors from Portaferry to Strangford, idyllic villages situated in Co Down less than a mile apart. It’s not the regular public transport source you may be used to such as a train or bus, but this is what makes spending time away in Portaferry so unique.
“Anyone travelling to Portaferry from the Republic of Ireland should come via Newry to Strangford,” says Cahal Arthurs, owner of The Portaferry Hotel. “The ferry sails every 30 minutes from Strangford – between 8am and 10.30pm – and crossing over only takes approximately 10 minutes. When you get off the boat, you’re right at the front door of our hotel.
“There’s also a driving route to get to Portaferry, but arriving by water is a huge attraction for visitors,” says Cahal. “The view is stunning, so you can take plenty of pictures from the top of the ferry, and prices are cheap too – a car costs approximately £6.”
Cahal, who refurbished and re-opened The Portaferry Hotel back in 2016 with his wife Mary, says that although Portaferry is a remote area, the village is thriving with attractions.
“It is home to Northern Ireland’s only aquarium, Exploris, and for golf lovers, there’s Kirkistown Castle GC link course which opens all year long. Kirkistown Motor Racing Circuit is also nearby. We are close to National Trust properties, Mount Stewart and Castle Ward, which is the filming location for ‘The Home of The North’ in TV series Game of Thrones®, with two doors from the Dark Hedges also within walking distance from the hotel. Downpatrick Race Course is also close by, just to name a few attractions.”
It’s clear that Cahal and Mary are extremely passionate about the locality, and Portaferry is an area which has not lost its old-town charm throughout the years.
“It’s a laid-back village – with lots of small family-owned businesses, Dumigans Bar, arguably Ireland’s smallest bar, is like stepping back in time. It’s one of those places where you easily interact with people, there’s no distractions such as big TVs.
“That’s exactly what we try to encourage in our hotel too. If there’s a couple here from Leitrim, we’ll introduce them to the couple that travelled from Cork. It’s good to meet new people.”
This is one of the other main reasons why The Portaferry Hotel, which was listed as one of the top five hotels in Northern Ireland by Ulster Tatler, has already seen repeat bookings in a little over a year. With just 14 charming and spacious bedrooms, the hotel creates a sense of intimacy.
“The hotel dates back to the 1700s and we’ve been lucky to help raise it from the ashes,” says Cahal. “We’ve kept it simple, re-painted it, refurbished it, and put in all brand-new king-sized beds. Wherever it needed quality, we haven’t held back. We’ve received e-mails from happy guests and those commenting to ask where we got the beds. When people are sending good comments, you know you’re heading in the right direction.”
And, another reason why people may be coming back for more, is the hotel’s extensive, locally-sourced food menu. With fresh seafood dishes including Portaferry Half Grilled Lobster, Bouilabaisse and Goan Monkfish Curry, along with other tasty dishes such as Arthurs’ Butchers Grilled Steak Burger with (or without) Local Cheddar and Crispy Onions, there truly is something to satisfy everyone’s tastes in Portaferry.
The hotel also regularly holds a variety of events including Afternoons of Gin, wine tasting classes, a book club and day trips to Downpatrick Races. Whether it’s kayaking or canoeing for the more adventurous, walking along the stunning shore or a relaxing coffee overlooking the water for those who want to wind down, consider a trip across the Lough to Portaferry.