Grid Reference: J 414351
Murlough National Nature Reserve is situated on the County Down coast below the Mourne Mountains. It is a fragile 5,000 year old sand dune system with heathland and woodland surrounded by estuary and sea.
The varied habitats within the reserve are home to a wide range of animals and plants including badgers and stoats, delicate flowers such as the pyramidal orchid, carline thistle and rare and colourful butterflies. The sea buckthorn of the heathland attracts nesting willow warblers and whitethroats and in winter its orange berries are a valuable food source for wintering thrushes, such as fieldfare and redwing.
Many species of wader, duck and geese visit the estuary, spring and autumn migration time being of particular interest. From the magnificent beach, sea watchers can observe more sea birds and in the summer and autumn both common and grey seals.
The rich wildlife of this area changes with the seasons but there is always something of interest.
Ancient dunes
The dune system at Murlough has been calculated to be 6,000 years old.
The landscape seen at Murlough today owes its appearance to millennia
of natural processes, particularly coastal processes in the postglacial
period. A particularly stormy period in the 13th and 14th centuries resulted
in a huge movement of sand. Dune was formed upon dune resulting in the
unusually high dunes we see today.
Archaeological remains
The site contains evidence of human habitation from Neolithic times, through
the Bronze Age and up to the present day – it was even used as a
base for troops, planes and tanks during World War Two.
Rabbits
The establishment of a rabbit warren on the site by the Normans during
the 12th century also had an impact on the landscape. The rabbits were
harvested for their meat and pelts and their grazing had a major influence
on the development of the heathland and grassland characteristic of the
reserve today.
Rare breeds
Visitors to Murlough may be lucky enough to catch a glimpse of two rare
breeds introduced by the National Trust to help maintain the reserve’s
biological diversity. Dexter cattle are a traditional Irish breed with
long chestnut coats, rather like miniature highland cattle in appearance.
They can be seen on the reserve during the winter months. Exmoor ponies
graze the reserve throughout the year, functioning as a feral (wild) herd.
Wildfowl and waders
Up to 5,000 wildfowl and waders use the adjacent estuary – Dundrum
Inner Bay – as their wintering quarters. These include nationally
important numbers of light-bellied Brent geese, redshank, greenshank and
shelduck. In addition, large numbers of sea duck, divers, grebes and shag
use Dundrum Bay as their main over-wintering site.
Butterflies
Some 22 species of butterfly have been recorded at Murlough, making it
one of the best sites in Northern Ireland for butterflies.
South Down Heathland Project
Murlough accounts for fully one-fifth of all dune heathland in the British
Isles. The habitat remains under threat of encroachment from adjacent
scrub vegetation such as bracken and gorse. In 1999 the National Trust
established the South Down Heathland Project, a five-year £½m
scheme to protect the habitat.
A rich costal environment.
As well as dune heathland, Murlough contains a mosaic of coastal habitats.
Its 697 acres (282ha) include embryo dune, dune grassland, scrub and woodland.
The reserve’s importance is recognised by the fact that it has been
designated an Area of Special Scientific Interest and a Special Area of
Conservation.
Facilities: Car park, toilets, visitor centre, paths, disabled access.
