Situated on the southern shores of Belfast Lough, Crawfordsburn Country Park in County Down stands out as one of Northern Ireland’s most versatile and beautifully maintained natural reserves. Combining dense, mature beech woodlands with dramatic coastal vistas, the park seamlessly merges quiet, secluded glen walks with open seafront panoramas. The landscape transitions effortlessly from lush greenery to golden sands. Following the river trail south leads through a wooded glen to the hidden Crawfordsburn Waterfall and the impressionistic 19th-century Lanyon’s Viaduct. Heading north reveals two distinct sandy beaches Crawfordsburn Beach and the wide expanse of Helen's Bay Beach both offering clear, sweeping views across Belfast Lough toward the Antrim coastline. The park provides excellent infrastructure for a day trip with The Woodlands Café (open daily 10 AM–4 PM) serves hot soups, specialty teas, coffees, and fresh baked goods alongside an indoor exhibition area. A multi-tier trail network ranging from the accessible, tarmac Coastal Walk to the unpaved Glen and Meadow loops. Modern public restrooms, baby-changing amenities, and designated outdoor picnic grounds with litter facilities. Dedicated accessible parking bays, ramped access to the visitor center, wheelchair-accessible restrooms, and off-road mobility vehicles available for reservation. Multiple parking areas, including the main visitor lot and coastal lots near Fort Road and Grey Point Fort. Recommendations: To get the most out of your visit, combine the Glen Walk with a stretch of the North Down Coastal Path for a varied 3-to-4-mile loop. History enthusiasts should walk west toward Helen's Bay to explore Grey Point Fort, a remarkably preserved early 20th-century coastal battery featuring original artillery guns. Parking near the main visitor center fills up rapidly on sunny weekends; aim to arrive before 10:30 AM or visit during the late afternoon to secure a spot easily. Afterward, consider stopping by the nearby 17th-century Old Inn in Crawfordsburn village for a traditional post-walk meal.

Sun came out so we visited the beach and it was beautiful. Sand not as dry and powdered as more other beaches but there're grass verges for bathing and drying off. Nice coastal walks as well with an American style forest park with its own adventurous paths.

Beautiful waterfall and forestry. However we love the beach and often go cold dipping there, or walk the coast and dip in Helens bay. You will love this place. It also has amazing food at Woodlands cafe.

Crawfordsburn country park is a forest park with convenient access to the Crawfordsburn beach and a short walk from Helen's bay. We visited here for a stroll and were not disappointed, the views are beautiful and the paths well maintained. There is a visitor's centre with a cafe and lots of picnic benches for those with a BBQ or picnic. Overall we loved our trip here and will be back as soon as the weather permits! 😊

This is a wonderful green space welcoming to all with beautiful small sand and shingle beaches on the shore of Belfast Lough. The Park is welcoming to dogs and there are places to get water if needed. The restaurant cafe and toilet facilities in the Welcome centre are clean and pleasant to use. On a sunny day the terrace outside the cafe is a perfect place to have a cup of coffee. There are many walks lined up on the maps around the centre and the walk along the beach is amazing definitely worth the trip out there for a full day.