Creating a Sustainable Destination for Strangford Lough
Set like green jewels in Strangford Lough, just a stone’s throw from Whiterock, Sketrick and Rainey
Islands boast numerous natural and cultural attributes. These include their pristine biodiverse
environment, access to safe water, stunning scenery and historic sites. Together, this combination of
accessibility and desirability make them the ideal location for a 95-acre (38.5 hectare) outdoor
centre of excellence and island retreat.
Over recent years there has been a growing and sustained trend for people to seek outdoor experiences
in accessible green and blue destinations. As a result, we believe that right now, the opportunity
exists to develop these islands as a desirable destination in a carefully planned and environmentally
sensitive manner. To this end, we have created a development strategy that will build on the superb
visitor destination/tourism potential of the islands, while respecting and conserving their unique
natural characteristics.
Our vision, outlined here, is to create a must-visit island destination which is a hub for water and land based activities, offering unique new experiences which meet visitor expectations and address community needs.
To deliver this ambition we aim to:
To deliver on our ambition and aims, as well as our set of guiding values,
we have identified the following ‘themes for delivery’. These are aligned to both the opportunity areas
and assets of the site, as well as key strategic alignment from local, regional, national and global
policies and strategies.
Within each theme, we have identified short and long-term proposals that explore how we might realise
our vision. These range from storytelling workshops and kayak trails, to natural pavilions and
accommodation development.
We believe that a collaborative approach is key to the delivery of this project. To that end, we will
engage with core partners who support our vision and will work with us towards each step of its
delivery.
Sketrick and Rainey Islands boast access to safe water, interesting places
to swim, stunning scenery and iconic heritage sites, set in a unique protected marine environment.
Our overarching goal is to utilise this superb natural resource and create a must-visit island destination
which is a hub for water and land- based activities; offers new, unique experiences; and, meets community
needs and visitor expectations.
We are mindful of the fact that this is one of the UK’s most designated marine environments and appreciate
the challenges this may present. However, we believe the time is right to develop this site as an
experiential hub for both local and international visitors.
Working with our collaborating partner, The Waterways Community, we propose to make this project a reality
by gaining accreditation for a Blueway route along Strangford Western Shoreline.
Open areas of the islands up for water-based experiences and encourage visitors to be active on site.
Sketrick Castle from mainland
Engage visitors in the cultural and historical significance of the islands, their environmental and marine scapes and key natural and built heritage sites.
Sketrick Viewpoint
Develop an accommodation offer that appeals to a variety of audiences and increases overnight stays on the islands throughout the year.
Scrabo Tower from the Island
Develop a platform for experience providers and businesses to flourish and pioneer activities outside the traditional summer season.
Promote the site as part of wider network of destinations in the area to attract visitors from across NI, GB and ROI to visit and move around the region.
Become renowned as a site of sustainably managed access to the water and support activity along the Western Shoreline through development of a new Blueway.
We have established a series of values to focus the aims of the project:
Increasingly, people value access to their local blue and green spaces. This means that visitors are looking for destinations which combine outdoor experiences, including physical activities and wellbeing benefits, with culture and heritage.
Visitors are becoming ever more adventurous and are exploring safe, outdoor locations closer to their homes. As a result, bookings in rural AirBnB properties account for up to 50% of all 2021 bookings, compared to 23% in 2019. This trend is set to continue. In response to this trend, rural outdoor and regenerative experiences are now a key priority of Tourism NI, as well as Local and Central Government.
Wild swimming, cycling, watersports and ‘being in nature’ are all activities that have grown exponentially as the statistics below show and present relevant opportunities for the islands.
Our vision for the islands aligns strongly with numerous new strategies developed as part of the wider vision for this region:
With 95 acres (38.5 hectares) of land available, the two islands can
support both an activity centre of excellence and a quiet retreat.
The recent TODDS PAD Report
supports the sustainable development of a new accommodation offer for the site.
Proposed Accommodation
TODDS PAD Report - Featuring new accommodation offering
Sketrick Castle
Sketrick Castle as a key heritage site
Sketrick Trail
Existing Walking Trail
Kayaking NI
One of the best Kayaking locations in NI
Oak Forest, Rainey
Mature Oak Forest, Rainey
Chapter 3
The aims, ambitions and opportunity areas have led to the following of 6 key themes to guide island development in line with relevant strategies and policies.
Click on the themes below for more information on our goals, priorities and proposals
Our Goals
Our Priorities
Inspiration from Around the World
Zero Island, Accomodation
Zero Island in Sweden is a rural island destination for visitors. It converted to carbon neutral in one year through sustainable eco-chalets and a zero-carbon restaurant menu.
Kayaking, Finland
The Archipelago National Park in Finland is a designated marine biodiversity area that supports sustainable recreational activities such as hiking and canoeing.
Our Goals
Our Priorities
In order to sustain and manage growth locally both the Ards and North Down Borough Council and Newry, Mourne and Down Council have recently released local development plans that support sustainable growth through collaboration, supporting key industries and building skills in relevant sectors. They recognise Strangford Lough as a key tourism asset that could deliver sustainable economic growth for the regions. Ensuring that activities support the local economy will be key. Achieving this will require a number of statutory bodies, Councils and communities to come together in a mix of existing and new businesses. Major partners in this will be the Strangford and Lecale Partnership and the Western Shoreline Blueway team. Proposed development to support a selection of activities are highlighted on the next page.
Outline Proposals
Improve existing on-site accommodation | Short Term
Improvements to the existing on-site chalets will add to the visitor experience and increase
island overnight spend when paired with restaurant and active experiences.
Additional Sketrick Accommodation | Aspirational
The proposed chalet plans will further enhance Sketrick’s on site accommodation. Delivering a
series of single and two storey residential chalets, designed to blend into the sites context,
with sensitive and robust material choices.
Rainey Accommodation | Aspirational
The existing Rainey ruins provide an exciting opportunity to create a beautiful new accommodation
offering from heritage buildings which have been sensitively restored. In the short term, glamping
pods could test the viability of improved accommodation and cater to diverse visitor
segments.
Timber Clad Forest Accommodation
Sensitive approach to new architectural intervention
Green Chalet Accommodation, Sketrick
Proposed new Sketrick accommodation
Outline Proposals
Sketrick Castle & Nendrum Storytelling | Short Term
Sketrick Castle provides an opportunity to create a new experience based around spoken word and
storytelling within the castle ruins. This could be aligned to other cultural experiences on the
island.
Nature Lookout | Aspirational
The island has a rich and diverse ecology. In order to celebrate this and educate visitors, nature
lookout pavilions will enable visitors to truly immerse themselves in the island
wildlife.
Orchard Garden | Aspirational
A shared space with the island locals. Learn about seasonal produce, forage or enjoy harvesting
crops with the head gardener. Opportunities could include rentable allotment gardens and
volunteering.
Walled Kitchen Garden
Nendrum Monastic Site
Bird watching Hide
Sensitive Hide Architecture
Our Goal
Our Priorities
Outline Proposals
Making use of the NCN Route along the Western Shoreline
Short
Term
Cycle Trail Ireland
Community Cycling Hub interior
Our Goals
Our Priorities
Community participatory workshop
Forest School for children
Outline Proposals
Allotment Garden | Short Term
Using the available arable land on Sketrick island to develop community allotments that
can be ‘farmed’ by residents and visitors and deliver produce back to the restaurants
on the island and form part of learning workshops.
Orchard Cookery School | Aspirational
With an increasing demand for food tourism, the orchard/allotment
could be transformed into an island cookery school, teaching the benefits of
sustainable food preparation and consumption.
Guided Watersports | Short Term
Safe water access creates a perfect opportunity for the creation of guided watersports
facilities catering for all abilities and age groups and can be particularly
set up for schools for activity trips.
Food Labs | Aspirational
The Food Lab appeals to the curious. A place of exploration into new uses for discarded
food and waste and to explore new rural food opportunities - potentially partnering with key
learning institutions across the island.
Community Allotment Garden
Outdoor Cookery School
Guided Watersports
Honey Food Lab
Our Goals
Our Priorities
Safe Kayaking destination
Existing walking trail on Sketrick
Outline Proposals
Kayak & Canoe Trails | Short Term
Creating new experiences on the water in one of the best places to kayak in the whole of NI.
Connect people to water by establishing training programs and equipment hire
facilities.
Yoga on the Cove | Short Term
Wellbeing opportunities using island resources and landscapes to help
visitors unwind. Wet weather and winter month alternatives indoors.
Sauna In the Glen | Aspirational
Infrastructure to support wellness and activity on the water, such as a sauna to complete a Nordic
inspired bathing experience.
Combining the cold sea elements with the calming heat of a sauna surrounded by spectacular views.
Wellness class on beach
Sauna immersed with nature
Family Kayaking
Traditional canoe experiences
Our Goal
Our Priorities
Sketrick Castle
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View from Sketrick to Scrabo
Outline Proposals
Floating Island Stand Up Paddleboard Trail | Aspirational
Man-made islands used for festivals and event programming would also support water activities,
encourage marine biodiversity and offer a playful addition to the existing water
routes.
Folly by the Cove | Mid Term
Designed to be adaptive; these seaside follies would dot across the cove, merging
with the environment and serving as changing facilities for sea swimmers.
Other uses might include fishing rod hire or beachside smoker huts.
Sensory Pavilions | Aspirational
Threaded across the island landscape these pavilions would be a celebration of the senses.
A sheltered fire pit for late evening star gazing, a herbal steam room or a birdwatching
pavilion.
Plot - To - Plate Restaurant | Long Term
Completely self- sufficient, this plot-to-plate restaurant would provide an
ever-changing menu featuring the freshest produce handpicked by visitors from the allotment
gardens,
or straight from the cookery school.
Timber Beach folly
Greenhouse restaurant
Fire Pit Pavillion
Artificial island
Digital innovation and improved physical connectivity are key to making a destination work for local communities and wider audiences. Underpinning this is the need to make sure that policy informs strategy; moreover, that strategy is relevant and meets the needs of these audiences.
| Agency | NI Marine Task Force | National Trust | DFI | NI Environment Link | Outdoor Recreation NI | NI Executive | NI Executive & Gov of Ireland | Tourism NI | Department for Regional Dev | Department for Infrastructure | Blueways Ireland | Tourism Recovery Task Force | Sport NI | Department of Agriculture | Ards and North Down B.C | Ards and North Down B.C | Strangford Lough, Lecale Partnership | Ards and North Down B.C | Ards and North Down SCPP | Ards and North Down B.Cs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | 2010-2020 | -2025 | 2021-2031/36 | 2019-2020 | 2020-2025 | 2021 | 2021-2027 | 2017 | 2012-2035 | 2015 | - | 2021 | 2020-2025 | 2020-2050 | 2018-2023 | 2018-2023 | 2017-2022 | 2018-2030 | 2017-2032 | 2013-2017 |
| A Place of Sustainable Conservation and Heritage | ||||||||||||||||||||
| A Place of Growth | ||||||||||||||||||||
| A Place Connected Digitally and Physically | ||||||||||||||||||||
| A Place of Community & Learning | ||||||||||||||||||||
| A Place that Promotes Good Health | ||||||||||||||||||||
| A Place of New & Unique Experiences |
In addition to the identified strategies, a number of conservation and marine strategies are
imminent,
including the NI Marine Plan and the NI Shoreline Management Plan.
This Vision takes into account the expected outcomes of these strategies. It also gives consideration to
enhancing the protected status
of the site as a Special Area of Conservation, a Special Protection Area, Area of Special Scientific
Interest,
Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and Northern Ireland’s first Marine Conservation Zone.
An Inclusive Partnership Approach
The development of the islands and the Blueway cannot happen without partnership and we have identified
key partners who will be instrumental in developing the vision. The following is not an exhaustive list,
but an indication of key stakeholders with whom we are keen to engage.
Strategy Engagement | Consultations with key partners to develop the vision and
projects to meet their strategic outcomes.
Short Term Wins | Deliver on the short-term projects identified to build momentum,
partnerships and develop the long-term vision.
Strategic Review of Capital Projects | Develop business cases, to include outline
costs, funding bodies and engineering scope for the longer-term proposals identified.
Co-design projects | Using the strategy and projects as a guide, undertake an
engagement and co-design process with local groups, communities and tourism operators to develop the
propositions for the site and build partnerships for delivery.
Network Opportunities | Build and develop possible links to other sites around Ireland,
UK and EU such as forming a network of sustainable island destinations.
