Today We Went on the Strangford Sea Safari
/The folks at NITB had asked me would we like to take part in one of the activities this Adventure Weekend. With me being unwell I couldn't see us canoeing, and with the little man being aged six we couldn't choose the Segways at Titanic, so we opted for the Sea Safari at Strangford, with it's promise of being suitable for ages 3 - 103!
The Safari departs from a little pier to the left of the main ferry dock on the Strangford side. I would allow approx. an hour to drive there from Belfast, and although you book ahead and the guide waits as long as possible for late comers, there is a cut off point and we set off five minutes late after waiting for the other group to arrive.
We left plenty of time to get there and arrived 45 mins early and had a picnic, so as we weren't in any rush. The town also has pubs and fish & chip shops should you want to tuck into something warm before your trip.
Little Michael was a bit nervous at first, but the guide made us all feel at ease and it's easy to see the boat isn't exactly a rickety rowing job, it's a safe speed boat and even going high speeds you feel completely safe.
Fifteen minutes before departure you'll be given an extra coat and life jacket. I was just wearing a tshirt on the drive down, but I wore my cardigan, wool duffel coat AND the coat they provided and still felt the chill. Make sure you wrap up and wear decent footwear in case you get wet.
The Safari takes you out seaward first, past birds and seals to a lighthouse where you have a view of the mountains of Mourne. I couldn't take many photos as I was holding tight to Michael, but if you are a photographer there are plenty of chances to get unique shots from the sea.
You also witness these crazy whirlpools, formed by a cliff face below the lough. For Game of Thrones fans, you get to see some of the outdoor filming locations from the sea, pretty impressive photos to bring home to show your friends and make them jealous!
After 45 mins of zipping around the lough, the guide does some pretty impressive doughnuts with the boat (the boys seem to love this bit) and then it's back ashore.
The guys also do Belfast Sea Safaris, so for information on booking a trip for your family, or any other of the outdoor activities in the area, get in contact with the Northern Ireland Tourist Board at
http://www.discovernorthernireland.com/
