Murlough Nature Reserve

Murlough Nature Reserve
Murlough Nature Reserve, February 2010
Location of Murlough Nature Reserve in Northern Ireland
LocationCounty Down, Northern Ireland
Nearest cityBelfast
Coordinates54°14′03″N 5°51′10″W / 54.23417°N 5.85278°W / 54.23417; -5.85278
Area697 acres (2.82 km2)
Established1967
Governing bodyNational Trust

Murlough Nature Reserve is a dune heathland on the coast of County Down in Northern Ireland, near Newcastle. It is on a peninsula between Dundrum Bay and Murlough Bay (Irish: Murlach, meaning 'sea inlet') and has views of Slieve Donard, the highest peak in the Mourne Mountains. Its 6,000-year-old sand dune system has been managed by the National Trust since 1967, when it became Ireland's first nature reserve. It is also home to Murlough Beach.