It was ideal to be right in the middle of beautiful Strangford during the summer festival. The younger kids could walk out the door and go pier-jumping wearing their wetsuits, while the sunny garden temporarily held a flotilla of kayaks for the older ones, who went island-hopping on the lough. At midnight we swam at Kilclief, where the phosphorescent algae flashed magically with each stroke.
We cooked apple cake, thanks to the laden trees after feasting on fresh local dulse, crabs and lobsters. Held a large barbecue with friends on a warm night. Found a tasty new Turkish restaurant in Ardglass. Found neolithic stone tools on a beach by a stream which drained historic sites upstream. Walked Benderg with its huge sandy beaches and craggy Sheepland, with St Patrick’s well.
The house is good for a family and has giant flat sofa for a friend to stay overnight on if they miss the ferry home. It has an elegant uncluttered style comfortable beds, clean unscented laundry, appliances that all worked first time and attention to detail, such as simple, good quality kitchen equipment. It all made for a lovely stay.