Dundrum Bay (Old Irish Loch Rudraige) is a bay located next to Dundrum, County Down, Northern Ireland. It is divided into the Outer Bay, and the almost entirely landlocked Inner Bay. They are separated by the dune systems of Ballykinler to the north and Murlough to the south.
| Dundrum Bay | |
|---|---|
 Inner Dundrum Bay | |
  Dundrum Bay | |
| Location | Dundrum, County Down |
| Coordinates | 54°13′N 5°46′W / 54.217°N 5.767°W |
| Type | Bay |
| River sources | Carrigs River, Moneycarragh River, Blackstaff River, and Ardilea River |
Walter Harris, a surveyor, wrote in 1744 that the 'North and South Tides meeting off this Bay and breaking upon St John's Point occasion a greater eddy or suction inwards than in other places; for many ships have found themselves embayed.'[1] Local historian John W Hanna described in the 1860's how 'not a foot of the shore from St John's Point to Annalong but has from time to time been strewn with the broken masts and timbers of Royal and merchant ships.'[1] The bay was home to the SS Great Britain for a year having run aground on a sandbar in 1846.[2] The worst loss of life was 74 crew and 11 fishing boats on 13 January 1843.[1]
The Dundrum Coastal Path, a part of the larger Lecale Way, is a hiking trail that winds along the fronts of the bay; the trek is often visited by birdwatchers.[3] The Blackstaff River, Ardilea, Moneycarragh and the Carrigs River all empty into the bay.[4] The inner bay comprises extensive tidal mud and sand flats and is important for wintering wildfowl.[5]
 |
 A map of Dundrum Bay |
References
edit- ^ a b c Lomas, Barbara (2019). "Shipwrecks of Dundrum Bay". Lecale Review. 17.
- ^ "Dundrum bay shipwreck site located". ssgreatbritain.org. Archived from the original on 3 August 2017. Retrieved 3 August 2017.
- ^ "Walks - Dundrum Coastal Path". walkni.com.
- ^ "Dundrum Bay". bbc.co.uk. Archived from the original on 29 October 2017. Retrieved 20 December 2019.
- ^ "Earth Science Conservation Review - Dundrum Bay and Murlough". habitas.org.uk. Archived from the original on 21 January 2021.
54°13′N 5°46′W / 54.217°N 5.767°W
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