The Mourne Gullion Strangford Geopark

The Mourne Gullion Strangford UNESCO Global Geopark is unique as it tells the tale of two oceans through just over 400 million years of geological history. It charts the closure of the Iapetus Ocean and the birth of the North Atlantic Ocean, generating large amounts of molten rock (or magma) both within and on the surface. The subsequent rocks and landscapes have since been shaped by numerous Earth processes but dominated by those during the most recent Ice Age

People have inhabited the Mourne Gullion Strangford UNESCO Global Geopark (UGG) since just after the end of the last Ice Age; their lives have been shaped by the unique landscape and its underlying geology. In the same way, they have shaped the land with agriculture and industry. The stories of ancient traditions, lost religions, and power struggles are written across the mountains, drumlins, plains and coasts.  The landscape displays the relics of giants, druids and early saints. The passage of time is marked with Neolithic megaliths and cairns, frontier hill forts and earthen ramparts, high crosses and holy wells, the graves of Ireland’s earliest saints and monastic ruins, and the compelling story of St Patrick

The archaeology in the Mourne Gullion Strangford UNESCO Global Geopark is world renowned. The Geopark contains the remains of 30 or so large stone tombs. Many of them such as Ballymacdermot are situated in prominent positions with magnificent views over the surrounding countryside. The King’s Ring at Clontygora, and the Ballymacdermot tomb are two of the best examples of Court Tombs in the Northern Ireland. The monument at Ballykeel is also an outstanding example of a Portal Tomb and the South Cairn on the summit of Slieve Gullion has the distinction of being the highest surviving Passage Tomb in Britain or Ireland. Excavations at several of these burial monuments have uncovered stone tools, pottery and human remains.

The Mourne Gullion Strangford UNESCO Global Geopark features a diversity of landscapes taking in mountains, craggy uplands, rolling green hills, coastal plains and hard and soft seashores. The Geopark includes three Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, designated for the distinctiveness and quality of the landscape, and in turn, these landforms support a rich array of wildlife and plants recognised in a range of international, European and national conservation designations. For those wondering why such a variety of natural heritage can be found in this compact region, the answer lies deep in the prehistory of the earth, beginning when this place – and indeed the entire surface of the earth – looked very, very different.  It took, over millennia, the shifting of continents, volcanic activity and, particularly, the effects of the various Ice Ages to sculpt the rocks and shape the land and habitats. The story of the natural heritage of our region is a long and epic one.

The Mourne, Gullion, and Strangford Geopark boast a diverse culinary heritage rooted in the fertile lands and pristine waters that surround us. From the rolling hills of Mourne to the coastal splendor of Strangford, our region is a natural pantry waiting to be explored. Our culinary artisans, inspired by the geological wonders and cultural richness, craft dishes that tell a story with each bite.