Murlough Nature Reserve
| Murlough Nature Reserve | |
|---|---|
Murlough Nature Reserve, February 2010 | |
| Location | County Down, Northern Ireland |
| Nearest city | Belfast |
| Coordinates | 54°14′03″N 5°51′10″W / 54.23417°N 5.85278°W |
| Area | 697 acres (2.82 km2) |
| Established | 1967 |
| Governing body | National 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.