Grey Point Fort, Helen's Bay, North Down.
Grey Point Fort is part of Crawfordsburn Country Park. It is one of the best preserved early 20th century coastal forts anywhere in the British Isles.
The 100th anniversary of the Gallipoli Campaign landings was commemorated at a special event at Grey Point Fort, Helen’s Bay on Saturday 25 April.
Footage taken from DJI Phantom Vision 2 Plus and Nikon D5100 DSLR.
Step inside - Grey Point Fort - Helens Bay - Northern Ireland
Grey Point Fort is hidden among the trees on the coast near Helen's Bay in Northern Ireland and is one of the best preserved early 20th century coastal forts anywhere in the British Isles. We stumbled across it accidentally a few years back. So we wanted to take the opportunity to go down and work with the volunteers who run the fort to create a video that shows off what they have to offer.
Filmed & Edited by
Dillon Osborne
Jo Osborne
Audio Post & Motion Graphics:
jettalazza.com
Brought to you by
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Kit
Canon 650d
Manfrotto Tripod with Video Heads
Koolertron Slider
H4N Field recorder
Sound Devices 702T
Sennheiser 416 Mic
Grey Point Fort is one of the best preserved early 20th century coastal forts anywhere in the British Isles. Situated in Helen's Bay, Grey Point Fort houses a most unusual hands-on military museum. It also hosts a number of special commemorative events during the year. The Fort was completed in 1907 with at its heart two massive 6 inch diameter guns which commanded the entrance to Belfast Lough. While a key part of Belfast’s defences against naval attack, it proved of limited value during the German air attacks on the city in 1941. There are still two magnificent 23 feet long guns. Visitors can also see the original observation post and three searchlight positions. Volunteers have created a great museum of military memorabilia, including medals, uniforms, photographs and weaponry from the First and Second World Wars. There is also a unique collection of radio equipment, together with a section devoted to the Titanic. Expert guides are on hand to assist visitors of all ages. No admission to unaccompanied children under 16.
For more info on the fort check out:
Grey Point UK Best Preserved Coastal Fort 2019
This is Grey Point Fort Naval Gun Battery.
This coastal Fort is widely believed to be the best preserved 20th Century coastal fort surviving in the UK!
Construction of the battery began in 1904, with the guns mounted by 1907. The battery was armed with two 6-inch Mark VII Breech loading guns.
Grey Point Fort guards the entrance to Belfast Lough. It lies on the southerside of the lough close to Helen's Bay and Crawfordsburn Co Down. The closest large town is Bangor where General Eisenhower waved off the D-Day landing invasion fleet in June 1944.
This remarkable outdoor living history museum is equipped with two magnificent 6'', 23 feet long, guns. These guns are fired on ceremonial occasions and are still in good working order.
The Fort also houses a most unusual hands-on military museum. Volunteers have created a fantastic museum of military memorabilia,-medals,- uniforms,- photographs and weaponry from the First and Second World Wars. There is also a unique collection of radio equipment, together with a section devoted to the Titanic. Expert guides are on hand to assist visitors of all ages. No admission to unaccompanied children under 16.
The Fort was completed in 1907. As well as the massive guns visitors can also see the original observation post and three searchlight positions. While a key part of Belfast’s defences against naval attack, it proved of limited value during the German air attacks on the city in 1941.
Open: Friday, Saturday, Sunday 10:00 - 16:00
Price list Free!
Grey Point Fort, Helen's Bay, Northern Ireland - Part 1 of 2
One of the best preserved early 20th century coastal forts anywhere in the British Isles.
Video 1 of 2 - I fly around the exterior of the base and take a close up look at the two massive 6 inch diameter guns which commanded the entrance to Belfast Lough.
Part 2 here:
Situated in Helen's Bay, Crawfordsburn, Grey Point Fort houses two spectacular guns and a most unusual hands-on military museum. It also hosts a number of special commemorative events during the year.
The Fort was completed in 1907 with at its heart two massive 6 inch diameter guns which commanded the entrance to Belfast Lough. While a key part of Belfast’s defences against naval attack, it proved of limited value during the German air attacks on the city in 1941. There are still two magnificent 23 feet long guns. Visitors can also see the original observation post and three searchlight positions.
Volunteers have created a great museum of military memorabilia, including medals, uniforms, photographs and weaponry from the First and Second World Wars. There is also a unique collection of radio equipment,together with a section devoted to the Titanic.
Grey point Fort Remembers
100 years
Grey Point Fort, Helens Bay, Northern Ireland
Grey Point Fort is one of the best preserved early 20th century coastal forts anywhere in the British Isles.
Situated in Helen's Bay, Grey Point Fort houses a most unusual hands-on military museum. It also hosts a number of special commemorative events during the year.
The Fort was completed in 1907 with at its heart two massive 6 inch diameter guns which commanded the entrance to Belfast Lough. While a key part of Belfast’s defences against naval attack, it proved of limited value during the German air attacks on the city in 1941. There are still two magnificent 23 feet long guns.
Grey Point Fort, Helens Bay, Bangor
Grey Point Fort is one of the best preserved early 20th century coastal forts anywhere in the British Isles. Situated in Helen's Bay, Grey Point Fort houses a most unusual hands-on military museum. It also hosts a number of special commemorative events during the year. The Fort was completed in 1907 with at its heart two massive 6 inch diameter guns which commanded the entrance to Belfast Lough. While a key part of Belfast’s defences against naval attack, it proved of limited value during the German air attacks on the city in 1941. There are still two magnificent 23 feet long guns.
Bangor's Grey Point Fort Jutland Commemoration
After a very well attended Belfast Maritime Festival, HMS Ramsay and HMS Raider set off for Bangor Harbour. Grey Point Fort took the opportunity to pay their respects to all those that served in the Battle of Jutland. The most important part of their open day was of course the firing of their breech loading Mark VII 6-inch naval guns designed by Vickers, Sons & Maxim
Grey Point Fort, Helen's Bay, Northern Ireland - Part 2 of 2
One of the best preserved early 20th century coastal forts anywhere in the British Isles.
Video 2 of 2 - I take a look at the military radio display, all of which, I was informed, is fully working.
Part one here:
Situated in Helen's Bay, Crawfordsburn, Grey Point Fort houses two spectacular guns and a most unusual hands-on military museum. It also hosts a number of special commemorative events during the year.
The Fort was completed in 1907 with at its heart two massive 6 inch diameter guns which commanded the entrance to Belfast Lough. While a key part of Belfast’s defences against naval attack, it proved of limited value during the German air attacks on the city in 1941. There are still two magnificent 23 feet long guns. Visitors can also see the original observation post and three searchlight positions.
Volunteers have created a great museum of military memorabilia, including medals, uniforms, photographs and weaponry from the First and Second World Wars. There is also a unique collection of radio equipment,together with a section devoted to the Titanic.
Helen's Bay Beach Crawfordsburn - Northern Ireland
There are two different things which are known to be scattered all around Northern Ireland and forming its beauty, which are the different beaches and the gardens. One of these famous beaches is Helen's Bay which is located in Crawfordsburn Country Park.
Helen's Bay Beach is one of two excellent beaches that are found in Crawfordsburn Country Park. When it comes to the best beaches found in Belfast city, Northern Ireland, we have to mention that Helen's Bay is considered one of the best found there and it is also one of the most popular and most used.
The people of Northern Ireland prefer this beach in Belfast and visit it more often during the summer days because of its gently shelving beach with the excellent water quality that is making it perfect for bathing. It is not just about the beach there, but this park has different facilities offered to the visitors, like picnic parks and a cafe and restaurant, and also gives them the chance to have some quality walks there.
Helen's Bay is known to be a village on the northern coast of County Down, Northern Ireland. It is located within the townland of Ballygrot, between Holywood, Crawfordsburn and Bangor. One of the interesting places to be visited in Helen's Bay is the Crawfordsburn Country Park, on the southern shores of Belfast Lough, where Helen's Bay beach is located, and that of course comes in addition to the other facilities which we have referred to (
Visiting a good beach that one could get the chance to take a bath in and enjoy the good water is the main focus for all those travelling to enjoy their time by the beach, and Helen's Bay Beach is one of those different recommended beaches in Northern Ireland which we will definitely suggest for them to enjoy their times.
There are other beaches scattered all around the country of Northern Ireland which are also considered a good choice to go to, such as the Whiterocks Beach in Portrush ( Crawfordsburn Beach which is located just beside Helen's Bay Beach ( the Ballywalter Beach in County Down ( the Portballintrae in County Antrim beside Giants Causeway ( the Ballygally Beach ( and lots of other options which are found out there in the country but their choice will always fall back according to where they are going to stay.
Going back deeper into history, one will get to know the origin of the name Helen's Bay; it is actually named after Helen, Lady Dufferin, mother of Fredrick Hamilton-Temple-Blackwood, first Marquess of Dufferin and Ava, and owner of the Clandeboye Estate in Bangor. It is always interesting to get to know more about the names of the towns, cities, beaches, churches, etc. because in most of the times they hold stories behind which one will feel much interested to know more about.
Helen's Bay Beach is known to be a good place for having a dip in the water, but it is also famously visited by local people because it managed to offer spectacular views and scenery over Belfast Lough - so you will enjoy the beautiful scenery, the weather, and forget a little bit about everything else by freeing your mind.
Helen's Bay Beach is part of Belfast Lough ASSI and SAC which was established for the populations on wading birds that spend the winter at the beach. In the summer time, those who head to Helen's Bay Beach could be able to spot Eider Ducks and terns, and in the winter time they might see Porpoises and seals; and some people actually come for these purposes when they hear about them.
Don't worry about visiting Helen's Bay Beach, there are different facilities found there which will make your visit much easier, there are disabled toilets and disabled parking which is just a short distance from the beach, and this includes the cafe with the wheelchair entrance that is available. We always appreciate those places that are prepared for people with disabilities because they make us all feel the same.
There are some other beaches located near Belfast and are also counted among the top beaches in the city, such as Whitepark Bay which is 1 hour and 15 minutes from Belfast, Tyrella which is 55 minutes from Belfast, Ballyholme which is only 30 minutes from Belfast, Cranfield which is 1 hour and 15 minutes away from Belfast, Warrenpoint which is 1 hour away from Belfast and Benone which is 1 hour and 20 minutes away from Belfast, so you have lots of choices to choose from at the end.
Enjoy visiting Helen's Bay Beach which is just 15 minutes away from Belfast and which is one good beach for having a dip in the water or just looking onto Belfast Lough.
The best locations around Ireland / Northern Ireland and further afield. A travel blog/vlog of the hidden treasures that are on our doorstep.
Crawfordsburn Beach - Bangor and Holywood Northern Ireland
CRAWFORDSBURN BEACH - Beside Helen's Bay - Bangor and Holywood Northern Ireland. A beautiful beach - great for a long walk. One of the nicest beaches near Belfast. Perfect for a coastal walk - which also leads into Crawfordsburn Forest Park; these are all things to consider and place on your list when it comes to Crawfordsburn beach.
This place is known as Crawfordsburn Country Park and this goes to the different activities that could be done inside there in addition to swimming or just enjoying a walk by the shores of the beach. In this natural retreat which the visitors for this park will enjoy is one of the relaxing destinations that you could head for because it offers two different beaches and they both will guarantee spectacular scenery as well as views across Belfast Lough; so you will win in all the different possible ways.
Enjoying Crawfordsburn beach in county Down is not the only thing that you will manage to experience while being in this park, but you could also get the chance to walk through the peaceful meadows and even those lucky ones might get the chance to see the stunning waterfall.
There are different facilities offered to the visitors in this country park and which include a cafe, an Adidas-approved 5k running trail, a natural play area, and a geology garden. This is not the end of it, but in this park, there is also a wide range of wildlife which include hedgehogs, rabbits, badgers, a large rookery and jays in the wooden glen, grey wagtails, and dippers along the streams and seals, herons, shags, guillemots, and in winter there is also Brent geese which could be seen walking along the park's coastal path; it is a perfect destination for those wildlife watchers who would enjoy spending a couple of hours just inspecting what this park could actually offer them.
Crawfordsburn is also known to be a small village that is located in county Down, Northern Ireland, where the park or where this beach is found, and that is the reason why this village actually attracts lots of tourists and visitors to it; they come to check the country park and at the same time enjoy their times by the beach.
Who out there is not a beach lover? We all probably love the idea of sitting by the beach, enjoying the breeze and just freeing our minds from anything that might be happening inside their, we free it from the hassle of the world, but sometimes those beaches are different, there are those beautiful ones in which one could also enjoy walking between some trees and enjoying the greenery of the place, running through the trails made for such purposes, or watch some of the trees which might be taking their place there, which is exactly the case with Crawfordsburn Beach.
When it comes to Northern Ireland, there are different other beaches which we have also been to and thus would definitely recommend for our followers and which we believe are among the list of the best beaches that one could head to in Northern Ireland and enjoy.
From those beaches which we have been to in Northern Ireland, there is Downhill Beach which also appeared in Game of Thrones movie series ( Portballintrae Beach which is located in county Antrim ( Ballywalter Beach in county Down ( Whiterocks Beach in Portrush ( and Ballygally Beach which is located just on the other side of Ballygally Castle Hotel in which Game of Thrones was also filmed at some point during the movie (
One of the things we prefer about our country is that it appreciates nature and thus in addition to all these beautiful beaches, you will also find place to have a walk, run, or just enjoy looking at the green spaces which are found there.
Crawfordsburn is not far away from Belfast, Northern Ireland, so if your trip to the country will be all about visiting this city, you could still make a plan to go to this country park and not only enjoy the beach, but also enjoy any of the other facilities which we have mentioned that are already found there.
There are lots of things to do in Northern Ireland and some of them are about the different beaches and those parks which are scattered all around the country, we have already been to some of these parks and would definitely mention some of them for those who will need a long list!!
Since this is very close to Bangor, you could check Bangor Harbour ( and Pickie Park in Bangor ( they would give a nice experience and let you spend some nice time as well.
On a scale from 1 to 10, how much are you now excited to visit Crawfordsburn and check this beach?
Some of the best locations around Ireland / Northern Ireland and further afield. A travel blog/vlog of the hidden treasures that are on our doorstep.
Crawfordsburn School Nativity 2014
Last song
A quick glimpse of Crawfordsburn village
Just a passing visit to Crawfordsburn. Sorry I was in a bit of a rush. I'll have to come back to the village another time and cover it properly. Come and see it for yourself.
Crawfordsburn (from Ulster Scots Crawford's burn, meaning Crawford's stream) is a small picturesque village in County Down, Northern Ireland. The village, which is now effectively a commuter suburb, lies between Holywood and Bangor to the north of the A2 road, about 4 km west of Bangor town centre. Bounded to the north and north east by Crawfordsburn Country Park, the village attracts many visitors. It had a population of 531 people in the 2001 Census.
Before the Plantation of Ulster, the area of Crawfordsburn was known as Ballymullan (Irish: Baile Ui Mhaoláin). Crawfordsburn originated in the 17th century as a small settlement on an important routeway along North Down. It was named after a stream which flows through the village. It has retained elements of its 17th-century history along its Main Street including the coaching inn. The Sharman-Crawford family developed the village in the 18th and 19th centuries. Crawfordsburn was promoted as a Victorian tourist attraction, particularly for those visitors using the railway to nearby Helens Bay.
The Old Inn, Crawfordsburn
This is a video created in Autumn 2012 for showing internally on our Parlour Bar screen, we have always been known for doing special dining and accommodation deals throughout the year, visit us at to learn more.
Shortly after we produced this video the heavy snow came and cut off power to the village of Crawfordsburn and many other places in and out of Belfast, our trusty generator fired into action within ten seconds and The Old Inn was literally like a Moth to a Light! People came from all over for the warmth, light, food and hospitality! we gave beds for the night and kept the bar open (for residents P.S.N.I. !) til the wee hours while snowed in staff insisted on staying all night to bring drinks and food to everyone who had been cut off from utilities. We also went out and picked up some of our 'regulars' who we know live on their own and brought them to the Hotel for comfort and safety. It was such a touching thing for all of the staff to show their true spirit in times of hardship..... Then the lights came on, and everyone scarpered!
Such is life!
// More About The Old Inn, Crawfordsburn //
The Old Inn is among the oldest hotels in Northern Ireland. Offering 4 Star accommodation in County Down, we are the ideal location for dining, weddings, celebrations, and business meetings or conferences. We offer function room hire, meeting room hire, and Northern Ireland wedding packages to suit your unique needs and are known as a top rated wedding venue in County Down. Our award-winning Lewis Restaurant is perfect for foodies seeking to eat in one of the best restaurants in Northern Ireland. If you are looking for great hotel deals in Northern Ireland simply book now! Call us on +44 (0)28 9185 3255 today to see how we can help you.
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Crawfordsburn Country Park County Down Northern Ireland
A walk in Crawfordsburn Country Park on a sunny morning....
Hundreds attend Helen's Bay Gallipoli event
Hundreds attend Helen's Bay Gallipoli event
Hundreds of people have turned out in Helen's Bay in County Down to mark the 100th anniversary of the Gallipoli landings.
More than 130,000 soldiers lost their lives during the Allied attack on Ottoman forces.
Gallipoli was one of the bloodiest battles of World War One. In total, nearly 25,000 British and Irish soldiers were killed.
A cannon was fired during Saturday's event to remember those who died.
One of the organisers of the event, Pastor Brian Madden, said: Many who went out didn't come back home again and I think it's important that we do remember those people.
I know there's events taking place all around the world now and they call it Anzac day and they remember and mourn in Australia and New Zealand, but I think it's important when you remember 3,000 Irish men died in the battle as well, that we do commemorate it here in Ireland.