Belfast Lough Outer — water body quality
near Groomsport, Ards and North Down
Belfast Lough Outer is a coastal water in Ards and North Down, near Groomsport, covering 137.1 km².
Official classification
Good
Assessed 2026
Good ecological status under the Water Framework Directive means the biology and chemistry of this water body depart only slightly from near-natural conditions for its type, which meets the Directive’s environmental objective.
| Stretch | Status |
|---|---|
| Belfast Lough Outer | Good |
Overall status reflects the worst stretch (precautionary).
This water body
- Type
- Coastal water
- Area
- 137.1 km²
- County
- Ards and North Down
- Location
- 54.7139, -5.6514
Others in Ards and North Down
This page shows water-quality information, not swim-safety advice. For today's conditions and swim-safety guidance, check Water Safety Ireland.
Official classifications on this page contain DAERA/NIEA Water Framework Directive classification data © Crown copyright, licensed under Open Government Licence v3.0.