Changing tides with powerful currents and the constant rush of waves back and forth over the shores, all give character to the Lough and profoundly influence the animals and wildlife. At other times the Lough seems like a large and placid lake. Between the tides, a range of habitats appear from differing grades of mud and sand to boulders and salt marsh. The area is rich in worms, shellfish and other small animals that are a vast food source attracting migratory birds and waders, with some species found in internationally important numbers during the winter. Eelgrass is abundant and is the principal food source of Brent geese, many thousands of which migrate to the Lough during September and October. Accessible at low-tide, from the car park this walk takes you along a concrete causeway and around Rough Island. Located at the upper end of Strangford Lough, adjacent to North Strangford National Nature Reserve, the walk allows for fine views across the Lough toward Scrabo Tower and the Ards Penninsula. It is also an excellent viewpoint for bird watching