Kayaker's Cache - Island Taggart
Strangford Lough
Strangford Lough is one of the largest sea loughs in Great Britain and Ireland and is an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, which makes it a popular attraction for both visitors and locals. The Lough is also internationally recognised for its importance to marine life and is a Special Protection Area and is the largest Marine Nature Reserve in the United Kingdom. The Loughs old name was "Cuan", meaning "safe harbour" but the treacherous tides that flow here possibly inspired the Viking invaders to name the Lough the "Strangfjorthr", meaning a place of strong currents. (Thanks go to David Thompson from The National trust for this explanation.) The west side of the Strangford Lough is a maze of submerged drumlin hills forming over 100 islands and rock pladdies although, according to legend there are 365 islands in the Lough, one for each day of the year.
Island Taggart
Island Taggart is owned by the National Trust and is one of the largest islands on Strangford Lough. Visitors are welcome here and there are good anchorages off the eastern shore, and the north, west corner of the island depending on the weather, although care on a falling tide is recommended.
The island has been uninhabited since the late 1960s although remains of a small settlement are still visible. Notably, the island was used as a location for filming the 'December Bride', a story of life in the area in the early 1900s.
According to the 1821 census Taggart had (at its peak) 3 houses and 23 inhabitants. In the spring of 1966, East Down Yacht Club purchased lands and established the sailing club which hadn't existed prior to this. Mr David (Davey) Calvert was the last resident of Island Taggart and he left in 1967.
The island lies between Ringdufferin directly to its north and Killyleagh, the nearest substantive village, to the south. The island is one mile long and a quarter of a mile wide at its widest point; a total area of 94 acres.
The length and height of its two drumlins make it particularly attractive in the southern half of Strangford Lough. From the higher points there is a fine prospect of varying habitats: from the eastern side, the main body of the lough with its marine life, sea-birds and the landscape of the Ards Peninsula; while, to the west, the sheltered mud-flats and salt-marshes with their population of waders and waterfowl.
The range of habitat types and abundant cover provided by pasture-land, scrub, hedgerows, marsh, foreshore and woodland ensure that Taggart is exceptionally attractive to wildlife. The thick hedges are full of bird life, the relatively unspoiled meadows full of wildflowers, and the small marshes bright with Yellow Flag iris and orchids make this a lovely island to visit. In summer it is full of butterflies including large numbers of Common Blues and Small Coppers. It is an important wintering ground for chaffinches, linnets, skylarks, stonechats and reed buntings.
The mudflats to the west of the island provide good feeding for curlew, redshank, oystercatcher, knot, dunlin and turnstone; greenshank and ringed plovers have also been seen. Terns and black-headed gulls are almost always to be seen around the shore and, in the winter, there are abundant razorbills, guillemots, cormorants and, occasionally, great northern divers.
There is evidence of badgers and foxes while otters frequent the northern tip. Porpoises can sometimes be seen feeding close to Taggart's eastern shore.
In the past the island was intensively farmed, though vegetation has now become more varied and there exists an important field system south of the farmstead with a valuable copse of oak, beech, ash, Scots pine, sycamore, elm and alder trees.
The main farm-house and outbuildings sit at the top of the hill in the middle of the island and are quite substantial. A lane ran from this farmstead down the hill, past the well to the eastern shore and still exists today. Two further wells served the cottages to the north of the island. There is an orchard nearby.
One small, ruinous cottage is at the northern tip of the island. Two other cottages, which are within fifty yards of each other, lie at the eastern side of the island about two-thirds of the way up from the southern tip.
On the southern tip of the island there is an un-roofed, circular stone kiln thought to have been used for burning kelp to produce potash for agricultural purposes. Close to the north-eastern bay is a second, larger kiln which is very well preserved with a stone, corbelled roof.
At the extreme north-eastern tip of Taggart there are two "fairy thorns" enclosed in a low ring of stones.
An extremely good relationship exists between canoeists and the conservation bodies in the Lough and it is in all our interests that this should be maintained. Please leave no trace of your presence.
Access Points - Strangford Canoe Trail
For Island Taggart:
Killyleagh (GR531 525)
Whiterock (GR524 627)
Ringhaddy (GR536 585)
Other access points are:
Cunningburn (GR538 704)
Kircubbin (GR596 628)
Island Reagh (GR525 645)
Killyleagh (GR531 525)
Whiterock (GR524 627)
Ringhaddy (GR536 585)
Horse Island (GR600 609)
Delamont Country Park (GR513 601)
Castle Ward (GR574 498)
Strangford (GR589 497)
Portaferry (GR595 503)
The Cache
The cache is a brown screw top container. It contains a log book and pencil and some small swaps. Please take care replacing the cache and respect the land. The cache has been placed with the kind permission of the National Trust.
Other Caches in the series
Kayaker's Cache - Salt Island
Kayaker's Cache - Darragh Island
Kayaker's Cache - Island Taggart
Kayaker's Cache - Chapel Island
Kayaker's Cache - The Launches
Kayaker's Cache - Horse Island