Entering Ards Forest Park

I was surprised to know that there is an entrance fee for entering Ards Forest Park or to be more accurate, if you are bringing a car, you pay for parking just as you enter the park grounds. This would explain why there were a few cars parked outside the entrance of the park to avoid paying the 5 euro fee. While you can do this, keep in mind that the Ards Forest Park carpark itself is still a ways in. So you could lose some time making your way in the park rather than actually enjoying the park itself.

However, this is not to say that the way in the park is not nice either. There is a forest feel here and the plant growth here is quite thick. It is nice to see tall plants for a change here since most of the plants I see in town are grass. Ards Forest Park is true to its name as it keeps the forest intact. Along the way in, you would see numerous markings for trails visitors can take to explore the park. It seems that network of trails here is quite well developed and I think that would make for a good activity one of these days. For now, however, we are sitting in the comfort of the car as we made our way in the park, there will be time for hiking later.

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