Summer at Cockle Row

Cockle Row Cottages, the pair of restored fishermen’s cottages on Groomsport harbour, runs a free programme of family activities every summer Sunday through 13 September 2026. Sunday afternoons from 2pm to 4pm bring a rotating cast of local performers, from falconry displays to animal handling sessions with rabbits and chinchillas, alongside traditional craft demonstrations. No booking is needed and there is no charge, so families can simply drop in on any Sunday during the run.

What to expect

The cottages themselves stay open Thursday to Sunday, 11am to 5pm, through 13 September, with an interactive senses trail that works well for younger children who are not ready for a full guided tour. Past sessions at Cockle Row have included soda bread baked over a traditional fire grill outside the cottages, birds of prey encounters, yarn spinning demonstrations and eco craft workshops using recycled materials, with the exact activity changing from week to week. The two cottages, one furnished as it would have looked around a century ago and the other used as a small exhibition space, tell the story of Groomsport’s fishing families and the harbour’s working past. A guided 90 minute history walk around the village also runs on selected dates between June and 12 September, covering the harbour and the village’s older buildings, free of charge and with no booking required.

Getting there

Cockle Row sits directly on Groomsport harbour, on Main Street, a short drive from Bangor along the coast road. There is parking near the harbour, and Groomsport is served by local bus routes running from Bangor.

While you’re in Groomsport

Groomsport is a small working harbour village that has kept its character, with a sandy beach on either side of the pier and a handful of places to eat nearby. There is more to see in Groomsport and across Co. Down.

Good to know

• Date: Sundays, 2pm to 4pm, through Sunday 13 September 2026 (cottages open Thursday to Sunday, 11am to 5pm)
• Venue: Cockle Row Cottages, The Harbour, Main Street, Groomsport
• Price: free, no booking required, drop in
• Recurrence: weekly family activities every Sunday through the summer, plus a guided history walk on selected dates
• Contact: Ards and North Down Borough Council, tel 028 9109 3038