Castle Ward is full of personality. Situated in a stunning location overlooking Strangford Lough, the lawns rise up to the unique 18th century house and its Gothic facade. This fascinating house features both Gothic and Classical styles of architectural treatment, internally and externally.
In the mid nineteenth century the park was enlarged and a major reorganisation of the gardens took place around the house. On the site of the old Georgian flower garden the Wards built the terraced Windsor Garden. lts sunken area, which once held an elaborate parterre, now has a small circular pond with a statue of Neptune, but the bedding arrangement on the terraces largely retains its Victorian layout while the symmetric ally placed cordylines and the screen of Irish yews on the west side perpetuate the formal planting design.
The adjacent Pinetum, also established around 1840 contains a collection of spruces, pines, firs and other trees introduced from America and the Pacific in Victorian times. A large rockery built against the wall of the old garden is an Edwardian addition to the garden.
Inside the beautiful 820 acre walled demesne you will find an exotic sunken garden and paths that wind their way through woodland and suddenly open onto the quiet shores of the Lough.
- Fascinating home of the Ward family since the 16th century
- One of the most complete demesne landscapes to survive in Ireland
- Victorian laundry, cornmill and sawmill illustrate how the demesne worked
- Woodland, lakeside and parkland walks with stunning viewpoints
- Impressive Yew tree terraces and stunning Temple Water
- Dress up and play with period toys in the Victorian Past Times centre
- Children's adventure play area
- Visit the horses, pigs and hens in the farmyard
- Strangford Lough Wildlife Centre
- Clearsky Adventure Centre and horse trails
- Browse the enticing gift shop and rummage around the second hand book shop
- Caravan site and Potter's Holiday Cottage
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