Overview
The reason Mount Stewart grows palms, eucalyptus and other subtropical planting is the climate: the estate sits on the sheltered east shore of Strangford Lough, 24 km south-east of Belfast, in the mild, humid air of the North Atlantic Drift. The National Trust runs a neoclassical 19th-century house, more than 70 acres of formal garden, a lake walk and the octagonal Temple of the Winds folly above the lough. Edith, Lady Londonderry, laid out the bold planting schemes from 1915, and the gardens are regularly ranked among the world’s top ten.
History
The original property, then Mount Pleasant, was bought in 1744 by Alexander Stewart, a Presbyterian linen merchant. Over two centuries the Stewart family – later the Vane-Tempest-Stewarts, Marquesses of Londonderry – turned the modest house into a political hub. Residents included Viscount Castlereagh, Britain’s Foreign Secretary at the Congress of Vienna, and the 7th Marquess, a former Air Minister who entertained the German ambassador in the 1930s.
In the early 19th century the 3rd Marquess rebuilt the façade in grand neoclassical style, adding the central Ionic portico and the two roof domes that still light the main hall. After a period of neglect, Lady Edith inherited the estate in 1915 and re-imagined the gardens, creating the Italian, Spanish, Shamrock, Mairi and Sunken gardens.
The last family occupant, Lady Mairi Bury, gave the house and its contents to the National Trust in 1977. A three-year restoration, completed in 2015, returned the interiors to their 1950s appearance.
What to see and do
If your time is short, spend it in the gardens rather than the house – the world-top-ten ranking is for the planting, not the rooms indoors, and the Italian Garden with its hot-coloured parterres is the one to see first.
| Feature | Highlights |
|---|---|
| The house | The central hall lit by a roof dome, the yellow dining room (once host to Winston Churchill), the black-and-white stone hall with French Imperial Guard armour, and a portrait collection that includes Napoleon III. |
| Temple of the Winds | Designed by James ‘Athenian’ Stuart (1782–83), the octagonal folly mirrors the ancient Tower of the Winds in Athens, with views over Strangford Lough. |
| Italian Garden | Geometric parterres in reds, yellows and oranges, classical statuary, and a herm-adorned south wall referencing Lady Londonderry’s self-styled ‘Circe’. |
| Spanish Garden | Cypress arcades, a blue-green tile-lined water parterre, and a salmon-pink limestone well head rescued from the 1926 Chelsea Flower Show. |
| Shamrock Garden | Topiary of Irish myth, a children’s-story hedge, and a Formorian figure that nods to local folklore. |
| Mairi Garden | Blue-and-white beds in the Stewart family colours, with a bronze marking the birth of Lady Mairi. |
| Lake Walk | A 0.6 mi circular, mostly level trail around a seven-acre lake, passing the private burial ground Tír na nÓg, an old jetty and a stand of rhododendrons. Wheelchair-friendly, though some sections are gravelly. |
| Fernery and Walled Rose Garden | Restored ferns and a historic rose garden, the quieter, woodland-style corners. |
Beyond the formal gardens, the demesne has 12 km of trails through woodland, farmland and the drumlin landscape of the Ards Peninsula. You can spot red squirrels, seals from the Lough Lookout and breeding seabirds.
Two honest notes before you go. The Temple of the Winds is currently closed for restoration, and the lift inside the house is out of order, though staff can arrange alternative routes on arrival.
Opening times
| Area | Opening hours (2026) |
|---|---|
| House | 11am–4pm (last entry 4pm). Closed Monday 13 April 2026 and all Fridays from April–June and September–October. Closed November–March. |
| Formal Gardens | 10am–5pm (closed the same Fridays as the house). Lawn areas close in winter. |
| Temple of the Winds | Closed (under restoration). |
| Trails and Lake Walk | 10am–5pm, accessible year-round. |
| Tea-room | 10am–4.30pm (closes 5pm on weekends and bank holidays). |
| Shop and Plant Nursery | 10am–4.45pm (closed Christmas Day and Boxing Day). |
Tickets
| Visitor type | Price (without Gift Aid) |
|---|---|
| Adult (18+) | £16.00 |
| Child (5–17) | £8.00 (under 5 free) |
| Family (2 adults + up to 3 children) | £40.00 |
| Family (1 adult + up to 3 children) | £24.00 |
| Group (adult) | £15.20 |
| Group (child) | £7.60 |
| National Trust members | Free |
Group rates need pre-booking at least two weeks ahead via groupsmountstewart@nationaltrust.org.uk. Gift Aid cuts the price by £1.60 per adult and £0.80 per child.
Facilities and accessibility
- Parking – Two hard-standing car parks (Car Park 1 nearest the house, Car Park 2 nearer the trails). Free for members, pay-and-display otherwise. Accessible spaces in Car Park 1 and two wider bays in Car Park 2, with electric-car charging in Car Park 1.
- Dogs – On leads across the estate, with an off-lead exercise area beside the Shepherd’s Hut for members and paying visitors.
- Wheelchair hire – Indoor and outdoor wheelchairs at reception (booking essential). The lake walk and main garden paths are wheelchair-friendly; some garden rooms have steps.
- Powered scooters – Two available on request.
- Changing Places – A fully equipped facility behind the toilet block in Car Park 1; a RADAR key is needed (from reception).
- Accessible toilets – In Car Park 1, the courtyard, reception and beside the Temple of the Winds, all with baby-changing.
- Induction loops – In reception, the tea-room and the shop.
- Wi-Fi – Free in reception, courtyard and tea-room.
Events
A year-round programme includes Jazz in the Garden on summer evenings, specialist plant fairs, an Easter egg hunt, the Halloween ‘Spooky Gardens’ walk, Winterwatch wildlife walks and children’s workshops in the school holidays. Check the National Trust events calendar for dates.
Nearby
- Grey Abbey – Ruins of a 12th-century Cistercian monastery.
- Castle Ward – Historic house and estate, a Game of Thrones filming location.
- Bangor Abbey – Early-Christian monastic site with a 14th-century square tower.
- Strangford Lough Lookout – For seal- and bird-watching.
- WWT Castle Espie Wetland Centre – Waterfowl and wetland habitats.
Practical information
Getting there – From Belfast, take the A20 south-east to Newtownards and continue on the A20 (Portaferry Road) along the Strangford Lough shore. The estate is 15 mi (about 40 min) by car. Ulsterbus routes 9 and 10 stop at the gate (‘Cunningburn Mount Stewart House and Gardens’). The nearest railway station is Bangor, about 10 mi away.
Best time to visit – Spring (April–May) brings the rhododendron and azalea displays; summer gives full colour in the formal gardens and the longest daylight for the lake walk; autumn brings the foliage. In winter the house closes but the gardens and trails stay open daily.
Contact – Phone +44 (0) 28 4278 8387, email mountstewart@nationaltrust.org.uk, website https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/northern-ireland/mount-stewart