Ardress House: Lady's Mile walk
The short Lady's Mile walk guides you through a peaceful belt of woodland surrounding Ardress House. Through the gaps in the trees you can glimpse charming views of the white-walled farmhouse with its quiet apple orchard nestled in pastoral farmland. On the route look out for an Irish yew and an old oak tree, which predates the original house at Ardress.
Tree species
The woodland at Ardress was planted in the 1800s by the Ensor family. While oak predominates, ash, beech, lime, horse chestnut, sycamore and Scots pine trees are also present.
Total steps: 6
Total steps: 6
Start point
Ardress House car park. Grid reference: H914559
Step 1
Travel from the car park towards the main gates of the property. Take a left and follow the lane. On the left is an old house called Frizzell's cottage while on your right you're able to enter the north side of the Lady's Mile. You'll be travelling downhill, so take care with exposed roots underfoot. Passing over a bridge you'll arrive at a lane leading to farmland.
Step 2
Cross the lane and on your right just beside the second wooden fence is a crab apple tree hugging an ash. You will now be travelling uphill and have the option of taking a little path on your left through the trees. This joins the main one again soon. You'll soon turn a corner and pass a gate on your left leading to a nearby road. On your right is a seat at a former viewing point.
Step 3
You'll now be travelling downhill and will pass over a bridge. Turning the corner you'll see on your right an unusual bent pine tree. Please note, this area is particularly wet in rainy weather. You'll come to a corner with a seat on your left.
Step 4
Turning this corner leads you onto the south side of the walk. On the right are new plantations of willow, birch and alder. Between two wooden bridges are snowberry hedges. After the second bridge you'll reach a corner.
Step 5
This final part of the mile has the oldest trees of ash and oak. One old oak tree is thought to be nearly 400 years old. You'll reach a lane so cross over and go through the stile. This brings you into woodland plantations beside the house.
Step 6
Take a slight left and shortly on your right you'll see a set of steps to climb. These will bring you past a rose garden on your left. At the top you'll reach the south side of Ardress House with its Irish yew tree on the lawn. At the front of Ardress House you must now head down the lime tree-lined avenue to return to your car.
End point
Ardress House car park. Grid reference: H914559
Trail map
More near here
Ardress House
17th-century house with elegant 18th-century decoration and a traditional farmyard
River walk at The Argory
Follow the River Blackwater on this circular walk around the estate, and cross it on Bond's Bridge, with the chance to spot kingfishers.
The Argory Lime Tree Walk
Walk along an avenue of lime trees, discover a wildflower meadow and pass the Argory oak plantation on this gentle trail with views of the house to enjoy.
Get in touch
64 Ardress Road, Annaghmore, Portadown, County Armagh, BT62 1SQ
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