Activities at Castle Ward
Winter at Castle Ward
A new year brings a renewed drive to get active. Look out for winter wildlife and spot snowdrops by the shores of Strangford Lough as signs of spring return to the estate.
Your visit
Visiting Castle Ward: What's open and where are the best places to explore?
Autumn on the estate
Castle Ward is particularly spectacular in autumn when the colours change and there is still plenty to discover on the estate.
Dog friendly Castle Ward
Castle Ward is a haven for dog walkers. Dogs on leads please unless you're in our dog exercise field where Fido is free to roam.
Castle Ward Loughside Walk
Wander the waterside at Castle Ward passing a ruined castle and ornamental lake. With woodland and follies, this eye-catching stroll will take you around one of Northern Ireland's finest demesnes or country estates.
- Easy
- 50 mins
- 2.5 miles (4.0km)
HBO's Game of Thrones at Castle Ward
Immerse yourself in the world of HBO's Game of Thrones as you explore the farmyard and surround landscape. Keen fans will spot the locations of several key scenes from season one.
Winter walks at Castle Ward
Wrap up warm and take a walk around the stunning landscape at Castle Ward this winter.
Cycling our trails
Take a trip to Castle Ward, and explore the 21-mile network of trails. There's something here for cyclists of all ages and abilities.
Shore trail at Castle Ward
Follow our short trail at Castle Ward, County Down and take in the beautiful surroundings and scenery of Strangford Lough and architecture of the castle.
- Easy
- 20 mins
- 1.2 miles (1.9km)
Summer at the Barn
Visit the Barn at Castle Ward for new activities weekly throughout the summer from songs and stories to geocaching or even get involved in a theatre production
Bluebell Walks
We might be biased but we think we've got some of the best bluebell woods around...
Winterfell Festival Programme
The full programme of Winterfell Festival
Castle Ward countryside walk
Discover secret trails, lush woodland, panoramic views and a variety of wildlife on this varied walk in the country at Castle Ward.
- Easy
- 50 mins
- 2.5 miles (4.0km)
Castle Ward Farm Trail
Our Farm Trail is excellent for spotting wildlife and taking in the stunning scenery of Strangford Lough, Audley's Castle and Farmyard at Castle Ward.
- Moderate
- 1 hour
- 2.5 miles (4.0km)
Spring walks at Castle Ward
We've sat down and picked out some of our favourite walks to do during spring. Is one of them for you?
Castle trail at Castle Ward
An excellent trail for spotting wildlife and taking in the stunning scenery of Strangford Lough, Audley's Castle and Farmyard at Castle Ward.
- Easy
- 40 mins
- 1.8 miles (2.85km)
Castle Ward boundary trail
An eight-mile trail that takes in some stunning sights around Castle Ward.
- Challenging
- 3 hours
- 8.0 miles (12.85km)
Castle Ward Hoof Trail
Our Hoof Trail is a 7.5-mile route that takes in lots of sights, including Strangford Lough, Audley's Castle and Old Castle Ward.
- Challenging
- 2 hours 30 mins
- 7.5 miles (12.05km)