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Castle Ward
Unique 18th-century mansion, famed for its mixture of architectural styles
Strangford, Downpatrick, County Down, BT30 7BA
Planning your visit
Article
Summer of Play at Castle Ward
Castle Ward’s Summer of Play 2025 runs from 5 July to 31 August and features seven themed play zones across the estate, including Active, Quest, Creative, Nature, Loose Parts, Performance, and Quiet Zones. Designed to inspire imagination, movement, and discovery, this family-friendly experience is included with general admission or free for National Trust members.
What's on at Castle Ward!
Find your next adventure here: discover all the events and activities happening at Castle Ward!
Project
Project
The Portrait of Lady Ann Bligh: A Conservation Journey
The newly-acquired portrait of Lady Ann Bligh—the only known image of her—sheds light on her overlooked role in shaping Castle Ward in the 1760s and enriches the site’s understanding of women’s history. After expert conservation work, the painting is now on display, reuniting the house with one of its most significant yet marginalised figures.
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Visiting Castle Ward with Family
From events and activities to inspiring your inner explorer, here's what you need to know about a family day out at Castle Ward.
Activity
Multi-use trails at Castle Ward
Whether you’re walking, in a wheelchair, cycling or horse riding, explore the 21 miles of trails on the Castle Ward estate and discover woodland, meadows and loughside views.
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Visiting Castle Ward with your dog
Castle Ward is a three pawprint rated place. Discover Castle Ward with your dog. With miles of trails to explore there's plenty of space for them to bound, sniff, jump and splash.
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Group visits to Castle Ward
Find out how to book a group visit to Castle Ward and learn about the guided tours and additional benefits available when visiting this unique 18th-century mansion as a group.
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Exploring the estate at Castle Ward
Explore miles of trails, soak up coastal views and stroll through atmospheric woodland scenes. Tune into the seasons and see where Game of Thrones was filmed.