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Castle Ward Caravan Park site rules

The area surrounding Castle Ward Caravan Park, County Down
The area surrounding Castle Ward Caravan Park, County Down | © National Trust / Lee John Mann

To make sure that everyone who stays with us has a great holiday we have a few simple site rules.

Arrival Times

After 2.00pm and before 6.00pm.

If you're arriving at our campsites without booking in advance, we recommend you aim to arrive at the beginning of the times above to secure a pitch, or to phone ahead for information.

Visitors must register at reception (before pitching).

If you have pre-booked with us and circumstances beyond your control prevent you from arriving within these times, please email the campsite and staff will do their best to assist.

Departure times

Please leave by 12 noon on your day of departure. If you wish to extend your stay, please ask a member of staff at reception to check availability and to book you in (reception opens at 10am).

Groups/ Maximum occupancy

We are happy to welcome organised groups such as educational groups, Duke of Edinburgh, Scouts, Guides, etc. to the site. Proof of group status may be required when booking. Any party larger than 4 adults and 4 children will be considered a group. Family and friend groups are only accepted with prior agreement but our site is not suitable for stag, hen or birthday parties.

All group leaders must have completed and returned a group booking form including full details of the number in the party, and number of tents and vehicles.

All group bookings must be made via the booking office and cannot be made online. Email: castleward@nationaltrust.org.uk.

Pitches

When pitching, on arrival on site, please ensure that your tent/caravan is six metres (about seven large paces) away from adjacent accommodation.

Please pitch tents only in the central reservation. A small tent is defined as a two man tent. Our tent pitches are 5 metres X 5 metres, any tents bigger than this will be charged accordingly.

Caravans

All caravans and tow vehicles must be reversed onto the pitch. No awnings or canopies are permitted on pitches 7, 8, 9, 10, 11.

Camping pods

As the pods are an integral part of the Caravan Park the same terms and conditions apply. Guests will require all camping equipment. Please bring your own beds/bedding, general camping items and a torch.

No cooking or smoking is permitted inside the pods. You may barbecue on the designated area outside the pods.

Access from the Caravan Park to the Estate is permitted for those staying on the Caravan Park. The placement of the pods means that access is not suitable for those with limited mobility.

Minimum stay

There is a minimum stay of one night unless it is a Bank Holiday in which case there is a minimum stay of two nights.

Parking

Caravans – Vehicles parked only in designated caravan bays around the perimeter.

Tents – Parking is available beside tent pitches on the perimeter of the Central Green, one vehicle per tent.

Pods – Pods 1 and 2 have parking spaces beside them on the main camp site area. Pods 3, 4, 5 and 6 have parking at the bottom of the main trail path.

Dogs/pets

Dogs are welcome on site (maximum of two per party), but please notify us at the time of booking.

Dogs are not allowed inside the pods, except assistance dogs however you must notify us at time of booking if you are bringing an assistance dog with you.

Quiet please

We ask that our visitors are considerate to their neighbours at all times, but ‘quiet please’ between 11pm and 7am.

Fires/Barbecues

For obvious reasons, campfires are not allowed, but barbecues are permitted, provided they are raised off the ground.

Safety

Cooking inside tents or pods is not permitted and can be lethal due to carbon monoxide poisoning. No Chinese lanterns or naked flames are permitted. No rope swings are to be erected in the surrounding forest.

Smoking

Smoking is not allowed in or around the pods.

Special requests

Special requests, including requests for adjacent camping pitches, must be indicated to us at the time of booking, we will always do our best to honour them but they cannot be guaranteed.

Problem or complaint

Every reasonable care will be taken to ensure that the camping pitch or pod and also site amenities are presented to a high standard. Should you find any cause for complaint, please immediately contact one of the campsite staff, so that reasonable steps can then be taken to rectify the problem. National Trust will not normally make any refunds in respect of complaints made after the visitor’s departure from the campsite if the visitor did not make the problem or complaint known to staff during the visitor’s stay. If you supplied an email address at the time of booking, a survey will be emailed to you for your comments after your stay. Alternatively, a comment form may be completed and left at the campsite reception. All complaints made after the visitor’s departure should be made in writing by post or email to:

Guest Relations Manager

National Trust Holidays, Heelis, Kemble Drive, Swindon, SN2 2NA,

Email: guestrelations@nationaltrust.org.uk.

Teenagers putting up their tent at the National Trust campsite at Wasdale Head in the Lake District
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Camping terms and conditions 

Terms and conditions which apply to all National Trust campsite bookings

An aerial view of Castle Ward Caravan Park and Strangford Lough, County Down

Castle Ward Caravan Park information 

A quiet campsite with a view of the lough on the Castle Ward estate, home to trails, ancient woodland, a mansion house and landscaped gardens.