Mount Stewart Winter Walk
Treat yourself to a gentle winter stroll around this beautiful lake and World Heritage Site-nominated gardens, which reflect the seasonal changes brilliantly with their large variety of flora and fauna.
Why not end your walk with a visit to our cosy Tea Room?
Map
Start:
Reception area Mount Stewart, OSNI grid ref: J553695
1
Starting your walk from the main reception area at Mount Stewart, make your way round to the north front of the mansion, where you will find tree species such as Monkey Puzzle, Californian Redwood and Australian Cordylines, illustrating the many different species found here. Join the wide gravelled path, which meanders left towards the lake.
2
After passing a little wooden jetty you will come to a bank with a seat set into the wall. Over to the left you can spot the south facing bank, Tir Nan Òg, meaning Land of the Ever Young in Scots Gaelic.
Tir N'an Òg
This is the family's private burial ground and the resting place of Lord and Lady Londonderry, protected by a turreted wall, ornamental gates and statues of Irish saints. The White Stag statue, placed at the entrance to the family burial ground, hints at Lady Londonderry's interest in Celtic myths, where it is seen as a guide to heaven and represents the near proximity of the other world.
3
On reaching the bottom of the hill you can either follow the Rock Walk or the gravel walk alongside Jubilee Avenue, where you can spot the statue of the White Stag.
The lake
This expansive, 4-acre (1.6-hectare) lake was created in the 1840s by Charles, 3rd Marquess, and later landscaped in the 1920s by Lady Londonderry, wife to the seventh marquess. A winter's view over the lake at Mount Stewart provides a perfect reflective surface for the evergreens of the surrounding mature woodland. Take a closer look at the small trees and shrubs by the lakeside and you will see that they are teeming with beautiful green lichens.
4
Crossing the little stone bridge over the stream brings you to Lady's Walk; following this track will shorten your walk and set you on the path back to the mansion house (Please note: for the full walk route please skip this section and go to direction 5 below). In the 18th century, ladies used the original path here to take their outdoor exercise. The path is lined with Oregon Douglas fir trees and before the path descends to the north lawns you can get a good view of the mansion house. Spend a few minutes here on the tiny, tranquil island with a wonderful view of Tir Nan Òg opposite. Lady's Walk eventually rejoins with the gravelled path that takes you back to the mansion house where you began your walk.
5
Alternatively, walk past the bridge and Lady's Walk and continue forward from Jubilee Avenue onto Rhododendron Hill, which rises up to the left. There are several paths here which take you through swathes of flower and tree-lined tracks. Follow these round until you get a good view of house before the path descends steeply to the stone vase, north lawns and eventually back to the mansion house. From here why not stop off to warm your cockles in our Tea Room, which serves a variety of delicious locally sourced food, hot drinks and snacks.
Formal gardens
In winter the formal gardens at Mount Stewart take on a more subtle appearance, with the statues and columns contrasting against the evergreens and bare branches of trees and shrubs. This Irish harp in clipped yew is one of the many Irish symbols to be found in the shamrock gardens at Mount Stewart.
End:
Reception area Mount Stewart, OSNI grid ref: J553695
