Visiting Ardress House with Family
Find out everything you need to know about visiting Ardress House with kids. From feeding the chickens in the farmyard to borrowing balance bikes and essential information on where you'll find baby-changing facilities, bringing a picnic and more.
Find out whats on at Ardress House
Autumn at Ardress House.
Autumn is bright, bold and beautiful. Its golden hues and warm colours mark the transition between summer and winter. The beauty of the season can be seen all around Ardress House, from the changing leaves along the lady’s mile, to wax cap fungi and Armagh’s famous apples– nature puts on one of the most breath-taking shows of the year. It offers a feast for all the senses, from sights and sounds, to smells and tastes; the influence of season can be seen in what we eat, to the walk we take and the art we admire.
Planning your family visit
- Children must be supervised at all times as there are old farm machinery and uneven surfaces on site.
- Balance bikes can be borrowed free of charge during the summer months, just ask at Visitor Reception when you arrive.
- Baby changing facilities are located in disability access toilets in visitor reception.

Balance bikes
Balance Bikes are the perfect way to help your future cyclists learn how to ride in the safety of the great outdoors. Cycling is an important life skill and a healthy way to explore outdoors. We want to help the next generation’s cyclists learn to ride, starting their lifelong love of cycling in beautiful natural surroundings. That's why we are delighted to offer free-to-hire balance bikes to our visitors.
The balance bikes and helmets are available to hire from visitor reception. You don’t need to book anything, and the balance bikes are free to use - just turn up and get going.
Farmyard
Have a go on our ride on tractors in the farmyard. Meet our resident chickens, goats and donkey on your visit. The farmyard is accessed through visitor reception and you can get up close with our chickens when feeding them, please wash your hands when leaving the farmyard.
50 things to do before you’re 11¾
Are you ready for your next wild adventure? Springhill is the perfect place to explore outdoors and tick some fun activities off the National Trust’s '50 things to do before you’re 11¾’ list.
Here are just some of the activities you can conquer with family and friends at Springhill. How many can you do on your next visit?
- No. 1 - Get to know a tree
- No. 18 - Create some wild art
- No. 34 - Discover wild animal clues
- No. 44 - Watch a bird
- No. 50 - Take a friend on a nature adventure
You might also be interested in

Things to do at Ardress House
Step back in time and visit a 17th-century house with a traditional farmyard, fruitful orchard and farm animals to meet.

Visiting Ardress House with your dog
Your dog will love Ardress House with plenty of sights and smells to explore around the estate. Ardress House is a one pawprint rated place.

Family-friendly places to visit
There are lots of things to do when you visit one of our family-friendly places. Find inspiration for days out and discover a range of activities for everyone.

Family-friendly places in Northern Ireland
Whether you're crunching through leaves or getting creative and crafty, escape into autumn with the National Trust in Northern Ireland. With walks and trails, leaf spotting and nature activities, there so many ways to get out and play at the places in our care. Check property websites for specific opening times and events.

‘50 things to do before you're 11¾’
Fancy running free in the fresh air, learning new skills and trying new things? Grab your gear and start your adventure.