Castle Ward Ramble

Location: Castle Ward

Contact details: for more infromation or to book a place on this ramble, please contact Aisleen at Shopmobility Belfast on 02890 808090 or email aisleen@shopmobilitybelfast.co.uk

More info at: www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-castleward

The weather forecast had not been good for Sunday 2^nd October, so it was with some trepidation that we set off on our National Trails Day outing at Castle Ward, near Strangford. 

Once everybody eventually found the car park (Ann!) we headed off, up to the ‘built’ part of the estate, the stable-yard and main house.  The gift shop in the Stable-yard was a great attraction, for some, to see the things for sale, for others, to get warmed up!  We stopped here and had our picnic lunch before heading up through the beautiful walled Sunken Gardens up to the main Castle Ward house. 

The ground floor of the house is accessible and a National Trust guide kindly gave us a very interesting and informative tour of it. 

We returned to the car-park by a different route and then set off along the shore, heading for Audley’s quay and then cutting inland to return to the Farm Yard where we saw the corn and saw mills etc. 

The car-park was only a short distance from the farm yard and once back there we loaded the scooters into the van and headed in to the Spinnaker restaurant in Strangford where we enjoyed a meal and a good chin wag together. 

The rain never did come, and although the mist never really lifted either, the day was a very pleasant one with lots of convivial company and cheery chat.  Thank you to everyone who came along and turned a dull day into a bright one!