Walk Northern Ireland - Mountaineering Ireland

Left: Kingfishers by the river Blackwater
Right: Castle Ward
Below left: The Argory Lime Walk
The Argory
Situated southwest of Lough
Neagh in County Armagh, the
Argory is an atmospheric timecapsule.
Built in 1824, the
handsome building was designed
in the neoclassical style favoured
by the Irish gentry at the time.
It was the grandson of the
original owner who donated the
property to the National Trust in
1979. Though the building itself
was in reasonable shape, nothing
had changed inside since 1900.
The Trust decided to preserve the
house exactly as it was, providing a
living museum of life at the turn
of the twentieth century. Nothing
has been altered except the former
bullock house, which has been
converted to provide an awardwinning
tea room.
The house sits on a rise
overlooking the Blackwater River,
in the middle of a 315-acre estate.
The formal grounds around the
house include a sundial garden
and rose beds. The gardens are
contained within arbours clipped
from yew trees, another practice
typical of the Victorian era.
Outdoor visitor attractions
include an adventure playground
and an environmental sculpture
trail. Further away from the house,
the grounds meld into deciduous
woodland. This is where walkers
can get into their stride, and several
marked trails offer a variety of
routes through the trees and along
the river. All the paths are
interlinked so it’s easy to devise a
route to suit your own tastes and
interests.
The Lime Tree Walk is one of the
most popular paths. This trail
explores a beautiful swathe of
deciduous woodland that’s carpeted
with snowdrops in the spring. It
also passes the Argory Oaks
Plantation, which was re-planted to
celebrate the Trust’s centenary using
acorns from the estate.
The Blackwater River Walk is
another recommended excursion.
Though the river is relatively
peaceful here, a series of weirs and
rapids aerate the water a short
distance upstream. This ensures
good conditions for fish and other
water creatures, and makes this a
popular stretch of river amongst
fishermen. As you walk along the
banks keep an eye open for
kingfishers. The vibrant turquoise
feathers of these distinctive birds
are often spotted in this area,
another welcome sign of a healthy
river ecosystem.
The Argory E4
Starting Point: Main Car Park
Distance: 5km
Maps & Books: Available at property.
OSNI sheet: 19
Facilities: Parking/toilets at property
p THE NATIONAL TRUST
Castle Ward
The National Trust estate of Castle
Ward lies on the shore of
Strangford Lough in County
Down. The 25km-long sea inlet is
a haven for all sorts of wildlife, and
one of Northern Ireland’s most
treasured natural assets. The trails
at Castle Ward provide an ideal
opportunity to explore the
shoreline and estate.
The property at the centre of the
850-acre estate is an imposing
The Lime Tree
Walk …
explores a
beautiful
swathe of
deciduous
woodland
that’s carpeted
with
snowdrops in
the spring
walk… National Trust
eighteenth century mansion. The
building’s most remarkable feature
is its double façade. It’s an amusing
exercise to walk around the house
to see how the two quite different
architectural styles meld together.
But for walkers the grounds are
likely to provide as much interest as
the house. An immensely varied
estate boasting a diverse selection of
natural and historic sites, Castle
Ward is one of the most popular
destinations in the region. The
grounds of the estate contain six
walking trails ranging from 2km to
5km in length. In addition to these
trails, the Lecale Way, one of
Northern Ireland’s waymarked
walking routes, also passes through
the area.
Whichever circuit you choose,
don’t miss the path along the lough
shore. Here you’ll be treated to
wonderful views across the lough to
the towns of Strangford and
Portaferry. The channel between
these two towns is known as ‘The
Narrows’ and is renowned for its
surging currents. Some 400,000
tonnes of sea water pour through
the gap each time the tide changes.
No wonder the Vikings named the
inlet Strangfjiord, or strong fiord.
Castle Ward’s trails have all been
designed around different features
of the estate. You’ll visit a working
farm, a tranquil lake and several
different types of woodland. You’ll
also pass two old tower houses,
Castle Ward and Audley’s Castle.
The region is dotted with similar
keeps, all built to defend the
coastline during the fifteenth or
sixteenth centuries.
At the Strangford Lough Wildlife
Centre, you’ll find an interpretative
centre with audiovisual displays,
tea-room and children’s
playground.
Castle Ward G4
Starting Point: Main Car Park
Distance: Up to 14km
Maps & Books: Available at property.
OSNI sheet: 21
Facilities: Parking/toilets at property
p THE NATIONAL TRUST
discovernorthernireland.com
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