National Trust: Mount Stewart House Garden

Mount Stewart is a really lovely garden. It was planted with love, passion and skill. It is a magical place and there is always something of interest. Every corner you turn opens up lovely views. The lake walk is delightful, though the resident duck population has been allowed to increase too much.
It has however deteriorated a little recently, with money being spent on a particularly unfortunate car park which holds fewer cars than the previous one, and a rather unsightly pavilion which is rarely used.
It perhaps would have been better to focus more on the garden itself.
The little garden where Lady Mairi used to take the air in her pram is being replanted and is looking better, but much needs to be done in other parts.
The restaurant is excellent and the soups are very good.
The shop has an interesting range of products, great for presents, and there is a good second hand book shop.

A National Trust property, Mount Stewart’s gardens are one of my favouties in the UK. The house didn’t do that much for me but the gardens I have kept going back to, though I think they are especially good in summer as many of the flowers in the colour themed formal gardens are in bloom then. Many of the plants are fairly rare and can grow heir due to the mild climate on the gardens beside strangford Lough. The formal gardens are arranged as a series of rooms, but the best thing is the wonderful statuary of fantastic mythical creatures, really unusual. The larger landscaped gardens around the lake are also impressive with some nice focal points like the pagoda.

Mount Stewart must be the star of the Ards peninsula, it is so grand and impressive in every way. The house, still lived in, is packed with period furniture, artifacts and paintings which all set the scene of how live was when the gentry would have strolled around the gardens. The garden is outstanding at any time of year planted with lots rare and exotic trees and plants. The ‘Lake walk’ with its ever changing views, complete with ducks and swans and no doubt fish, is well worth a dander. If you work up an appetite there is a restaurant which should satisfy. Its a great family day out.