Mount Stewart Northern Ireland: A Hidden Gem on the Ards Peninsula

Some of the most memorable stops on a private luxury tour of Ireland are not necessarily the places everyone immediately thinks of.

Mount Stewart, on the beautiful Ards Peninsula in County Down, is a perfect example.

At Ireland & Scotland Luxury Tours, we often recommend a visit when clients are staying near Belfast or along the shores of Strangford Lough.

Visit Mount Stewart House

Today,
Mount Stewart
is cared for by the National Trust and is one of Northern Ireland’s most important historic estates.

The Stewart family acquired the estate in the 18th century, and generations of the family subsequently expanded and transformed the house.

The mansion visitors see today developed substantially during the 19th century and retains the atmosphere of a grand family home.

A House Filled with Art and History

One of the reasons we enjoy recommending Mount Stewart is that there is considerably more to see than simply an impressive country house.

Inside is an important collection of paintings, furniture, silver, sculpture, political memorabilia and personal possessions connected with generations of the Londonderry family.

The collection includes works associated with artists such as George Stubbs, Sir Thomas Lawrence and Sir John Lavery.

There is also fascinating material connected with the family’s involvement in politics, diplomacy and military history.

The Famous Gardens at Mount Stewart

For many visitors, however, the gardens are the real highlight.

The remarkable gardens seen today were largely shaped by Edith, Lady Londonderry during the early 20th century.

She created a highly personal series of gardens combining formal design, unusual plants, mythology and influences from around Europe.

The mild climate beside Strangford Lough also allows a particularly varied collection of plants to thrive.

Today the National Trust describes Mount Stewart’s gardens as being among the most outstanding in the world.

Explore the Different Gardens

Rather than being a single formal garden, Mount Stewart contains a series of distinctive areas.

These include the Sunk Garden, Spanish Garden, Mairi Garden, Rose Garden and extensive walks through the wider estate.

It is a place where we recommend allowing time to wander rather than rushing through.

A Perfect Addition to a Stay Near Belfast

Mount Stewart works particularly well for clients spending several nights in the Belfast area.

The journey takes you out of the city and into the countryside of County Down, with beautiful views around Strangford Lough and the Ards Peninsula.

It provides a very different experience from Belfast’s urban attractions and is exactly the kind of quieter destination that can make a bespoke private tour more interesting.

Why We Recommend Mount Stewart

For us, Mount Stewart offers a combination that works extremely well on a luxury Ireland itinerary:

beautiful gardens, an important historic house, remarkable art, political history and an attractive countryside setting.

It is also less obvious than many of Ireland’s better-known attractions, giving clients the opportunity to discover somewhere they might otherwise have missed.

Include Mount Stewart in Your Private Tour of Ireland

At Ireland & Scotland Luxury Tours, we specialise in creating private itineraries around Ireland and Scotland based on the interests of each client.

If historic houses, gardens, art and beautiful scenery appeal to you, Mount Stewart is an excellent destination to include alongside Belfast and County Down.

Start Planning Your Private Tour of Ireland

Contact Ireland & Scotland Luxury Tours and let us create your own private luxury tour of Ireland.