Mount Stewart

You'll find Mount Stewart perched on the shores of Strangford Lough, about twenty minutes south of Newtownards - a proper mansion rather than a castle, though the grounds are what truly justify the trip. This National Trust property is an 18th-century neoclassical house with one of the finest gardens in Northern Ireland spread across eighty acres of lakeside parkland.

The house itself tells the story of the Stewart family's political clout, but honestly, most visitors spend their time wandering the gardens. The Italian Garden is the real draw - a riot of colour and topiary that feels entirely at odds with County Down's grey skies, somehow all the better for it. The Temple of the Winds overlooks the lough from a hilltop, and the walk there takes about twenty minutes if you're not dawdling. Families with younger kids might find an hour sufficient; garden enthusiasts could easily spend three.

Admission isn't free but National Trust membership makes sense if you're planning multiple visits across the region. The tea room is decent enough for a break. Summer's the obvious choice for the gardens, though spring bulbs and autumn colour both work well.

If you're based at Dunroamin Caravan Park or Sandycove Holiday Park just down the coast near Millisle, Mount Stewart makes an easy half-day outing that breaks up the park routine without feeling rushed. It's genuinely worth clearing an afternoon for, particularly if the weather holds.