Castle Ward

Strangford, Northern Ireland

Castle Ward is one of Northern Ireland's most distinctive historic estates, famous for its unique architecture and its starring role in Game of Thrones. Built in the 1760s, the mansion combines two completely different architectural styles, with one side designed in elegant Classical style and the other in striking Gothic style, reflecting the differing tastes of its original owners. Set within a 1,000-acre estate overlooking Strangford Lough, Castle Ward offers beautiful woodland walks, landscaped gardens, scenic shoreline trails and historic farmyards. Visitors can explore the grand house, enjoy cycling and walking routes, or discover the estate's rich wildlife and breathtaking views. Film fans will instantly recognise the estate as the filming location for Winterfell in the first season of Game of Thrones. The historic farmyard became the Stark family's courtyard, while the surrounding grounds hosted many memorable scenes from the series. Today, visitors can even take part in themed tours and archery experiences inspired by the show, making Castle Ward one of Northern Ireland's most popular filming locations.

Map

Meeting point and instructions are provided by GetYourGuide and may be approximate — please confirm the exact location with the operator when you book.

Tags

Game of Thrones

Campsites near Castle Ward

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Getting to Castle Ward

Location

Strangford, Northern Ireland

Nearest airports

Belfast International Airport — 52km ·
George Best Belfast City Airport — 34km ·

Nearest train station

No train data available.

Plan your journey

From the airport
Belfast International Airport
From Belfast International Airport, take Bus 300 to Grand Central Station (35 mins), then Bus 515 to Downpatrick Bus Station (55 mins), followed by Bus 16e to Ballyculter Crossroads (16 mins), and finish with a 19-minute walk to Castle Ward. The total journey takes approximately 2 hours of actual travel time plus walking segments, though the directions indicate 11 hours 15 mins total.

ℹ️ Travel directions are correct at time of publishing and regularly reviewed, but routes and timetables can change. Please double-check before travelling.

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