Mount Stewart - Red Trail

Start : 15 miles SE of Belfast on Newtownards-Portaferry Road, A20 5 miles SE of Newtownards.

(S/E) Starting at the Trail Head (Grid Reference: J556694), walk until the path forks in two.

(1) A finger post will show two possible Red Trails. (Look for the alternative way in the Note section (A))

To go up to the Temple of the Winds, take the left-hand stone trail route. This is a steep 470 m hill climb to the Temple, and a steep descent on the other side. The view from the top is worth the climb. In spring, there are small clusters of bluebells on the top of the hill. There are blue, white and pink varieties present there. (B)

As indicated on finger post, continue on the stone trail to the left until the meadow for approx. 500 m. Along this trail, you will be walking through woodland, with an open glade part way along. During summer months, the glade and along the sunny edge of the burn (stream) is alive with butterflies.

As you pass out of the woodland and through the gateway, follow the cut grass path through the meadow until you come to a wooden gate.

During summer, you may see butterflies, such as Ringlets, Small Whites, and Meadow Browns, flying around the flowers. Other invertebrates, like moths, bees and beetles, may also be seen in this area. Buzzards may be seen flying over the hills year-round, along with various different bird species during the year.

(2) After passing through the wooden gate follow the farm lane which turns to the left. At this point you can take an optional side path to the right into the Glen woodland and up to the ruins of a folly building as indicated on finger posts. Continue on the farm lane for about 500 m, until you get to a wooden pedestrian gate and an agricultural gate with an old piggery building on your right.

(3) As indicated on the fingerposts, go through the wooden gate, and follow the woodchip trail for approx. 100 m to the top of the hill. This is moderately steep and the path winds its way up into New Hill, there are two steps. In May/June, the hill is covered in bluebells.

At the top of the hill, turn right on the wood chip trail and continue down the hill for approx. 350m. The hill is very gradual, and becomes very steep just before re-joining the main stone trail just above the trail head.

(1) Turn right when you join the stone trail, and continue for 100 m until you reach the Trail Head (S/E).

Start : 15 miles SE of Belfast on Newtownards-Portaferry Road, A20 5 miles SE of Newtownards.

Parking : parking on Portaferry Road

Terrain : woodland floor and Ggavel

Public Transport : Translink

Facilities : toilets located in the reception area, courtyard, and car park. Gift shop, wi-fi, ice cream shop, tea room, garden shop and baby-changing facilities available.

Dog Policy : dogs must be kept on leads

Note : please note trails are uneven and steep in places ; they may be muddy at certain times of the year. Further information and trail maps are available at the trail head booth.

Find more information and walk ideas at Walk NI here.

(A) Alternative Way : to stay on a level path, take the right-most grassed route ; you will be avoiding the Temple of the Winds on this route. This 400 m long route has a wide array of plants, including primroses. Both routes will converge at the bottom of the hill, and will continue to a small stone bridge. On both routes, red squirrels may be seen in the trees, or running along the ground to get into a tree. Common spotted orchids are present in a patch of grass beside a blue gate before the stone bridge.

(B) Temple of the Winds : The 'Temple of the Winds' is an octagonal building inspired by the Grand Tour the 1st Marquess of Londonderry took in his youth. It was designed by the neoclassical architect James 'Athenian' Stuart in 1782–83. Many country houses in the UK had adaptations of the 'temples' their owners had seen on their tours of the Mediterranean. The temple is similar to structures at Shugborough and West Wycombe Park, both National Trust properties. The classical model was the Tower of the Winds, a clocktower in Athens which has a frieze depicting the eight wind deities (anemoi) of Greek mythology.

Source and more information about the Temple here!