Our Montalto Estate Ballynahinch Walk Around

Join us as we dander round the beautiful Montalto Estate, dating from the 1600s, at Ballynahinch Co Down. Set aside a full day and explore the various Trails, Gardens, Gift Shop, Cafe, Massive Outdoor Children's Adventure Playgrounds and the long history of this premier 200 acre park/lake/forest, family friendly, visitor/corporate attraction. It is also one of Irelands premier wedding venues, so if love is in the air................
Come and see it. You will not be disappointed!
Opening and Booking
Wed - Sun
10am - 4pm (Food service finishes at 3.30pm)
Adult £7.50
Child (Age 5 - 16)
Child (Under 5) Free
History Buff and Local Blogger Lord Belmont in Northern Ireland tells us
Sir John Rawdon, 4th Baronet, 1st Baron Rawdon and 1st Earl of Moira, established the Montalto estate. Montalto House was described by Sir Charles Brett as "a mansion of the utmost interest and with features of considerable importance..." was constructed around the mid-1750s, when Lord Moira moved there and made it his home. It extends to roughly 470 acres today though in 1872 the estate comprised 20,544 acres.
As Lord Moira was a noted botanist, planter and improver, it is likely that Montalto once boasted many exotic specimens dating from his time.
The 2nd Earl of Moira, afterwards 1st Marquess of Hastings, who distinguished himself as a soldier in the American War of Independence and was subsequently Governor-General of India, sold Montalto in 1802 to David Ker.
The name Montalto derives from the Italian for High Mountain, and in the original construction, Italian plasterers were employed.
In 1912 Montalto was bought in 1912 by the 5th Earl of Clanwilliam. It was sold in 1979 and became part of a business partnership which replanted the demesne in 1986-89.
A New Chapter
Gordon and June Wilson purchased the demesne in 1994, and lived here up until 2009 when, with their family grown-up. They decided the time had come to start the next chapter in the estate’s ongoing history. At this point, Montalto was opened as a private-hire venue, accommodating intimate weddings, high-end golf groups, and a wide range of corporate events.
The success of opening Montalto House gave the owners the confidence to create a larger offering. The result was The Carriage Rooms, which opened in 2012 as an exclusive and unique wedding venue. Once this had been established and became a success. The Wilsons began to formulate plans to transform the estate into a modern visitor attraction that could be enjoyed by everyone and here it is! Come, see and enjoy it for yourself!

[@stephenknox7351]

Looks like a great day out!

[@TomMcClean]

This place is fabulous Stephen but to appreciate it you really do need a sunny day. You need also to check out the opening days and hours and book or you could arrive and it is closing!

[@gregbruns8442]

It looks as though one could wander around that estate for days! It’s huge and so much to see. Whoever is running that show is doing a fantastic job. What a nice place to visit with your family. So they couldn’t afford the upkeep, huh? Go figure!!

[@TomMcClean]

Yes Greg What happened was that previous owners of big estates like this went off on jollies to London for wine, women and song/gambling etc. Some who inherited places like this were incompetent and couldn't run a bath never mind an estate. So in the end they went bankrupt and disappeared and places like this sadly went to ruin.

[@gregbruns8442]

Tom McClean Positive Belfast We have two mansions in my neighborhood. Neither could be kept up. One is standing in disrepair, the other is being slowly revived. Neither are as impressive as the one you featured, but demise is really almost inevitable for most of these properties. Still we have new “McMansions” being built west of town which will surely be falling apart in 100 years. I can’t even imagine having such a need to impress. The old ones are neat though! They are impressive and something to see.

[@jeanettekennedy7433]

it looks a great place thank you for showing hope you are alot better now

[@TomMcClean]

Thanks Jeanette this place is magical. Still struggling with the sleep but i always did! lol

[@shaunmckenna1923]

Hello Tom , wonderful thank you for sending me the link . Beautiful place love all the big trees, going back to what you said about the roofs being removed , I seem to remember hearing about the big house at the the Leslie Hill Estate Ballymoney having to brick up windows as they had a tax on windows , there one for you to look up Tom :)

[@TomMcClean]

Oh it was a disgrace, the wanton vandalism that went on Shaun. All for the sake of saving tax money that shouldn't have been imposed in the first place.

[@patsymillar9447]

I've been in lock down since the begining of March, so it's nice to be reminded what the great outdoors looks like. Looking forward to escaping the house.

[@TomMcClean]

Hi Janice, If you are of advancing years and or have a big health issue you ned to be ultra careful. The rest of folk should be wary but not be hiding behind the sofa.

[@patsymillar9447]

I'm being treated for cancer.

[@TomMcClean]

Oh Janice what can I say to make it better or easier? This is horrible. My father in law died of cancer in Feb past. My wife's aunt died of it at 59. A good work friend died of it aged 57 and another good friend who had it bad, made a slow but sure recovery. I often think that if our government had moved heaven and earth for cancer sufferers as they did for this virus, cancer would be a thing of the past. I can't understand why virus patients are more important than cancer patients. Maybe I've got it wrong. Best wishes. ..................................................I will remember you in my prayers.

[@david_v2.1]

Never heard of this place so thanks for showing us around. I do like a good tall, mature and healthy tree myself too. Same thing happened with the Mount Panther mansion. They removed the roof to reduce the rates bill and it is now in a sorry state. Floors collapsed and the whole structure is now unsafe. Crazy!

[@TomMcClean]

It hasn't been opened that long maybe a few years. The deliberate unroofing of big house really maddens me!

[@faunalife2906]

That's great they have planted so many trees there. I wonder are there any horse chestnut trees, the flowers on those are lovely (in early summer), I have planted a miniature one in my own garden. The lake is very big, might see some herons visiting it! The white buddleia is lovely, pity you didn't go when it was sunny and more in use, I went a walk today and there were lots of tortoiseshell butterflies about today on the various buddleias about along the side of the roads.

[@TomMcClean]

Yes FL I did see horse chetnut. We pre booked and as a a result had to go no matter what the weather. Unfortunately weather here is so unpredictable. Yes I saw lots of tortoiseshells today too!

[@RODPIKERDRONESUK]

Very nice indeed Tom looks like a lovely place 👍

[@TomMcClean]

This is what some of those big ruined houses you have filmed muliple times could have looked like if only they had been looked after RDUK. So disappointing.

[@RODPIKERDRONESUK]

So right Tom what amazing that would be for them to restored to there former glory 👍

[@adamkernohan]

Look forward to a drier visit, perhaps you’ll be able to skip round it a bit handier too then. Thanks for the video!

[@TomMcClean]

Yes we had typrical N Ir. weather I'm afraid! Yes hopefully I'll be up for 5 mile walks in a month or two Adam! Best wishes

[@chriswardlow9441]

Hi Tom. This looks a super place and great for the kiddies,just love the mansion house is it open to the public to walk round and view? It lends it self to have a garden centre section i'm sure it would be a success and help with the upkeep.but isn't the weather disappointing and Ireland is getting a battering and more on the way.Anyway look after that sore hip of yours take it CANNY.Cheers C & A.

[@TomMcClean]

Hi Chris I don't think the big house is normally open. It is after all a private family home. I believe though that it may be open on desihated days like the European Heritage Open Days. There were some plants on sale in one of the courtyards. This might lead to a larger sales area in the future. I don't know. The owners seem very knowledeable and adaptable to what the public want. I was with my consultant and physio for a final sign off today and all is well. the consultant was very pleasant. He said that he wishes that aall his patients were like me. The physio seemed pleased and impressed by what I managed to do. So it is onward and upward! lol

[@flowerfairy1950]

Looks a lovely property and with a generous concession admission rate too lol!

[@TomMcClean]

A magical place that has been hidden from public view for generations FF. Having said the present owners and many before have done an outstanding job at getting it to be the place it is today. It's 15 miles up the road from us. The nice thing about here is that tyou don't have long journeys to reach all the major attractions. We are spoiled. Yes we had a good laugh at the generous concession too!

[@flowerfairy1950]

@@TomMcClean Until now I had never heard if it. They should offer seasonal tickets for people who want to make regular visits. (As an aside the Premier of Victoria wants to extend the 'State of Emergency' until next September!!!! The man is MAD!)

[@TomMcClean]

They do offer seasonal rates FF. £37 a year membership ( £35 for pensioners concession! lol ) which isn't bad at all -if you were using the place quite regularly. Having seen the place I would indeed consider this. It is around half what the National Trust are asking. Nat. Trust properties charge £10 singleentry now. Yes the Premier of Victoria is indeed mad! So much has been wrecked here for decades to come.This is people's futures, their mortgages etc and all for something that is way less dangerous that our normal flu and pneumonia deaths. But we never shut down for them.

[@andybrown223]

Looks a lovely place 👍

[@TomMcClean]

Fabulous Andy!

[@tom5001]

I remember driving round that house when my old neighbour owned it some 30 years ago . (There was a lot more vegetation in front of it then) . A Mr W from Drumbo. The same gentleman who had a few to many cherry's at a co down golf and decided to drive home and remove the famous water pump using his car in Drumbo. If my memory serves me correct he bought it for under a million and sold it to the Wilsions for 5 or 6 million several years later. Mr W was an absolute gentleman. Mr Wilson stayed in house randomly in the early years as he was always afraid the IRA would kidnap him for a ransom, which happened back in day. Is the Building with the castle like tower open to the public Tom?

[@TomMcClean]

Hi Tom500, I just love it when folks like yourself post in with these personal long time reminiscences. Thank you so much. I do indeed understand his well justified fear or the IRA back then. I don't think any of the big house or nearby buildings would be open except on special, one off occasions, like the European Heritage Days. If you go on to the website there is a contact number for the big house and you could always ask. Best wishes