The Gardens

Explore the stunning gardens that surround the castle

Hillsborough Castle's glorious gardens are bursting with colour and are a joy to explore. Discover ornamental grounds, peaceful woodland, meandering waterways and picturesque glens at Northern Ireland's royal residence.

The historic gardens, which were developed from the 1760s onwards, offer intriguing contrasts between ornate formal gardens, woodland and meadows.

Keep an eye out for specimen trees and rare plants as you explore the grounds.

On arrival, don't forget to pick up your copy of our Garden Explorer map which reveals more of the gardens' unique features, including the Walled Garden, Yew Tree Walk, Moss Walk, the Lake and Lady Alice's Temple.

These special gardens are a delight to the senses throughout the seasons and offer countless places to unwind, contemplate, socialise and seek inspiration.

When

In line with gardens opening hours

Last entry one hour before closing.

Where

Parts of the gardens may be difficult to access by visitors with restricted mobility. Read our Access information

Ticketing information

Included in all admission tickets (Members go free)

Buy Hillsborough Castle and Gardens tickets

Things to see

Garden highlights

Family at Easter in Hillsborough Castle and Gardens- family (man in wheelchair) enjoying Walled Garden as children search for hidden Easter bunnies.

The Walled Garden.

A family (two adults and two children) standing inside The Nest for Everyone sculpture designed by Clive Lyttle. Part of the Imaginary Menagerie Robin Trail.

The Imaginary Menagerie is a play trail throughout the Castle's gardens. Opened in June 2021, it takes visitors on an adventure course that includes a series of sculptures celebrating the pets and wildlife animals that have made Hillsborough their home.

[See also: asset no.53796 for the Booklet guide].

The Imaginary Menagerie - garden play trail.

A close up of a honey bee (Apis mellifera) collecting pollen or nectar from blue borage flowers (starflower) (Borago officinalis) (mostly in bud). Blurred background.

The first Hillsborough Honey Fair was held on 21 and 22 August 2021. In the lead up to this event, new bee hives were established in Coronation Meadow. Bee keeper Gwen Earnshaw owns the bees and looks after them, as well as giving talks on bee keeping and showing visitors the insides of a working hive.

Honey bee in the garden

Moss Walk, leading to Lady Alice's Temple

The Glen

The Grotto

A large lake at Hillsborough Castle and Gardens under a cloudy sky. Foliage from the surrounding trees and planting surrounds the water

The Lake

Yew Tree Walk

Download

Hillsborough Castle and Gardens map

The Walled Garden

The Walled Garden dates back to the 18th century and is a large, four-acre site historically used to produce fruit, vegetables and flowers for the castle.

Learn more about the Walled Garden

Lady Alice’s Temple

Don't miss the tranquil Lady Alice's Temple, where former resident Secretary of State Mo Mowlem once found welcome respite from the pressures of politics.

The temple was given as a wedding gift to Lady Alice Hill by her brother, the 5th Marquess of Downshire in 1867.

Take a seat and relish the tranquility as you enjoy stunning views of the surrounding gardens.

Yew Tree Walk

This picturesque path is the route of the original road to Moira which passed in front of the house and into The Square. It was enclosed during the mid 1800s and is now named after the paired Irish Yew trees that line the path.

It offers outstanding views of the nearby Lady Alice's Temple.

Learn more about Lady Alice’s Temple

A couple sit on balustrade in front of the pond in front of Lady Alice's Temple. The white, columned temple sits elevated above the pond which is surrounded by mature plans.

Granville Garden

The beautiful Granville Garden was created in the 1940s and 1950s by Queen Elizabeth II's aunt, Lady Rose Bowes-Lyon. Lady Rose was the wife of the Earl of Granville, the second Governor of Northern Ireland.

As young princesses, Queen Elizabeth II and HRH Princess Margaret would visit their aunt and uncle here at Hillsborough Castle.

Learn more about the Granville Garden

Moss Walk

Take a wander alongside the beautiful Moss Walk, framed under a canopy of lime trees.

This stunning area of the gardens has recently had new paths incorporated to follow the original historic layout from the 1770s and is a beautiful photo spot throughout the seasons.

Other highlights

Hillsborough Castle's gardens are a treat that always reward; look out for the statue of Ossian in the Glen, the Quaker Burial Ground, Ice House and Pinetum.

Accessibility

The estate is very large and spans over 1km from the Pineapple Yard to the State Entrance. Distance information has been included on the directional signs in the gardens.

Step-free routes

Due to the natural terrain of the gardens, some paths are unsuitable for wheelchair users and those with restricted mobility. Some paths have steps and steep slopes that will become slippery in wet weather.

Step-free routes and ramps are available in both the Pineapple Yard and the Stable Yard. A step-free route between the Walled Garden and State Entrance is clearly marked on-site.

The step-free route is clearly marked in yellow on the map in the access guide.

Accessibility at Hillsborough Castle and Gardens