The magnificent 18th-century Mt Stewart is one of Northern Ireland's grandest stately homes and renowned for its whimsical gardens. It was built for the Marquess of Londonderry and is decorated with lavish plasterwork, marble nudes and priceless artworks.
Mt Stewart is 3km northwest of Greyabbey and 8km southeast of Newtownards, on the A20. Buses from Belfast and Newtownards to Portaferry stop at the gate. Last admission is one hour before closing time.
Lady Mairi Vane-Tempest-Stewart (1920–2009) – daughter of the seventh marquess – gifted Mt Stewart to the National Trust. The house's treasures include the chairs used at the Congress of Vienna in 1815 (embroidery added in 1918–22), and a painting of racehorse Hambletonian in Hambletonian, Rubbing Down (1799–1800) by George Stubbs, one of the most important paintings in Ireland.
Much of the landscaping of the beautiful gardens was supervised in the early 20th century by Lady Edith, wife of the seventh marquess, for the benefit of her children – the Dodo Terrace at the front of the house is populated with unusual creatures from history (dinosaurs and dodos) and myth (griffins and mermaids), accompanied by giant frogs and duck-billed platypuses. The 18th-century Temple of the Winds is a folly in the classical Greek style built on a high point above the lough.
