BELFAST, NORTHERN IRELAND

Our tour today will take us to the wonderful National Trust Properties of Mount Stewart House and Gardens, the finest in Northern Ireland. Home of the Londonderry family since the early 18th century, Mount Stewart was Lord Castlereagh’s house and played host to many prominent political figures.

Our tour today will take us to the wonderful National Trust Properties of Mount Stewart House and Gardens, the finest in Northern Ireland. Home of the Londonderry family since the early 18th century, Mount Stewart was Lord Castlereagh’s house and played host to many prominent political figures. George Dance, surveyor to the City of London, and architect to Newgate Prison designed the house, which is full of memorabilia of the best known of the Stewarts – Robert Viscount Castlereagh, War Minister and Foreign Secretary throughout much of the Napoleonic Wars. The 22 chairs he brought back from the Congress at Vienna in 1814 are now in the dining room, while the Castlereagh Room contains portraits of the viscount and many of his papers, including correspondence with Nelson and Wellington. There is also some fine furniture, porcelain and paintings, including one by Stubbs of the racehorse Hambletonian. We will enjoy a guided tour of this wonderful house with our guide bringing the past back to the present day. The profusion of astrological designs, stained glass and marble is breathtaking, and all combine to envelop the visitor in the mystique and history of the house. The fine collections of full-length family portraits illustrate several hundred years of the Bute family history. The magnificent gardens planted in the 1920’s have made Mount Stewart famous and earned it a World Heritage Site nomination. Edith, Lady Londonderry created the gardens, from 1921. A magnificent collection of fine trees and rare shrubs from all over the world flourishes in the gardens of Mount Stewart. The gardens also contain an unrivalled collection of rare and unusual plants, colourful parterres and magnificent formal and informal vistas. To the south of the house lies the secluded “wee garden”, to the north, a Victorian kitchen garden, recently recreated, and replanted. This garden includes a large octagonal glass pavilion, which is currently undergoing an ambitious planting project to recreate a “microcosm” consisting of montane and rainforest material from Borneo and Papua New Guinea. Adjacent to the kitchen garden lies the mature Victorian Pinetum of North American conifers, and beyond, a newly planted Arboretum has been divided into Sub-units representing each of the main regions of the world. As we stroll through these fine gardens we will have the opportunity to immerse ourselves in the aroma and vibrant colours of this wonderful, peaceful place. We will return to Belfast port and our awaiting ship via Hollywood. Please note that the upper floors of Mount Stewart House are not accessible to wheelchairs and involves climbing approximately 40 steps to reach this level. There is approximately 2 hours of walking involved.

DESCRIPTION CORRECT FOR 2007 CANARIES & MEDITERRANEAN CRUISES