For those interested in the history of the area, the History Walk leads to the edge of the estate to the site of the 1798 Battle of Ballynahinch and a prehistoric settlement site.
It was the First Earl of Moira , Sir John Rawdon, who originally built a mansion on the estate. Now known as Montalto House, it has been a family home almost exclusively ever since. Available for private hire, the magnificent Georgian property has nine opulently decorated bedrooms sleeping up to 18 adults and a chef on hand to cook bespoke meals.
It offers the perfect base for exploring the rich heritage and culture of County Down, including the famous Mourne Mountains, beautiful beaches, golf courses and the rich natural environment of Strangford Lough.
Montalto is home to a variety of flora and fauna including woodpeckers, otters, pine martens, butterflies and dragonflies and areas have been specially developed to support its growing numbers of red squirrels.
Keen gardeners will enjoy spending time in the individually themed gardens which include the Alpine Garden with its 300 varieties of plants, the stunning Walled Garden with its water features and the unusual Winter Garden.
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