Delamont Country Park: Walks, The Standing Stone + Handy Info

Right on the shores of Strangford Lough, Delamont Country Park is the perfect place for the whole family to enjoy a day out.

With plenty of space for outdoor activities, you can go walking, horse riding, camping, playing on the playground, and riding the miniature railway.

It’s also home to the Strangford Stone, the tallest megalith in Ireland. Find everything you need-to-know below!

Some quick need to-knows about Delamont Country Park

Although a visit to Delamont Park is fairly straightforward, there are a few need-to-knows that’ll make your visit that bit more enjoyable.

1. Location

On the south-western shore of Strangford Lough in Northern Ireland, Delamont Country Park is just south of Killyleagh village. The nearest major town is Downpatrick which is just an 8-minute drive to the south.

2. Opening hours

Opening hours vary across the year depending on the month. It’s open every day of the year, except Christmas Day from:

• November to February: 9am to 5pm
• March and October : 9am to 6 pm
• April and September: 9am to 8pm
• May to August: 9am to 9pm.

3. Prices

There are daily parking charges from June until September, on weekends throughout the year, and on school and bank holidays, which includes admission. These parking fees are:

• £4 for cars
• £30 for coaches
• £15 for minibuses
• £2 for motorcycles
• The miniature railway is £2.50 per person

4. The café

The Steamers Coffee Shop has a variety of refreshments as well as meals, if you’re feeling peckish. You can opt for a full breakfast or coffee and cake, and in summer you’ll even find a variety of ice creams for sale. The café is open every day from 9am to 4pm from April to October. Then from October to April it’s only open from Thursday to Sunday from 9am to 5pm.

About Delamont Country Park

The incredible 200-acre Delamont Park offers a great chance to escape the grind and get outside to enjoy a good dose of natural tranquillity.

There’s a huge variety of activities and things to do, making it great for the whole family.

Strangford Stone monolith

The park is home to the Strangford Stone or Millennium Stone, which is the largest monolith in Ireland.

It was quarried from the Mourne Mountains and erected in 2000 by young people from all over Northern Ireland to celebrate the turn of a new era.

It stands on the shore of the lough overlooking the mountains and is one of the main attractions of the country park.

Facilities at the park

There’s plenty of facilities, including an adventure playground for the kids, public toilets, picnic and barbeque areas, walking trails ranging from 1km to 7km, a 1km long miniature railway, and a small gift shop and cafe.

There’s also a caravan park and camping ground in the park as well, if you want to extend your stay overnight. More on this below!

Things to do at Delamont Country Park

You’ll find plenty of things to do at Delamont Country Park, which is why it’s one of the most popular places to visit in County Down. Here are some suggestions:

1. Tackle one of the five trails

There’s a variety of walking trails in the park area, so you can walk or cycle your way around. Ranging from less than a mile to 4.3 miles, you’ll find a loop to suit you.

Some offer incredible views across the lake to the mountains, while others take you into the woodland. There are five designated trails:

• Delamont Corbally Walk: a 2.5 mile circuit
• Delamont Garden Walk: a 0.7 mile circuit
• Delamont Long Walk: a longer 4.3 mile circuit
• Delamont Mullagh Walk: a 0.7 mile circuit
• Delamont Strangford Walk: a 1.2 mile circuit

2. See the Strangford Stone

Standing over 10 metres high, the incredible monolith in Delamont Country Park is one of the main attractions. It was erected to celebrate the turn of the millennium and has stood tall ever since.

It stands on the shores of the Strangford Lough, and is a great spot to enjoy the view and admire the incredible piece of stone that was hauled all the way from the mountains in the distance.

3. Give camping a crack

If you want to enjoy the scenery of the country park for longer than a day, you can give camping a crack at the onsite caravan and camping park.

The award-winning campground is in a beautiful rural location on the edge of the park, with shower and toilet facilities.

It’s open to caravans, motorhomes and tents, so it’s a perfect escape for families and couples looking to get away for the weekend and enjoy some natural surrounds.

It allows you to explore some of the walking trails and other features of the park in a more leisurely fashion.

Places to visit near Delamont Country Park

One of the beauties of Delamont Park is that it’s a short spin away from many of the best places to visit in Downpatrick.

Below, you’ll find a handful of things to see and do a stone’s throw from Delamont (plus places to eat and where to grab a post-adventure pint!).

1. Killyleagh Castle Towers (5-minute drive)

Just a few minutes north of Delamont Country Park, you’ll find this stunning castle estate.  Killyleagh is a private castle that has been owned by the same family since the 17th century and is considered the oldest inhabited castle in the whole country.

2. Castle Ward (20-minute drive)

Further around the lough shoreline, you’ll come to the National Trust Castle Ward. This classical Gothic mansion is one of the most popular attractions in the area. It was used as a set for the Game of Thrones series, so fans will surely want to make a stop to explore the estate.

3. Montalto Estate (20-minute drive)

Just a 20-minute drive away, you can explore another incredible outdoor area. The Montalto Estate is a private 400-acre property that is open to the public for walking and exploring the incredible gardens. With a historic mansion, café, and retail shop, it’s a lovely place to take the whole family and spend an afternoon away from the city.

4. Endless nearby attractions

There are so many places to explore nearby of Delamont Country Park. Within minutes, you can drive to other attractions such as WWT Castle Espie, Scrabo Tower, Rossglass Beach and St John’s Point Lighthouse. All on the east coast of Northern Ireland, you can easily plan a nice road trip not far away from Belfast.

FAQs about Delamont Park

We’ve had a lot of questions over the years asking about everything from ‘What is there to do?’ to ‘Do you need to pay?’.

In the section below, we’ve popped in the most FAQs that we’ve received. If you have a question that we haven’t tackled, ask away in the comments section below.

Is Delamont Park worth visiting?

Absolutely. There’s plenty of trails to tackle here and it’s a lovely, tranquil place for a stroll at any time of the year.

Are dogs allowed in Delamont?

Yes, but please not that the must be kept on a lead at all times. Please also make sure to pick up after them.