Looking north into the Mourne Mountains shrouded in cloud
Just before May Day, we were able to visit these gardens. They are private gardens and are only open to the public about half a dozen times per year. Even then one probably only finds out about opening via membership of a gardening club, or as in my case, through a local wildlife group member who is also an RHS (Royal Horticultural Society) member. Many thanks Lee! Only 30 people can visit at any one time and no photographs are allowed to be taken of the house (castle).
The castle is situated on the north shore of Carlingford Lough in County Down, Northern Ireland.
I will add a link at the end of this post if you are interested in the house and gardens, as they have a varied history.
Their own temple, where even the Gods can’t get a signal.
Their own harbour and possibly a heli-pad
Their own bandstand
Entrance to the Orangery where we had afternoon tea
“Hurry up, chaps! Tea is served”
“Hoping you have had a pleasant visit”
By the way, it rained almost all of the time we were there! Typical, as the following day the sun shone! Au Contraire!
Ashley
https://lordbelmontinnorthernireland.blogspot.com/2012/11/ballyedmond-castle.html
A Different View 
What a beautiful place to visit, Ashleaf! Love the photos!
Thanks, Edo-san. Unfortunately these & more won’t be on Flickr as I seem to have lost my account! 😞
Such gorgeous, verdant gardens and grounds, Ashley. And the rainy skies certainly add some character to the setting, making everything appear more lush. Sounds as though you had quite an enjoyable time. Thank you for sharing your adventure with us, my friend. Ireland is stunningly beautiful through your eyes. 🌲😊🌳
Many thanks, Mike. The rain and the dark skies certainly make a “moody” atmosphere. ☔🙋♂️
Really lovely.
Thanks John for your visit here.
Thank you, Asley, for such a interesting tour of this beautiful castle and the gardens. As you mentioned, good to be well connected! Only the rain?
We had a storm and a torrential rain!
Joanna
Dear Joanna, thank you for dropping by. I read about the storms in the south of England. We had heavy rain that day which gave the visit lots of atmosphere. ☔💌💐🙋♂️
Thank you!
Joanna x
What a wonderful tour, my dear friend!
Lol on the god not getting a signal!
Happy Saturday, Ashley!
🙏✨🌸
Dear Marina, the “temple” was floored in marble, also the bandstand! The gardens lie between the Mourne Mountains in Northern Ireland and the Cooley Mountains in the Republic of Ireland and mobile signals are a sometimes problematic. ☔🌷🙋♂️
Even the gods can find it hard to get a signal!
Raining here too! 🌱🎶😊
Stunning photos! Thanks for taking us along on your tour.
Hi Mark, good to hear from you. It is a stunning location but needing a stunning amount of money for its upkeep! PS. It’s raining again. ☔😞🙋♂️
Wonderful photos and garden, Ashley.
Lucky you to be one of the select few 👌👍🌳
Dear Marina, yes, very lucky! I thought of you when I saw those steps! Have a great weekend. 🌷🙋♂️
The statue really does look as though looking for a phone signal. Haha. Looks a beautiful place to visit. 🙂
Thanks Sharon! Yes, the statue looked just right for that! Most people were looking at the marble floor; trust me to look up! Hoping you get some dry weather this weekend; it’s been raining here all day! ☔🙋♂️
What a beautiful garden! It’s unfortunate that the weather was not in your favor 😦
Dear Rosaliene, the following day was lovely but for a few days now it’s been back to more rain! ☔🙋♂️
What a gorgeous place. I love your photo of the Mourne Mountains in the distance. Your comment about the god trying to get a signal made me laugh. :D
Thanks, Willa for commenting here! The clouds make the mountains atmospheric, literally! 🤗🙋♂️
I would love to be there. 🌧️
I’m sure to be back around the Mourne Mountains again. Hopefully not in the rain! 🤗🙋♂️
It appears that they have big oranges too! I enjoyed the post.
Hi Graham, everything was on a grand scale! 🙋♂️
“Their own temple, where even the Gods can’t get a signal.“ 😆😂🤣
-✧✦☆❖◈❋✤☆✦-∞-♡-∞-✦☆✤❋◈❖☆✦✧-
I couldn’t resist that one especially since the area is known for “roaming” charges being so close to the (border) that isn’t there!
Haha, yeah I can imagine. Some years ago I was up Holyhead Mountain in Anglesey and my phone thought I was in the Republic…
🫡
Yes! That’s happened to me when on holiday there! We were at South Stack, fabulous! Loved Anglesey although we’ve not been there since before Covid!
That looks truly beautiful. Glad you could go, even with rain the pictures are great.
Rain these days is pretty often…..I enjoyed going with you around, thank you. ❤️😊🙏
It has been such a wet start to the years, many flowers are late. Thank you, Ute, for your comments 🤗💐🙋♂️
Gosh, that orangery is a stunning bit of architecture! What a beautiful place to visit. Thanks for sharing these lovely photos 🤩💕
Dear Sunra, my photo doesn’t really do it justice. I did a short video which I put up on YouTube! I might just post it here as well, if I can add a few lines of verse! Thanks for your comments 🤗💕
You’re welcome, Ashley! 🤗🌺
Some very fantastical buildings and they certainly have a lot of amenities with the harbour and helipad! Thank you for sharing this lovely walk Ashley.
It’s great to go somewhere that few people visit. Unfortunately, the weather wasn’t great & many flowers are late here. Thank you, Andrea for your comments 🤗🌹🙋♂️
Despite the damp weather the photos are inspiring! Thanks for sharing and you were fortunate to be able to pay a visit to such a splendid place.
Thank you, Elaine for your visit here & your lovely comments. Gardens are always fascinating. The backdrop of the Mourne Mountains & the foreground of Carlingford Lough gave them a wonderful atmosphere. 🤗🙋♂️
What a stunningly gorgeous place, Ashley. Your photos, even on a rainy day, are beautiful. The Orangery looks like an amazing building, and how lovely to have afternoon tea there. I love the photos of the temple with the God who can’t get a signal (wonderful humour) and also of the bandstand. It reminds me of the bandstand we had in our local park when I grew up in London. They would often have live bands and concerts there. I should think, by now, that it’s probably in poor repair. I’d love to go back and take a look one day. Thank you for sharing your visit to this wonderful place with us. It must have made for a very memorable day. X 😘
Thank you Ellie, for your lovely comments. It’s unlikely that we will return to these gardens as the opening times are very restrictive, however, that wonderful visit will always remain with us!. Thank you for visiting my blog, 🤗😘🌹🙏
Hermoso lugar y preciosas fotografías, querido amigo. Muchas gracias y un fuerte abrazo.
Gracias Bárbara, incluso bajo la lluvia fue hermoso. (I hope Google got that right).
Oh, so pretty despite the rain. Love all the green and the flowers. I do wonder how brighter everything can be when there is sun. Here, it has been mostly gray too and I’m slowly worrying that I’m being cheated out of Spring.
It is good to hear from you & know that you are okay! Since our visit to this garden the weather has been mostly dry & warm & we’ve been in our tiny garden rushing to tidy things up before the weather changes again! Summer has arrived. Warm wishes to both of you. 🤗🙋♂️
Looking forward to seeing your summer garden!
Indeed a pleasant visit….
I’d even say exquisite!