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About
The Castlewellan Arboretum and Annesley Walled Gardens is situated north of the foothills of the Mourne Mountains in County Down, Northern Ireland.
The Annesley Walled Garden will reopen on Saturday 7 March 2026 at 10am after a £1.3 million transformation, which improved drainage and paths, restored the fountains, glasshouses and herbaceous borders to name a few. For details on the restoration project click here.
The Annesley family bought the Manor of Castlewellan in 1741 and over generations improved the lands and developed the Town. This included planting tousands of trees, developing a unique Arboretum within and beyond the Annesley Walled Garden. In 1967, Gerald Annesley sold the demesne to the Ministry of Agriculture. Two years later the Forest Park was opened to the public by the Governor of Northern Ireland, Lord Grey of Naunton.
Since then, the Arboretum, which had originally measured some 10 hectares, was extended to 45 hectares. Due to careful sourcing and selection of new plants that added to the many existing specimens, it now contains an internationally important collection of trees and shrubs, with many beautiful and rare species. The walled garden is now known as the Annesley Walled Garden in tribute to the former owners. During 2024-2026 it benefited from a £1.3 million renovation part funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund. As a result, visitors can once again admire the fountains playing again, the longest double Herbaceous Borders in Ulster and the Victorian glasshouses on the Terrace, to name a few restored features.
Adventurous visitors can also explore the restored Rhododendron Wood, accessed via the Lady’s Gate, a lovely example of a Victorian wild garden. A definite highlight in April when the rhododendrons are in full bloom. The viewpoint at the top offers a few of Slieve Donard, framed by two towering Scots pine trees.
