Last weekend hubby, myself and the hound dog paid a visit to Rowallane. It’s a National Trust garden which is located a few miles just outside of Belfast. To be honest, we have often overlooked this place in the past. We have usually opted instead to go to better known National Trust estates such as Castleward and Mount Stewart. However, in an effort to try somewhere new, off we ventured to Rowallane and I have to say we were not disappointed.
Rowallane
The Rowallane garden dates back to the 19th century. It’s had various owners until the National Trust acquired it in the 1950s. It is a mixture of formal and informal garden spaces and is often described as one of the most beautiful gardens in N Ireland.
We were very lucky to pay a visit to Rowallane on a day when some of the most spectacular blooms were on display. As we walked through the entrance gate, beautiful rhododendrons in shades of pink, red and white greeted us.
The Walled Garden
From there our visit to Rowallane continued into the Walled Garden, a delight to walk through with beautiful flowers in bloom throughout.
Himalayan blue poppies
I made a beeline for the Himalayan blue poppies (meconopsis baileyi) which I have never seen before so this was a real treat for me. I learnt that these flowers thrive better in the cooler and wetter parts of northern Britain . They were so delicate. And such an amazing shade of blue, it’s hard to believe they would do well in our soggy climate. But they looked amazing and I was so chuffed I got to see them when they were at their best.
After lingering at the blue poppies for quite some time, we continued our walk in to the Outer Walled garden. Then it was into the Rock Garden Wood where more beautiful rhododendrons were in bloom.
The Handkerchief Tree
We then made our way into an area known as The Hospital. It’s a part of the estate that used to house ailing calves. Here we discovered the Handkerchief Tree (davidia involucrata) . Its named derives from the beautiful white leaves that hang from the tree like handkerchiefs. To be honest, it’s one of the most beautiful trees I have ever seen. It’s an old tree that was planted last century and comes into flower in May. Our timing could not have been more perfect.
The Cafe
I could have sat happily under the canopy of the Handkerchief Tree for hours. However, we were starting to feel a little hungry and so we made our way back gradually to the visitor centre and café. The café was well stocked with homemade cakes and there was a nice selection of gifts on sale.
Dog friendly
A huge bonus for us, Rowallane is a very dog friendly garden, so it was great to sit outside on the patio area at the café and enjoy a cappuccino and traybake with Boris the hound in tow. There were plenty of places to attach his lead so we could sit down. And bowls of water were dotted around the place for all the thirsty dogs. You need to keep your dog on the lead at all times, something I prefer as it makes for a safer and hassle free day. However, for the more energetic dogs, there is also a dog exercise area where you can let your dog off the lead safely.
Rowallane Pottery
I should also mention that there is a pottery at Rowallane which you can walk around and buy from the maker. It was full of beautifully crafted and glazed pieces and I think I will be back there to get some Christmas pressies !
In summary
All in all, we really enjoyed our day here and Boris did too. Rowallane is a great place for a leisurely walk. It’s an opportunity to clear the head, enjoy the fresh air and draw inspiration from the landscape around you. Clearly the National Trust do a great job protecting our heritage. And I’m really glad I made the effort to visit this hidden gem. I’m pretty sure I will be back quite soon and I hope these pictures encourage you to do the same.
You can find out more about Rowallane from the National Trust website here
Thanks for stopping by,
Paula
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Other content from Typewriter Girl to enjoy:-
The Walled Garden at Larchfield Estate
Spring Spectacular Hillsborough Castle