Royalty in Fermanagh

THE PRINCE OF WALES and The Duchess of Cornwall are attending the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland's annual Garden Party at Castle Coole, County Fermanagh.

This is the first time that the event has not been held at Hillsborough Castle in County Down.

Castle Coole, near Enniskillen, is the ancestral seat of the Earls of Belmore.

The 1,000 guests at the Garden Party consisted of representatives from all eight lieutenancies in Northern Ireland.

Their Royal Highnesses later visited Lisnaskea, the county's second town.

The Viscount Brookeborough KG, Lord-Lieutenant of County Fermanagh, accompanied the royal couple.

South Island

Immediately to the south-west of Greyabbey, County Down, on the Ards Peninsula, there is a cluster of three islands.

Chapel Island is to the west; Mid Island directly to the south of Skillin's Point; and South Island (20 acres) lies immediately to the south of Mid Island.

The National Trust owns the land at Skillin's Point, Chapel Island and South Island.

Prospect of Mid Island from South Island

I think Mid Island belongs to the Montgomerys of Grey Abbey House.

Today there were about ten of us - National Trust volunteers.

We assembled at the old schoolhouse on Portaferry Road and went in a convoy to South Island, via Mid Island.

There is a causeway linking Mid Island to the mainland, and another causeway links Mid Island to South Island.

South Island does not have any particular features - no trees, for instance.

There is, however, an overgrown pond which could be revived.

The main task today was to erect fencing in a section of the twenty-acre island.

After lunch we ambled round the island picking up litter.

Fortunately we were blessed with good weather, especially in the morning.

Montalto Visit

The Mansion House

I've been meaning to pay Montalto a visit since the estate opened to visitors in 2018.

This wooded demesne is in the townland of Ballymaglave North, partly in the barony of Lower Iveagh, but mainly in that of Kinelarty.

Montalto Estate itself, adjacent to Ballynahinch, County Down, is a large and pleasant demesne, and was formerly the principal residence of the Earls of Moira.

Since that era, it has had several owners, including the Kers of Portavo and the Earls of Clanwilliam.

The Ballynahinch River flows through the estate.

The Playground

Montalto used to host the County Down Staghounds.

Having enjoyed a beaker of coffee in the café, I spent about three hours ambling through the estate, walking the three trails, viz. the Woodland Trail, the Lake Walk, and the Garden Walk.

This is a delightful place, certainly a "must-see" attraction for visitors to County Down.

To my mind it's now one of the finest private estates in Northern Ireland.

By the way, you'll save a bit of money by ordering your tickets online (I stopped the car at the side of the drive and purchased a ticket on my iPhone).

The Witch's Cottage

The grounds contain a number of captivating features, including the Witch's Cottage, the Summer House, an impressive children's play-ground in the woods, and the picturesque little lake close to the mansion house.

The Summer-house

The summer-house affords a fine prospect of the mansion house and lake.

Following my walk I revisited the café, where I had the soup of the day with a small slice of home-made wheaten bread and butter.

What I saw of the meals and grub looked attractive and delicious.

Perhaps I shall revisit Montalto at some future time for a guided tour of the house.