Shorelife Mount Stewart Free Activities

Free, non-bookable activities for all the family at Mount Stewart

Explore the natural beauty of our shoreline while enjoying a variety of activities designed for all ages.

Please note: There are bookable activities too— so if something catches your eye, be sure to secure your ticket - on sale soon!

Event Highlights

•    Fun Activities - Enjoy crafts and outdoor games. Keep an eye out for themed characters who will be exploring Mount Stewart, and listen to some storytelling - why not bring and old book and swap for another at the Book Nook?

Screenings and Stories

• Archive footage of Strangford Lough, and surrounding area (Main House) ;
• BBC Tiny Wonders is a children's series created by animator Daniel Short, encouraging children to slow down and appreciate the beauty of nature, nurturing mindfulness and observation skills (Sensory Room);
• 'Tales by the Tide' story time in the TiPi 

Weaving a seascape
With Kiri Cottage Crafts, and creative mermaid crafts.

Wildlife and Nature
Exploris touch tank, fungi walk with Aoife Walls, and National Trust tree trail tour.

Strangford Stone and Fossils
With Dr Mike Simms, found in the old limestone quarries at Castle Espie, and other marine fossils from around Northern Ireland.

Engaging Talks and Tours
Learn about the local wildlife, conservation efforts, and the history of Mount Stewart through guided tours and expert talks.

Live Music
Enjoy performances from local musicians throughout the day.

Plus,

Find the Butterflies
Find the butterflies hidden around the venue and claim a small prize from the Ards and North Down Borough Council Visitor Information Centre caravan, located beside the house.
(Prizes are subject to availability).

Special Guests
Hear from representatives from the National Trust and local environmental organisations who will be sharing their insights and answering your questions. This is a unique opportunity to learn more about appreciating and protecting our beautiful shoreline.

Get creative, and close to nature

•    Enjoy free entertainment and creative activities for all ages, live music and a few surprises as you explore the stunning gardens, and lake walk and estate grounds. 

•   Kids can get creative at themed craft stations.

•   Mini beasts backpacks - borrow a mini beast backpack, perfect for budding wildlife explorers. Kids can use their very own magnifying bug collector and binoculars to take a closer look at all kinds of wildlife and bugs. 

•   Learn about native marine species with Exploris Aquarium's touch tank - a favourite for all ages!

Fungi Fun with Aoife de Bhál

Delve into the magical and mysterious world of mushrooms on a family-friendly tour through the grounds at Mount Stewart. Through games, art and storytelling, participants will discover the fascinating lives of fungi. Everyone will have a chance to find mushrooms in the wild, and leave with a newfound appreciation for the hidden world beneath our feet.

Note: Workshops are limited to 15 children per session. Parental supervision is required at all times for all Fungi Tours and Workshop participation.

Session Times (sessions last 45m):
10.30am – 11.15am
12noon – 12.45pm
2pm – 2.45pm 

Curated by Northern Ireland Science Festival

About Aoife de Bhál

Aoife de Bhál is Béal Feirste native, who set up Fálróid with the aim of connecting people of all ages to the natural world around them. Fálróid is the Irish for 'walking slowly, at your ease', and this ethos of relaxed, mindful engagement with nature is present throughout all events and workshops. Aoife offers foraging walks, forest school activities, talks and nature crafts. The connection between the Irish language and the land is at the heart of this work, and all workshops are available bilingually.

Look Closer: Screenings & Mini Lab Workshops 

Calling all little explorers! Join us for an exciting adventure as we Look Closer and Discover Nature! Watch five episodes of BBC/CBeebies Tiny Wonders on the BIG screen, and then dive into hands-on exploration in our Mini Lab Zones. Led by scientists from Queens University Belfast Marine Lab, kids will get to use real microscopes and take a closer look at fascinating little curiosities from nature.

Just like the Nogglins, your child will have the chance to 'Look Closer' at nature’s wonders and embark on a fun-filled journey of discovery! If your child has a tiny object they'd love to see under a microscope, bring it along for an up-close examination.

Don't miss this fantastic opportunity to introduce your child to the amazing world of science and nature!

Note: Parental supervision is required for all Mini Lab Workshop participation. Film screening will last approximately 20 minutes, followed by a 25-minute Mini Lab session.

Session Times (sessions last 45m):
11am – 11.45am 
12noon – 12.45pm 
2pm – 2.45pm 
3pm - 3.45pm

Curated by Northern Ireland Science Festival

Stories behind the Stones

This is an ongoing, drop in activity
10.30am - 4.30pm (1-2pm break)
Location: Strangford Lough Lookout, at the entrance of the grounds

Join Dr Mike Simms, Senior Curator of Natural Sciences at National Museums NI, for a fascinating journey into the deep past of Northern Ireland. With overall responsibility for the national geological collections — encompassing fossils, minerals, rocks, and meteorites — Mike brings a wealth of expertise and captivating stories drawn from millions of years of Earth’s history.

For this event, Mike will share fossils similar to those discovered in the old limestone quarries at Castle Espie, alongside remarkable marine fossils from across Northern Ireland. From ancient shorelines to the creatures that once thrived there, discover how these stones hold the secrets of life long before us.

Curated by Northern Ireland Science Festival

STEM Storytime - "Tales by the Tide"

Location: Bookshop

Selection of children's stories read aloud by National Trust Volunteers at Mount Stewart. They may also have some stories of their own to tell!

Curated by Northern Ireland Science Festival

Please note, all details are subject to change.