A little 15th-century tower house standing on a rocky hill above Strangford Lough, on the National Trust's Castle Ward estate near Strangford in Co. Down. It's free, open to walk right up to, and it played a part in Game of Thrones.
What you'll see — the compact, well-preserved little tower house on its hill, with big open views out across Strangford Lough, and the surrounding grassy fields — "Audley's Field", which stood in as Robb Stark's camp and forms the backdrop near Winterfell in Game of Thrones (Castle Ward itself was Winterfell). It's an easy, pretty walk from Castle Ward next door.
How long — about 30 to 45 minutes for the walk out, a look round the tower and the lough views, and back.
Cost — the castle is free. It sits on the Castle Ward estate, so normal National Trust parking/estate charges may apply at Castle Ward if you park there — worth checking before you go.
What to bring — sturdy shoes for the grassy walk and a windproof coat; it's open and exposed on the hill. A hat and water on a bright day, and a camera for the lough.
Food & parking — no facilities at the castle itself. The nearest café, toilets and car park are at Castle Ward, a short walk away.
Dogs — it's open estate land, so dogs on leads are generally fine on the walk; check the current Castle Ward policy before you set off.
Open-access ruin on a short walk — mind children. You reach it on foot across grass, and it's an unstaffed old tower on a rise with uneven ground and low walls — keep little ones close, especially near the edges.
Pair it with Castle Ward next door. On its own it's a quick stop, so most people fold it into a Castle Ward / Winterfell day and do the two together.
Plan your visit
Can I visit? Yes — it's free and open access.
Audley's Castle is a State Care historic monument, looked after by the Department for Communities and standing on the National Trust's Castle Ward estate. There's no admission charge for the castle and no booking — you simply walk out to it. Because it sits on the Castle Ward estate, the usual National Trust parking or estate charges may apply if you park at Castle Ward itself, so it's worth checking before you go. The best plan is to park at Castle Ward, use the café and toilets there, and take the short walk out to the tower.
Parking at Castle WardCafé at Castle WardDogs — check estate policyRight above the lough
Two to remember:
It's an open-access ruin reached on foot across grass — uneven underfoot, with an old tower and low walls, so keep little ones close near the edges. And there's nothing at the castle itself, so use the café, toilets and car park at Castle Ward next door and pair the two together.
Before you set off
What to wear & bring
👟Sturdy shoes with gripYou walk out across grass to a hill that can be damp and uneven — trainers or walking shoes, not sandals.
🧥A windproof coatThe hilltop is open above the lough and catches the wind, even on a mild day.
👒A hatOn a bright day the views over Strangford Lough are lovely — pop a hat on and enjoy it.
💧Water and a snackThere's nothing at the castle, so bring your own — or save it for the Castle Ward café.
Good to know
Everything before you go
Cost
The castle is free — a State Care historic monument with no admission charge and no booking. It stands on the National Trust's Castle Ward estate, so normal Castle Ward parking or estate charges may apply if you park there. Worth checking before you go.
Opening
Open access — you reach it on foot. There are no fixed castle opening hours, though access is easiest during Castle Ward's own opening times. Best to check the Castle Ward estate hours before a visit.
What you'll see
A compact, well-preserved little tower house that's thought to date to the 15th century, standing on a rocky hill with open views across Strangford Lough — plus the surrounding "Audley's Field", used as a Game of Thrones filming location.
Food
Nothing at the castle itself. The nearest café and toilets are at Castle Ward, a short walk away, and the village of Strangford has pubs and cafés too.
Dogs
It's open estate land, so dogs on leads are generally fine on the walk. Check the current Castle Ward dog policy before you set off.
Parking
No parking at the castle. Use the Castle Ward estate car park and walk out to the tower.
Accessibility
You reach it on foot across grass and up a rise — uneven, sometimes damp ground, not suitable for wheelchairs or prams. Sturdy shoes are a must.
How long
About 30 to 45 minutes for the walk out, a look round and the lough views. Most people fold it into a fuller Castle Ward day.
Address
Audleystown Road, Portloughan, Downpatrick, BT30 7LP — on the Castle Ward estate near Strangford, Co. Down.
Questions
Before you go
Is Audley's Castle really free?
Yes — the castle is a State Care historic monument with no admission charge and no booking; you simply walk out to it. It sits on the Castle Ward estate, so the usual National Trust parking or estate charges may apply if you park at Castle Ward. Worth checking before you go.
Was it really in Game of Thrones?
Yes. Castle Ward next door was used as Winterfell, and the fields around Audley's Castle — "Audley's Field" — stood in as Robb Stark's camp, with the tower forming a backdrop in the Winterfell scenes. It's a well-known stop on the Game of Thrones filming-location trail.
Is there a café or toilets?
Not at the castle itself. The nearest café and toilets are at Castle Ward, a short walk away, and Strangford village has pubs and cafés too.
Can I bring the dog?
It's open estate land, so dogs on leads are generally fine on the walk. Check the current Castle Ward dog policy before you set off.
How do I get to it?
You reach it on foot across the estate grass from Castle Ward — there's no parking or road right at the castle. Park at Castle Ward and take the short walk out to the tower on its hill.
How long does it take?
About 30 to 45 minutes for the walk out, a look round and the views — an easy add-on to a Castle Ward / Winterfell day rather than a full outing on its own.
Getting there
Audleystown Road, Portloughan, Downpatrick, BT30 7LP — on the National Trust's Castle Ward estate near Strangford, Co. Down. Park at Castle Ward and take the short walk out to the tower on its hill above the lough.
Audley's Castle is a tower house — a compact, fortified stone home rather than a great sprawling castle — thought to date to the 15th century, when local landowners built strong little towers like this along the shores of Strangford Lough. It takes its name from the Audley family, who held the land here, and it later passed to the Wards of Castle Ward, who kept the old tower on their estate as a feature in the landscape. Today it's cared for as a State Care monument and stands, well-preserved, on its rocky hill with the lough spread out below.
More recently it found a new audience. Castle Ward, right next door, was the main filming location for Winterfell in Game of Thrones, and the fields around Audley's Castle — "Audley's Field" — were used as Robb Stark's camp, with the little tower turning up as a backdrop in the Winterfell scenes. So if the hill looks familiar, that'll be why. Fans still make the short walk out to stand where the camp once stood and take in the view.