Days Out NI
Adventure & activity Strangford

Clearsky Adventure Centre Castle Ward

Hire bikes or kayaks and explore the Castle Ward estate at your own pace.

5 photos
Book aheadPre-book by phone, email or online; hire…
From £15Per person
StrangfordAdventure & activity
Get directionsOfficial website
Half a dayHow long
From £15Cost
Families wantin…Best for
All levelsLevel
NearbyParking

Clearsky Adventure Centre Castle Ward — Hire bikes or kayaks and explore the Castle Ward estate at your own pace.

  • What you do: Self-hire bikes, kayaks and canoes on the National Trust Castle Ward estate, plus an adventure playground.
  • Difficulty: Easy to moderate and self-paced; kayaking is on tidal water so needs care.
  • Age / height: Toddler trailers carry two children roughly 9 months to 5 years; own bikes from about age 9. Check limits for each activity when you book.
  • Booking: Pre-book by phone, email or online; hire usually includes a Castle Ward estate day pass.
  • Come ready: Shoes and clothes that can get muddy or wet, a waterproof, and a change of clothes for paddlers; helmets and buoyancy aids are provided.
  • Weather: Safety briefing and buoyancy aids provided for water; kayaking is tidal and weather-dependent, so sessions can be moved or cancelled.
Plan your visit

Bikes, kayaks and canoes to explore the estate

Pick your activity and your pace. Mountain bikes come with a helmet, gloves and trail maps so you can ride the estate's paths and tracks; tandems and tag-alongs are available too, and toddler trailers tow two small children behind an adult. On the water you can take a single or multi-person sit-on-top kayak, a Canadian canoe or a sea kayak out onto Strangford Lough, with paddles, buoyancy aids and a safety briefing included. Hire runs by the hour, half day (around 2.5 hours) or full day (around 5 hours), and there are family deals on bikes. The on-site adventure playground keeps younger kids busy with slides, swings, a mini zip line and climbing frames.

Paid hire Book ahead Toddler trailers from 9 months On Strangford Lough Adventure playground Car parking
Good to know before you go:

Adventure centres and trails run seasonal guided sessions, family events and holiday activities, and Clearsky offers archery, climbing and Game of Thrones themed experiences alongside its hire; the National Trust estate has its own seasonal opening. Check listings for dates before you travel.

Before you set off

What to bring

  • 👟Clothes you can trashOld kit and trainers you do not mind getting muddy or wet.
  • 🎒A full change & a towelEspecially for anything on the water — you will be glad of dry clothes after.
  • 💧Water and a snackYou will have earned it once the adventure is done.
  • 🎫Your bookingAlmost everything here needs booking ahead — have the confirmation ready.
Good to know

Everything before you go

Cost
Paid hire. Roughly from £15/hour for an adult mountain bike and from around £17 for a kayak; family bike deals available. Toddler trailers and tag-alongs are a small add-on. Confirm current rates when booking.
Booking
Pre-book by phone, email or online; hire usually includes a Castle Ward estate day pass.
Activity
Self-hire bikes, kayaks and canoes on the National Trust Castle Ward estate, plus an adventure playground.
Difficulty
Easy to moderate and self-paced; kayaking is on tidal water so needs care.
Age / height limits
Toddler trailers carry two children roughly 9 months to 5 years; own bikes from about age 9. Check limits for each activity when you book.
Best for
Families wanting an active day out on a National Trust estate, from babies in trailers to teens.
What to wear / bring
Shoes and clothes that can get muddy or wet, a waterproof, and a change of clothes for paddlers; helmets and buoyancy aids are provided.
Safety / weather
Safety briefing and buoyancy aids provided for water; kayaking is tidal and weather-dependent, so sessions can be moved or cancelled.
Parking
Ample parking for cars and coaches at the centre.
How long to allow
Half a day to a full day.
Address
Clearsky Adventure Centre, Castle Ward Estate, Park Road, Strangford, Co. Down, BT30 7LS
Questions

Before you go

Do I need to book?
Pre-book by phone, email or online; hire usually includes a Castle Ward estate day pass.
How much is it?
Paid hire. Roughly from £15/hour for an adult mountain bike and from around £17 for a kayak; family bike deals available. Toddler trailers and tag-alongs are a small add-on. Confirm current rates when booking.
Is there an age or height limit?
Toddler trailers carry two children roughly 9 months to 5 years; own bikes from about age 9. Check limits for each activity when you book.
What should we wear or bring?
Shoes and clothes that can get muddy or wet, a waterproof, and a change of clothes for paddlers; helmets and buoyancy aids are provided.
What if the weather is bad?
Safety briefing and buoyancy aids provided for water; kayaking is tidal and weather-dependent, so sessions can be moved or cancelled.
Getting there

Clearsky Adventure Centre Castle Ward is at Clearsky Adventure Centre, Castle Ward Estate, Park Road, Strangford, Co. Down, BT30 7LS. Ample parking for cars and coaches at the centre. Tap below for directions.

Directions on Google MapsOfficial website See it on our map
Nearby

Make more of the day

More days out around StrangfordSee what else is close by More adventures & activity days across NIZip lines, water sports, climbing and trails
The story

About this place

Clearsky is an activity and conference centre based on the National Trust's Castle Ward estate, an 800-acre demesne on the western shore of Strangford Lough near Strangford village. The estate is best known for its 18th-century mansion, half classical and half Gothic, and for serving as Winterfell in the early seasons of Game of Thrones, which is why archery and themed sessions feature here.

The centre runs a wide programme of outdoor activities including canoeing, kayaking, climbing, abseiling, cycling and mountain biking, and caters for school groups and large parties as well as families. Its self-hire bikes and boats let visitors explore the estate's paths and the Strangford Lough Canoe Trail independently.

On-site facilities include a tearoom and shop, an adventure playground, changing and shower rooms, and camping and caravan pitches, making it a base for a longer stay as well as a day visit.