Days Out NI
Miniature Railway · Delamont Country Park Killyleagh, Co. Down

Delamont Miniature Railway

A cheerful ride-on miniature train that loops a meadow and dips through a tunnel — inside a free country park above Strangford Lough.

5 photos
Runs select daysRoughly 11am–4pm · weather-dependent
£2.50 a ridePark entry free · parking charge applies
Delamont Country ParkKillyleagh, Co. Down
Get directionsRailway updates
10–15 min rideHow long
All agesBest for
OutdoorIn a country park
Paid on siteParking
£2.50Per ride

A little ride-on steam-outline train that loops a meadow and rattles through a tunnel — a charming, low-cost treat tucked inside a free country park above Strangford Lough.

  • What you'll do — climb aboard the open sit-in coaches and take a gentle loop of the meadow at Delamont Country Park, ducking through a little tunnel along the way. It's said to be Ireland's longest miniature railway, first opened in 1999.
  • Cost — around £2.50 a ride, so it's an easy, cheap add-on rather than a whole day out on its own.
  • The park around it — Delamont itself is a lovely, free-to-enter country park: five waymarked walks, big views over Strangford Lough to the Mournes, a walled garden, and a cracking adventure playground with slides, swings and zip lines.
  • How long — the ride is a quick 10–15 minutes, but pair it with the walks, the playground and a picnic and you've a proper half-day by the lough.
  • When — broadly daily from Easter to September and weekends the rest of the year, usually around 11am to 4pm — but confirm before you travel.
  • The train runs only on select days. Times depend on the weather and volunteers, so check the Delamont Miniature Railway Facebook page the day before — don't set off just for the train without checking.
  • The park is free, the parking is not. Walking or cycling in is free, but there's a parking charge for cars (reported at around £5) on many days — bring a little cash or a card for the gate.
Plan your visit

Check the train is running before you go

The miniature railway is the little extra that makes a Delamont day out sing for small children — but it doesn't run every day. As a guide, it operates daily from Easter through to September and Saturdays and Sundays the rest of the year, roughly 11am to 4pm. Because it's weather-dependent and run by a volunteer team, the surest way to know it's on is the Delamont Miniature Railway Facebook page, which posts running days and any changes. Rides are around £2.50 each, paid on the day. The wider park is open year-round with longer hours in summer, so even if the train's resting you've still a beautiful country park to roam.

Steamers Coffee Kiosk (seasonal) Public toilets by the car park Adventure playground Car parking on site (charge applies) Dogs on leads (not in the play park)
Worth knowing:

The miniature railway runs on select days only and is subject to the weather — a wasted trip for the train alone is easy to avoid. Check the Delamont Miniature Railway Facebook page the day before, and treat the ride as a happy bonus on top of a free country park you'll enjoy whatever the sky's doing.

Before you set off

What to wear & bring

  • 👟Comfy shoes for the walksThe park paths mix gravel, grass and slope down towards the lough — trainers or boots make the loop round easy.
  • 🧥A coat, whatever the sky's doingIt's an open lough-side park, so a light coat keeps everyone happy — and a soft, drizzly day here still smells wonderful and looks lovely on the water.
  • 💷A little cash or a cardFor the car park gate and the £2.50 train rides — handy to have ready rather than caught out.
  • 🧺A picnic & waterThere are picnic areas and BBQ tables, and a seasonal coffee kiosk — bring water on a bright day and enjoy the sun with a hat and a shady spot.
Good to know

Everything before you go

Cost
The miniature railway is about £2.50 per ride, paid on the day. Entry to Delamont Country Park itself is free on foot or by bike; a car parking charge applies on many days (reported at around £5), bought at the gate. Confirm the current rate before you travel.
Running days
As a guide, the railway runs daily from Easter to September and at weekends (Saturday & Sunday) the rest of the year, roughly 11am–4pm. It is weather-dependent and volunteer-run, so it can be off on quieter or wetter days — always check the day before.
The ride
A ride-on miniature train with open sit-in coaches that loops a meadow and passes through a tunnel — a gentle, cheerful few minutes rather than a long journey. Said to be Ireland's longest miniature railway, first opened in 1999.
The park
Delamont Country Park is around 200 acres with five waymarked walks (roughly 1km to 7km), an adventure playground, a walled garden, picnic and BBQ areas, and wide views over Strangford Lough to the Mourne Mountains. It's also home to the Strangford Stone, said to be the tallest standing stone in the British Isles.
Best for
The train is a lovely treat for younger children, but the ride and the park together suit all ages — grandparents to toddlers.
Food
Steamers Coffee Kiosk operates seasonally (roughly 11am–4pm) for hot drinks and snacks; otherwise bring a picnic — there are picnic areas and BBQ tables around the park.
Toilets
Public toilets are located next to the main car park.
Dogs
Dogs are welcome on leads throughout the park, with an off-lead exercise field; they are not allowed in the children's play park.
Getting around
Park paths range from firm gravel to grass and can slope towards the lough; some marked walks are longer and more uneven. The car park and playground area are the easiest for buggies.
Parking
Car parking is on site with a charge on many days; walking or cycling in is free. Buy a parking ticket in person at the gate.
How long
The train ride is 10–15 minutes; paired with a walk, the playground and a picnic, most families make a half-day of it.
Questions

Before you go

Is the miniature railway running today?
It runs on select days and depends on the weather and volunteers, so the safest bet is to check the Delamont Miniature Railway Facebook page the day before. As a rough guide it's daily from Easter to September and weekends the rest of the year, around 11am to 4pm.
How much is a ride?
Around £2.50 per ride, paid on the day. Entry to the park on foot is free, though there's a car parking charge on many days.
Do I need to pay to get into the park?
Walking or cycling into Delamont Country Park is free. If you drive, there's a car parking charge (reported at around £5) bought at the gate on many days — bring a little cash or a card.
What else is there to do?
Plenty — five waymarked walks with big Strangford Lough views, a large adventure playground, a walled garden, picnic and BBQ areas, and the Strangford Stone standing stone. Easily a half-day even without the train.
Is it good for little ones?
Very — the short, gentle ride and the playground are ideal for younger children, and there's space to run and picnic. All ages enjoy the park itself.
Can I bring the dog?
Yes, on a lead throughout the park, with an off-lead exercise field — just not inside the children's play park.
Getting there

Delamont Country Park, 90 Downpatrick Road, Killyleagh, Co. Down, BT30 9TZ — on the main road between Killyleagh and Downpatrick, with car parking on site (charge applies on many days). The miniature railway station is inside the park.

Directions on Google MapsRailway updates (Facebook)

Railway: 079 0396 0993 · Park office: 0330 137 4046

See it on our map
Nearby

Make more of the day

Killyleagh CastleKillyleagh · 3 miles Castle Espie Wetland CentreComber · Strangford Lough Exploris AquariumPortaferry · down the peninsula Mount StewartArds Peninsula · lough-side gardens
The story

A little train with a big country park behind it

Delamont Country Park spreads across around 200 acres of woodland, meadow and shoreline on the western edge of Strangford Lough, between Killyleagh and Downpatrick. Once the grounds of a private estate, it's now an open, family-friendly park with waymarked walks that rise to wide views across the lough towards the Mourne Mountains, a walled garden, a big adventure playground, and the Strangford Stone — said to be the tallest standing stone in the British Isles, raised in 1999 to mark the millennium.

The miniature railway arrived in the park in the same era and has become a small, much-loved fixture. Its little steam-outline engine pulls a rake of open, brightly coloured coaches on a loop of the meadow, with a tunnel to duck through along the way — the sort of gentle, cheerful ride that lights up a small face and costs next to nothing. It's said to be Ireland's longest miniature railway, run by a volunteer team who keep it turning on select days through the year.

That's the honest shape of a day here: the train is a lovely bonus, not the whole event. It runs when the weather and the volunteers allow, so it pays to check ahead — but even on a day the little engine is resting, Delamont gives you a free, open, beautiful country park by the water. Bring a picnic, walk the loops, let the children loose on the playground, and if the train's running, that's the day made.