Family Adventure Park · Castlewellan Co. Down · Mourne country
Funny Farm Adventures
A summer family adventure park near Castlewellan, built around Northern Ireland's only giant maize maze — with pedal go-karts, a giant slide and the Mournes behind it all.
5 photos
Summer seasonMaze runs around July–Aug · check ahead
Family ticket dealConfirm current price when you go
A summer adventure park on a working farm near Castlewellan, built around Northern Ireland's only giant maize maze — a 6-acre field of tall maize cut into a fresh design each year, with the Mourne Mountains for a backdrop.
What you'll do — lose yourselves in the giant maize maze, then work through the rest of the field: a pedal go-kart track, a giant slide, crazy golf, a splash zone, a bouncy castle, a mini assault course, a sand pit, a football wall, garden games and a children's play area. Some farm animals are usually around too.
Don't miss — the maze is re-cut to a brand-new theme every year, so it's a different challenge each season. It's said to be the only maize maze of its kind in NI.
Extra activities — a few of the bigger draws usually carry a small extra charge on the day: the quad barrel-train ride, mini cars, a mini digger, archery and laser clay shooting. Handy to bring a little cash.
How long — most families make a half-day of it; allow two to three hours to get round the maze and the field.
Cost — it's a budget-friendly day and there's usually a family ticket, but published prices vary by source and season, so confirm the current rate before you travel (a quick message on their Facebook page is the surest way).
It's seasonal — check before you set off. The maize maze mainly opens over the summer (roughly July into August), and opening days can vary. Message ahead or ring to check the day before making the trip.
No dogs. It's a working farm with animals, so pets aren't allowed in the park.
Plan your visit
A summer maze day — check the dates first
Funny Farm's maize maze is a seasonal summer attraction, opening around July into August each year while the maize stands tall, so opening days can change from year to year — always check before you travel. Entry usually covers the maze plus the pedal go-karts, giant slide, crazy golf, splash zone, bouncy castle and the rest of the play field, with a handful of the bigger activities (the barrel-train ride, mini cars, mini digger, archery and laser clay shooting) carrying a small extra charge on the day. It's pitched as a good-value family day and there's normally a family ticket, but as prices differ across listings it's worth confirming the current rate — a quick message on their Facebook page, or a call, is the surest way. The same farm also runs a campsite and glamping site year-round, which is separate from the summer maze park.
NI's only giant maize mazeParking on siteViews of the MournesCampsite & glamping on the farmNo dogs in the park
Worth knowing:
This is a summer, weather-and-season-dependent attraction that isn't open year-round, and opening days and prices can change. Always check the current dates and cost — the Facebook page or a phone call is the best way — before you set off.
Before you set off
What to wear & bring
👟Trainers or old shoesIt's a working farm and grass fields — feet find the mud after rain, so save the good trainers and let them run.
🧥A coat, whatever the sky's doingNearly all of it is outdoors and the Mournes make their own weather, so a layer keeps the day going.
💧Water and a sun hat on a bright dayWide-open fields mean plenty of sun — bring water and hats, find the shade, and enjoy it.
💷A little cashA few of the extra activities (barrel-train, archery, laser clay) can be paid for on the day, so handy to have some coins and notes.
Good to know
Everything before you go
Cost
A budget-friendly family day, usually with a family ticket and concessions available. Published prices differ across listings and by season, and some of the bigger activities (barrel-train ride, mini cars, mini digger, archery, laser clay shooting) are paid for separately on the day. Confirm the current rate before you travel — a message on their Facebook page or a phone call is the surest way.
Season & hours
The maize maze is a summer attraction, mainly opening around July into August each year while the maize stands tall. Opening days can change year to year, so always check ahead. The campsite and glamping side of the same farm runs across the year and is separate from the maze park.
Booking
For the day park, check the current opening days first — a quick message or call is best. If you're after camping or a glamping pod, contact the farm directly to book.
Ages
Best for toddlers up to around twelve. The maze, pedal go-karts, giant slide, splash zone, crazy golf and play field all land squarely with younger children.
What you'll see & do
The giant 6-acre maize maze (re-cut to a new theme each year), plus a pedal go-kart track, a giant slide, crazy golf, a splash zone, a bouncy castle, a mini assault course, a sand pit, a football wall, swing ball, garden games and a children's play area. Some farm animals are usually around too. Extra-charge activities include the quad barrel-train ride, mini cars, a mini digger, archery and laser clay shooting.
Setting
Open farm fields with the Mourne Mountains along the horizon — a fine backdrop for the maze and play. Bring a camera for the view.
Dogs
No pet dogs in the park — it's a working farm with animals.
Parking
Parking is on site at the farm.
How long
Allow two to three hours; most families make a half-day of it between the maze and the field.
Also on the farm
A year-round campsite and glamping pods, handy for exploring Castlewellan, Newcastle and the wider Mournes — booked separately from the maze park.
Questions
Before you go
When is it open?
The maize maze is a summer attraction, mainly opening around July into August each year while the maize is tall. Opening days can change from year to year, so check the current dates on their Facebook page or by phone before you set off.
What's included in the ticket?
Entry usually covers the maze plus the pedal go-karts, giant slide, crazy golf, splash zone, bouncy castle, mini assault course, sand pit, football wall, garden games and children's play area. A handful of bigger activities — the barrel-train ride, mini cars, mini digger, archery and laser clay shooting — carry a small extra charge on the day.
How much does it cost?
It's pitched as a good-value family day and there's normally a family ticket, but published prices vary across listings and by season, so it's best to confirm the current rate before you travel — a quick message on their Facebook page or a call is the surest way.
What ages is it best for?
Toddlers up to about twelve get the most from it — the maze, pedal go-karts, giant slide, splash zone and play field are all pitched at younger children.
Can I bring the dog?
Afraid not — it's a working farm with animals, so pet dogs aren't allowed in the park.
Can you stay over?
Yes — the same farm runs a campsite and glamping pods across the year, handy for exploring the Mournes. That's booked separately from the summer maze park, so contact the farm directly.
Getting there
80 Ballybannon Road, Castlewellan, Co. Down, BT31 9ER — in the countryside between Castlewellan and Clough, with parking on site. It's signposted from the A25 for the Maize Maze; roughly 1.6 miles from Castlewellan, then onto Ballybannon Road with the park about a mile along on the left.
Funny Farm Adventures sits in the farmland between Castlewellan and Clough, a short run from Newcastle, with the Mourne Mountains filling the skyline. Each summer the family cut a fresh design into a 6-acre field of tall maize — said to be the only maize maze of its kind in Northern Ireland — and open the field up as a family adventure park for the season.
Around the maze, the field fills with the sort of things that keep children busy for an afternoon: pedal go-karts, a giant slide, crazy golf, a splash zone, a bouncy castle, a sand pit and a play area, with a few bigger draws — the barrel-train ride, archery, laser clay — for a small extra go. Some farm animals are usually about, and the mountain views come free.
The same farm has grown a campsite and glamping side alongside it, open across the year, so some families turn a maze visit into a night or two under the Mournes. It's a simple, outdoorsy, good-value day — best enjoyed on a bright summer afternoon, once you've checked it's open.