Days Out NI
Play Trail Ballynahinch

Montalto Estate Play Trail

An elevated treetop adventure play trail — timber walkways, a rope bridge and slides set high in the woodland.

1 photo
Open daily9.30am–4pm (last trail 3pm)
Ticketedestate trail
BallynahinchPlay Trail
Get directionsOfficial website
1–2 hoursHow long
Ages 4+Best for
TicketedEntry
On siteParking
WoodlandSetting

Montalto Estate Play Trail — a treetop adventure high in the woodland: raised timber walkways, a rope bridge and slides set among the trees.

  • What you'll do: climb an elevated timber play trail strung between the trees — walkways, a rope bridge and slides, a step up from a standard playground.
  • Best for: adventurous kids from around age 4 up; wider estate walks suit all ages.
  • The catch: unlike most parks in this collection, Montalto is a ticketed estate — the play trail comes with your Trails & Gardens ticket (under-5s free). Prices change, so check the estate site.
  • No booking needed: Trails & Gardens tickets don't need pre-booking — just turn up in opening hours.
  • Make a day of it: woodland, lake and garden walks, plus a café on the estate.
  • Come ready: it's outdoors in woodland, so grippy shoes and a coat for the weather.
Plan your visit

A treetop play trail, and a whole estate around it

The play trail is the part the kids make a beeline for — a raised timber walkway that winds between the trees with a rope bridge and slides, set high enough to feel like a real adventure. It sits within the wider Montalto Estate, so once they've had their fill you've got woodland, lake and garden walks to wander, and a café for a warm-up. It's an easy 1–2 hours on the trail, or a half-day if you add the walks.

Treetop play trail Woodland walks Lake & garden trails Café on site Car park Toilets Dogs on leads (check)
Good to know before you go:

Montalto is a paid estate — the play trail is included with a Trails & Gardens ticket, not a free council park. Opening hours and prices change through the year, so check montaltoestate.com before you travel.

Before you set off

What to bring

  • 🧥LayersCoastal and woodland spots catch the wind — a coat or spare jumper helps.
  • 💧Water & snacksKeeps the energy up between climbs and runs about.
  • 🧻Wipes & hand gelFor sandy, muddy, ice-cream-covered hands.
  • 👟Good shoesGrippy footwear for climbing, sand or woodland paths.
Good to know

Everything before you go

Cost
Trails & Gardens ticket — around £9.10 adult, £6.10 child (5–16), under-5s free, family from £27.30 at the time of writing. Prices change, so check the estate site.
Opening
Open daily, roughly 9.30am–4pm, with last admission to the trails about an hour before closing. Closed Christmas Day and Boxing Day. Check current hours before you go.
Best for ages
The play trail suits confident climbers from about age 4; the estate walks suit all ages.
What's there
Elevated treetop play trail, woodland/lake/garden walks, and a café.
Toilets
Toilets on the estate.
Parking
On-site car park.
Dogs
Dogs are generally welcome on leads on the trails — check the estate site for current rules.
Accessibility
The estate has surfaced main paths; the elevated play trail itself involves steps and climbing, so it is not step-free.
How long to allow
1–2 hours for the play trail, or a half-day with the walks and café.
Address
Spa Road, Ballynahinch BT24 8PT.
Questions

Before you go

Is it free?
No — Montalto is a ticketed estate and the play trail is included with a Trails & Gardens ticket. Under-5s go free. Prices change, so check montaltoestate.com.
Do I need to book?
Trails & Gardens tickets don't need pre-booking — just arrive within opening hours.
What ages is the play trail for?
It suits adventurous kids from about age 4 up, as it involves climbing and heights. Younger ones will enjoy the estate walks.
Can we bring the dog?
Dogs are generally welcome on leads on the trails — check the estate site for the current policy.
Is there a café and toilets?
Yes — there is a café and toilets on the estate.
Getting there

Montalto Estate is on Spa Road, Ballynahinch, BT24 8PT, with an on-site car park. Tap below for turn-by-turn directions.

Directions on Google MapsOfficial website See it on our map
Nearby

Make more of the day

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The story

About Montalto Estate

Montalto is a historic estate on the edge of Ballynahinch in County Down, with a big house, formal gardens, woodland and a lake. After years as a private venue, it opened its trails and gardens to the public as a day-out attraction, and it has grown its family offering since.

The treetop play trail is one of the newer additions — a woodland adventure built up among the trees, designed to give kids more of a challenge than a flat playground. Paired with the estate's walks and café, it makes for a genuinely different day out on the play-park circuit.