Stormont Estate — Attraction in Belfast

Stormont Estate Belfast: A Review

Stormont Estate is a beautiful and historic estate in the east of Belfast, Northern Ireland. It is the site of the main Parliament Buildings of Northern Ireland, as well as Stormont Castle, Stormont House and other attractions. It is open to the public and free to enter, and offers a variety of activities and facilities for visitors of all ages and interests.

History and Architecture

The estate was established by the Reverend John Cleland in the early 19th century, who built Stormont Castle in 1830. The castle was later redesigned in the Scottish Baronial style by Thomas Turner in 1858, and became the headquarters and official residence of the Government of Northern Ireland in 1921.

The Parliament Buildings were designed by Sir Arnold Thornely in Greek classical style, and were opened by Edward, Prince of Wales, later King Edward VIII, in 1932. The building is surrounded by manicured lawns and gardens, and features a prominent statue of Lord Carson, a barrister and Unionist politician, on the main approach road.

Stormont House was designed by Ralph Knott in Neo-Georgian style, and was completed in 1926. It is now used as offices for the Northern Ireland Office. The house has a two-storey administration block and a single-storey extension, and was listed as a historic building in 1987.

The estate also has two stone lodges and gate screens on the Upper Newtownards Road and on Massey Avenue, which were built around 1932.

Nature and Recreation

The estate covers 224 acres of land, including 100 acres of woodland. It has a variety of trails for walking, running, cycling and fitness, as well as a dog park for pet owners. The trails are well-marked and offer scenic views of the estate and the city.

The Mo Mowlam Play Park is a popular attraction for children, with a range of equipment and facilities for different ages and abilities. The play park has a 'Quiet Hour' every Sunday from 9.30 am to 10.30 am to help create a calmer environment for children with extra needs. The play park also has picnic areas and barbecue facilities for families to enjoy.

The estate hosts many events throughout the year, such as concerts, festivals, markets and exhibitions. It also has a weekly park run every Saturday at 9.30 am, which is open to everyone. The estate is also home to some wildlife, such as squirrels, birds and bats.

Accessibility and Facilities

The estate is easily accessible by public transport, with bus services from the city centre (Metro 20 and 23) and Glider service (G1 Stormont stop). There is also parking available at the main gates on the Upper Newtownards Road, at the Massey Avenue entrance and at the play park car park.

The estate has toilets near the Parliament Buildings and at the play park. There are also benches, bins and water fountains throughout the estate. The Parliament Buildings are wheelchair accessible and have guided tours available on weekdays (booking required). The play park is also wheelchair accessible and has sensory equipment for children with special needs.

Conclusion

Stormont Estate is a great place to visit for anyone interested in history, politics, nature or recreation. It has something for everyone, from impressive buildings and monuments to peaceful gardens and trails to fun events and activities. It is a well-maintained and welcoming estate that showcases the heritage and culture of...

A Delightful Walk at Stormont Estate

Review:

My wife and I recently enjoyed a picturesque walk around Stormont Estate with our tiny toy dog, Chole. We entered from the west entrance and managed to find a spot to park our car along the road. Although there's a good amount of parking space, a dedicated parking area here would've been more convenient.

The uphill trek towards the magnificent Stormont building was an experience in itself. The sight of the building perched atop the hill was simply breathtaking, making it one of the most beautiful architectural marvels we have seen. The irony, however, is not lost on us - the grandeur of the building juxtaposed with the seemingly lack of productive work done by our politicians within its walls. One might wonder if they're too busy enjoying the scenic grounds at taxpayer's expense.

Being seven months pregnant, my wife found the hill climb somewhat challenging. To add to that, a map-reading error on my part led us on an unplanned detour through the forest trail. This felt more like a mountainous trek, and wasn't exactly our plan for the day! It seemed we were not alone in this predicament, as we spotted another couple who had also unintentionally embarked on the 2-mile forest walk.

Our outdoor adventure was heightened by the sudden onslaught of typical Northern Irish rain. We sought shelter under a large tree, waiting out what turned out to be a five-hour long downpour.

Despite the rain and unintended forest detour, we finally made our way to the back of the Stormont building and then back down the hill to our car. In retrospect, the entire day was a unique experience, making the visit a 5-star worthy outing.

It's a pity that the politics that go on within the building don't match the high rating of the estate itself. In my lifetime, I struggle to recall any decisions made that I could deem as good governance. Despite this, Stormont Estate itself is a place of beauty and well worth a visit. So while I'd give a 0-star rating to the politics, the estate certainly deserves a...

It's like a country park. Dogs now have to be on a lead but it has a very lage dog park with a hard to find water tap. All other drinking fountains around the grounds have been turned off because if civit, but the public toilets are still open. There's more here than most people would think. Good large weans play park, Board walk, outdoor gym, 3 way marked walking trails. This is government and not council owned so no mention of a fine, but if no-one near by ( big grounds) then people do let there well behaved dogs off their leads, but the dog park unlike others I've seen is really big with big mature trees, a few picnic tables and it's a nice place for Dogs to meet. There's a small free carpark with no height restrictions but if your passing by with a caravan like my self, then you might get lucky and park outside the main gate next to the...