Ardress House

Ardress House began as a farmhouse built in 1660 in the apple orchard country of County Armagh and was shaped and reimagined over generations by the Clarke and Ensor families, who planted its oak woodland in the 1800s. The house opens on limited days for guided tours, but its 100 acres of orchards, woodland and riverside are the everyday draw, with a working farmyard brought back to life with small animals, old farm implements, the restored Frizzell's Cottage and apple picking in October. Dogs are welcome on leads in the grounds and gardens but not inside the house or, apart from assistance dogs, in the farmyard. The Trust's Lady's Mile is a moderate 1-mile loop from the car park through the woodland, about 20 minutes. Reviewers praise the guides for informative tours, and children like the chickens, fed with a bag of seed from reception, and the donkey in the courtyard. Tips from visitors: there is no cafe, so bring a picnic, the walks in the grounds are free, and the drive to the house passes under a narrow archway, so larger vehicles should use the first car park by the entrance.