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Start at the Shore visitor car park inside the National Trust estate. Follow the shoreline towards Audley’s Castle, then cross Audleystown Road into the woods and farmland of West Park. The full Boundary Trail continues around Mallard Plantation and Base Camp before crossing the estate entrance road into Windmill Plantation. Return through Deer Park to Strangford Avenue and the shore.
Allow about four hours for the complete circuit. There are gradients, gateways, narrow gravel and grass paths, and short shared road sections. Expect other walkers, cyclists and horses on the shared trails, and keep dogs on leads around livestock. Take care at road crossings and on wet woodland surfaces.
Estate admission applies. Enter by the signed main entrance off the A25; do not drive in via Audleystown Road. Check National Trust opening times and parking gate information for your chosen date, and return before closing. Toilets and refreshments are available around the Farmyard and Stableyard during opening hours.
Photo credit: Castle Ward shore, Mick Garratt, 4 August 2016. Source: https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/5101023 via Wikimedia Commons. Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/ . Original photograph uploaded without edits by Walkmates.
Route geometry © OpenStreetMap contributors, Open Database Licence: https://www.openstreetmap.org/copyright .
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A few things to know before you make plans.
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Check the participant list and check-ins, and message the organiser or other walkers to confirm where to meet and who is coming. This is especially useful when the group is small.