Lakshmi Sharath is mesmerised with the picturesque Northern Ireland.
The sun makes a triumphant return to the skies after being eclipsed by the rainy clouds. And the Irish Rovers are singing the Star of the County Down as Billy Scott, my guide and I drive through the streets of Belfast towards one of the six counties that forms Northern Ireland. The rhythm is right as we cruise through the countryside with the blue sky for company. County Down is named after the capital town Downpatrick as it is believed that St Patrick is buried here.
The journey becomes the destination. Ruins of churches and castles stand atop cliffs telling a story on their own. Mountains and forests whiz past us. The lush meadows greet you painted in various shades of green as I am tempted to stop and count the number of sheep that are grazing. Lochs interrupt our journey as I lose myself in the murmurings of the rivulets that greet us.
County Down known as Downshire in ancient times is bordered by County Antrim to the north and the Irish Sea in the East and South. The Mourne Mountains stand as a sentinel watching over the county. The landscape is filled with folklore and fables. And in this world, lords and earls built castles loaded with secrets.
Journeying towards Strangford Lough, my eyes get used to the vast expanse of waters that surround us. The largest inlet in the British Isles, it is connected to the Irish Sea by a narrow inlet and is surrounded by the Ards Peninsula. But the Lough is a destination by itself with islands and islets and bays, probably giving it the old Irish name, Loch Cuan or Loch of the Bays. Historically connected to the Vikings who landed here eons ago, there are a few small towns around the Loch of which Portaferry and Strangford are connected by a car ferry and that is where we are headed today.
Our first port of halt however is at one of the most magnificent houses built 300 years ago in the town of Newtownards called Mount Stewart. The home of some of the powerful people of the powerful people of Northern Ireland including the Marquess of Londonderry, the house has hosted royalty and has been a favourite location for several Hollywood films. From marble vases to oak tables to paintings and sculptures, silver and ceramics, the house has an amazing collection of art from around the world. The Neo Classical house is known for its classical gardens, rated among the top ten in the world. The octagonal shaped Temple of the Winds add to the charm.
The weather changes as we walk around the gardens from a bright sunny day to a windswept cold afternoon. Our journey begins as we head on an adventure to a fantasy land. The car stops at Portaferry. The Lough is spread in front of us and we are the only ones waiting as the ferry arrives. We drive in and sail across the Lough to the village of Strangford barely a mile away. Driving through the woods, we come across an 18th century mansion that stands out for its unique architecture.
We are at Castle Ward that looks straight out of a Victorian novel. The couple who owned it – Lord Bangor and his wife, Lady Ann Bligh had different tastes and they decided to display it on their castle, not just the interior but the facade as well. So, while one part of the house has a classical style, the other facade looks very ornate in a gothic look. But whatever you say, the castle has a feel of Wuthering Heights about it. Look around and you will lose yourself in the beautiful walled 820 acre demesne which has everything from a sunken garden to a private shore of Strangford Lough. And that is not all – there are restaurants, theatre, a saw mill, a corn mill and even a fortified tower besides the gardens.
The woodlands beckon you as we keep driving, drawn to a landscape that seems both enchanted and eerie. A formidable stone tower greets us. There is no one around initially. There are a few bows and arrows strewn around and it seems like you can practise a bit of archery around. And then a man in a furry coat, wearing a rather outlandish costume emerges out of a dark room and extends his hand to me, “I am Jon Snow,” he says and the next moment he almost slits my throat with a sword.
And all of a sudden, the historic towers of Castle Ward become the fantasy land of Winterfell of the Starks. I am at the Game of Thrones legendary site where several scenes of the drama was filmed. The excitement hits a high as I try my hand at archery and animatedly discuss the show, before parting in high spirits with a can of Winterfell Craft Beer. And as the winds start howling again and the skies darken, we get back to the road again, looking for more adventures.
