Dunleath Strawberries & Pick Your Own

For many years, Dunleath Estates Limited has operated a commercial horticultural operation at Ballywalter Park, with the mainstay being the growing of strawberries for the Northern Ireland and English supermarket trade.

However, the emphasis is now on supplying local wholesalers and top restaurants such as Shanks at Clandeboye and Grace Neill's in Donaghadee. These facilities are also now open to the general public who are able to select the freshest produce, grown according to traditional best principles, either for immediate consumption or for the freezer.

The strawberries are grown both in glasshouses and polytunnels as a table-top crop and outdoors. This means that strawberries are usually available from mid to late May through until early September, depending on weather conditions. Autumn raspberries are now grown adjacent to the glasshouses and these are available from late August/early September onwards.

The main pick-your-own operation, which is situated at the Greyabbey entrance gates to the Ballywalter Park demesne, is open from mid to late June through to early August.

This offers strawberries, raspberries, gooseberries, black and red currants, tayberries, loganberries, beans, peas, mange-tout, cabbage, cauliflower and broccoli are available.

The pick-your-own shop also offers a selection of chilled drinks and confectionery and the attractive surroundings make Ballywalter Park an ideal location for a picnic, once the picking is done. The Ballywalter Park Strawberry Cook Book is also on sale.

The pick-your-own is open from 10.00 am to 6.00 pm seven days per week in season, weather permitting.

In accordance with food hygiene regulations, we regret that dogs and other animals cannot be admitted, even on a lead.

For further information on opening, availability of produce and prices, please contact the Estate Office.

Fresh Fruit Picking - Pick your own Strawberries - Northern Ireland