The Gardener's Cottage

Photo gallery for The Gardener's Cottage

A rustic cottage with a blue door, a wooden ladder, and a heart-shaped decoration.
A rustic stone building with a small window, a green metal table, and two wooden chairs.
A compact kitchen with wooden cabinets, a gas stove, a dishwasher, and a window providing natural light.
A dark green door with a brass knocker, a small doormat with "WELCOME" written on it, and a dog peeking out from behind the door.
A bedroom with a sloped ceiling, a bed with a metal frame, two bedside lamps, a chandelier, a window with a view of trees, and a framed picture on the wall.

Reviews

9.6 out of 10
Exceptional

Highlights

  • Wildlife at your doorstep
    Guests love spotting wildlife right on the property grounds.
  • Firepit available
    One of the few properties with a dedicated outdoor firepit.
  • Centrally-located
    You're never far from where you need to be with this convenient location.
Sleeps 21 bedroom1 bed

Popular amenities

  • Onsite parking available
  • Kitchen
  • Washing machine
  • Barbecue grill
  • Garden
  • Internet access

Explore the area

View map
Ballynahinch
  • Place, Rowallane Garden
    ‪6 min drive‬
  • Place, Belfast City Hall
    ‪27 min drive‬
  • Place, Titanic Belfast
    ‪30 min drive‬
  • Airport, Belfast (BFS-Belfast Intl.)
    ‪42 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

1 bedroom (sleeps 2)

Bedroom 1

1 King Bed

1 bathroom

Bathroom 1

Towels provided · Bathtub or shower · Toilet

Spaces

Kitchen
Outdoor play area
Garden

About this property

The Gardener's Cottage

A charming little stone cottage set in 20 acres of stunning gardens and woodland in County Down. Explore the garden setting of this cosy stone cottage amid the gentle bustle of a working smallholding with geese, chickens, sheep, goats and even the occasional peacock.

Many historic and prehistoric sites nearby including filming locations of the Game of Thrones. Close to beaches and hill walking, National Trust properties and, though a rural location, close enough to Belfast to access the city.
The space
This cosy cottage sits in the lush gardens and yard of Knocknamorney house. Originally a spiritual retreat, rumour has it that the cottage was built for the Dalai Lama when he visited Northern Ireland. It has its own front door, a bedroom, shower room with separate dressing room and a small kitchen. It is located in the yard that is shared with the main house. It also has a private parking space.

Fully furnished kitchen with oven/hob, fridge freezer, microwave, dining table seating for 2.

Dressing room with shower room.

Bedroom with double bed with wall mounted digital TV with freeview.

**Please note there is no lounge space in the property.

There is a laundrette in saintfield village and there is a washing machine in the main house that can be used by arrangement. There is a drying area to the rear of the cottage.
Guest access
The cottage is located in 20 acres of pleasure gardens which include a fire pit, allotment, arboretum, a maze and a many other exciting outdoor spaces.

You are welcome to explore the gardens at your leisure. We even have an old Irish cottage ruin!
Other things to note
Bring your horse along on holiday! We have paddocks and stabling if you need it. Get in touch and we can cater for all your equestrian needs.

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House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Check out before 11:00 AM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
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Events

No events allowed
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Pets

No pets allowed
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

Important information

You need to know

Property # 11271319
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has indicated that there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property

About the area

Ballynahinch

Located in Ballynahinch, this cottage is in a rural area. Ormeau Golf Club and The Club Spa are worth checking out if an activity is on the agenda, while those looking for area attractions can visit Titanic Belfast and Ulster Museum. Travelling with kids? Consider EasyGo Lisnasharragh Leisure Centre, or check out an event or a game at Ravenhill Stadium.
Map
Ballynahinch

What's nearby

  • Rowallane Garden - 6 min drive - 4.7 km
  • Queen's University of Belfast - 25 min drive - 29.1 km
  • Belfast City Hall - 27 min drive - 38.4 km
  • SSE Arena - 29 min drive - 41.1 km
  • Titanic Belfast - 30 min drive - 41.0 km

Getting around

  • Derriaghy Station - 18 min drive
  • Belfast (BHD-George Best Belfast City) - 41 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Kin & Folk - ‬3 min drive
  • ‪Saints - ‬3 min drive
  • ‪Tribe Coffee - ‬3 min drive
  • ‪Lineage - ‬10 min drive
  • ‪Subway - ‬7 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is The Gardener's Cottage pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

How much does it cost to stay at The Gardener's Cottage?

As of 12 Aug 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at The Gardener's Cottage on 24 Oct 2026 start from AU$485, including taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.

How much is parking at The Gardener's Cottage?

On-site parking is available at the property.

What time is check-in at The Gardener's Cottage?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at The Gardener's Cottage?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is The Gardener's Cottage located?

This family-friendly Ballynahinch cottage is located in a rural location, 5.4 mi (8.7 km) from Montalto Estate, and within 12 mi (20 km) of Ulster Museum and EasyGo Lisnasharragh Leisure Centre. Seaforde Tropical Butterfly House and The Hall of Friendship are also within 12 miles (20 km).

Reviews

9.6

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Learn moreOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 7 out of 8 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 0 out of 8 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 1 out of 8 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 8 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 8 reviews

9.4/10

Cleanliness

9.0/10

Check-in

9.6/10

Communication

10/10

Location

9.6/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

Verified review

10/10 Excellent

susan

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, listing accuracy
Excellent little cottage-a gem of a find. Cute and cosy with everything we needed for a few days away. Even the teenager approved!
Stayed 3 nights in May 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Stewart D.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Excellent stay in a bucolic setting
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Tarri B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
My friend and I had a lovely stay. The hosts were super kind and friendly. All the animals were super nice. And the cottage was very cute and quaint. We loved walking around Saintfield and trying all the local shops! We would definitely stay here again!
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Stonewall B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Wonderful little jewel in the country! A great place to enjoy some quiet time surrounded by the animals on the farm. Peaceful walks through the trees….so relaxing.
Stayed 7 nights in May 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Ryan S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Nice Rural Setting

Comfortable setting with everything we needed. Great area to take a walk and visit the horses and goats. We would definitely recommend!
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Alexandra S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
I absolutely loved my stay here at the cottage. It was close enough to drive into Belfast to explore the city while also being a quiet and peaceful getaway in the countryside. There were a couple days of heavy rain while I was here but it didn’t even bother me since the cottage was such a lovely place to stay for a cozy day in. There is a grocery store 3 minutes away by car and the kitchen is well stocked with everything that you’ll need for cooking your meals.The only hiccup I had was that it was a little bit hard to find upon arrival. There’s a tiny road off of the main road that you have to follow for a ways in order to see the property. I had to contact the host to clarify, but she responded quickly and once I had that information, the cottage was easy to find. Overall I loved it here and would definitely come back again.
Stayed 6 nights in Aug 2025
Verified review

6/10 Okay

Jonathan

Disliked: Cleanliness, check-in
We had problems finding the property - the phone satnav directed us to Ballynahinch Water Treatment Works, but the host responded quickly to our email by phone, and gave us better directions. She left a light on at the property, and the key in the door.Gardeners Cottage exudes charm and character...and will be lovely in the summer. The underfloor heating is insufficient. Upon arrival, the overpowering smell of bleach was hard to stand. The place was cold and damp, and the plug in radiator had made little impression. Sadly, there was mould on the walls, in the bathroom and kitchen cupboards. Cobwebs and dirt were in evidence. Maintenance is required to replace the broken skylight, repaint the windows and see to the electrics. What was obviously set up as a pleasant space requires some TLC. The cold tap in the bathroom is not attached to the sink. The kettle leaked through the switch, so we used the microwave to heat water for drinks. The WiFi was paused before 10pm, which made research online difficult. There was no welcome pack, and no interaction with the hosts. Another easy chair would be good in the bedroom. The supermarket in Saintfield was wonderful.
The bedroom looks pleasant
Mouldy shower
Mould on kitchen doors
Kitchen needs to be refreshed
Stayed 4 nights in Mar 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Lisa M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Stayed 4 nights in May 2024

About the host

Hosted by Joanna Sterling

Host profile image

Premier Host

They consistently provide great experiences for their guests
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