Opening times
Open 7 days a week, except 23, 24 & 25 December
November to February
Monday to Friday: 11.00am to 4.00pm
Saturday & Sunday: 11.00am to 4.30pm
March to June
Monday to Friday: 10.30am to 5.00pm
Saturday & Sunday: 11.00am to 5.00pm
July & August
Monday to Friday: 10.30am to 5.30pm
Saturday & Sunday: 11.00am to 5.30pm
September & October
Monday to Friday: 10.30am to 5.00pm
Saturday & Sunday: 11.00am – 5.30pm
The Centre will remain open until 5.30pm on Bank and Public Holidays during the spring and summer months.
Gift Aid admission prices
Free to WWT members
Adult: £5.95
Concession: £4.50 (over 65 years, full-time students, unemployed)
Child: £2.95 (4-16 years)
Family: £16.00 (2 adults & 2 children, 4-16 years)
Children (under 4 years): Free
Essential helpers assisting disabled visitors: Free
The Gift Aid admission price includes a voluntary donation, which enables us to claim the tax back as part of the Government's Gift Aid scheme. Further information on Gift Aid click here.
If you choose not to pay the Gift Aid price, these are the prices excluding the voluntary donation.
Adult: £5.39
Concession: £4.06 (over 65 years, full-time students, unemployed)
Child: £2.68 (4 -16 years)
Family: £14.53 (2 adults & 2 children, 4 - 16 years)
Facilities
Eating
Castle Espie coffee-shop offers a selection of delicious home-made food as well as Fairtrade coffees and teas and a range of soft drinks. Lunch is served between 12.00 noon and 2.30 pm each day with a choice of tasty home made dishes including vegetarian options available. Outside of these times, home made scones and traybakes can be enjoyed whilst taking in the views of the reserve, Strangford Lough and Scrabo.
Larger groups can be catered for by prior arrangement and our facilities can be hired for corporate functions and training events.
Shopping
The gift shop stocks a wide range of wildlife and “green” books, bird feeders/boxes, children’s gifts, cards and stationery, jewellery and a selection of unusual and interesting gift items, including a range of Fair trade goods and work by local crafts people and artists.
Terms of entry
Visitors are asked to respect the habitats and wildlife of the Castle Espie Wetland Centre by keeping to the paths at all times and not causing undue noise. It is especially important to remain quiet in the bird viewing hides.
Photography is permitted on site providing it is for personal use. All commercial/stock library photography must be agreed in advance with the centre and may be subject to a fee.
No dogs are permitted on site apart from trained assistance dogs (eg Guide dogs).
Accessibility
- The centre has level access in most areas and compacted gravel paths. The path to the Viewpoint is steep and may not be suitable for unassisted wheelchair users, although this area may be avoided by use of a lower level path.
- Low-level viewing windows and ramped access to bird hides.
- Two wheelchairs available on site for visitors use – advance booking recommended
- Trained assistance dogs only (eg Guide Dogs) No other dogs permitted.
- Adapted toilet off the entrance courtyard.
- Free car-parking on site with reserved bays for disabled visitors.
- Wheelchair access to all buildings
Contact information
WWT Castle Espie Wetland Centre
78 Ballydrain Road, Comber,
Co Down, N Ireland
BT23 6EA
T: 028 9187 4146
F: 028 9187 3857
E: info.castleespie@wwt.org.uk