Mount Stewart in Co. Down announced as main location for BBC's Winterwatch 2026
Across four nights in early January, presenters Chris Packham, Michaela Strachan and Iolo Williams will share the latest wildlife updates from the National Trust site.
With 10,000 recorded species, the location will offer plenty of opportunities to spot the local wildlife and bring viewers the beauty and drama of the winter natural world.
"Beautiful and teeming with wildlife, Mount Stewart is the perfect location for Winterwatch," said Jack Bootle, BBC Head of Commissioning, Specialist Factual.
"We're delighted to be working with the National Trust to bring this amazing part of Northern Ireland to audiences across the UK." Wintery woodland
Winter stories from Mount Stewart will include the local red squirrels, pine martens and badgers as they venture out into the wintery woodland.
Thousands of songbirds arrive nearby, allowing viewers to watch the large flocks of linnet, goldfinch and redwing that descend to devour the estate's abundance of seeds and berries.
Bordering Mount Stewart, Strangford Lough is the largest sea lough in the Britain and Ireland.
It's famous for its wintering waterfowl, with many ducks and geese feeding on the rich grassland.
Live cameras will be located across the site while the show will also bring pre-filmed seasonal stories from across Britain.
There will be plenty of opportunities for viewers to interact, get involved and share their own winter wildlife encounters.
"We are thrilled to be hosting the team at Mount Stewart in January," said Jenny Ferguson, General Manager for the National Trust at Mount Stewart.
"We are excited to tell more stories about the wide range of wildlife which makes their home here on the shores of Strangford Lough and across the wider demesne, plus the challenges nature and our teams face in adapting to the changing climate and more regular and extreme weather events."
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'You can get here and back home in a day, so it's perfect." I didn't know until today that there used to be a Butlin's here, but to be honest there still seems plenty to do." Local Tony Rosser, 79, remembers the Butlin's era but says he prefers the resort as it is today. He said: 'As a boy, we never really came to the sea front here in summer because it was so busy. We only used to come here in the winter , when it was a bit quieter and have lovely long walks. Advertisement 'The local traders liked having Butlin's here, for sure, because they benefited from there being so many holidaymakers in town, but now they're enjoying the Gavin and Stacey effect instead, so they're happy again. 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He said: 'They should never have built those luxury homes on the old Butlin's site. It was a wonderful complex and I'm sure it could have been spruced up and used as some kind of holiday attraction again. It's such a good spot up there. 'I have such fond memories of Butlin's. I wish it was still here in Barry, I really do.' The Top Locations For Fans of Gavin and Stacey Gavin and Stacey came to an end with the finale episode over Christmas, but you can still keep the show's spirit alive with a trip to Up the road is The Colcot Arms aka Smithy's local Essex hangout and of course the There are organised tours of Gavin and Stacey locations, some onboard Dave's Coaches, but it's easy enough to go on your own adventure. 13 Barry Island used to be home to a bustling Butlin's resort Credit: Getty Advertisement
