Start : Car park, Upper Square, Castlewellan, almost opposite the entrance to Castlewellan Forest Park (Nearby postcode BT31 9DG).
(S/E) From the car park walk (South-East) towards the Circular Road which leads away from Castlewellan. This road becomes the Drumee Road which heads South-East towards the town of Newcastle. Walk for around 1.7Km past the first public footpath sign. Where the road veers to the right take the lane signposted straight ahead. Continue until a public footpath sign indicates another path to the left.
(1) Take this route. Follow the path which turns sharply to the right after a short distance. Continue straight on until the path reaches a junction. Take the way marked route to the left. After a long straight stretch the lane turns sharp left. And then right before reaching the Carnacavill Road (B180).
(3) At the road turn left (North-East) and walk towards a crossroads where you see a signpost indicating ‘Maghera Old Church and Round Tower’, follow this sign right onto the Carrigs Road.
(5) A short distance later you will see another sign directing you up a driveway to the church and round tower. (A) Take a detour here to visit the church then on leaving it, turn left and walk along the Carrigs Road again for a few hundred yards.
(6) Then take the right turn onto the Church Hill Road.
(7) Half way along this road turn right as directed by the signposted on to the lane known as Smiley’s Loanan. Take this path and follow it until it reaches the Carnacavill Road (B180) once more.
(8) At the road turn left (South-West), this leads to the main Castlewellan to Newcastle Road (A50). Turn right (North-West) at this point and follow the grass verge back towards Castlewellan. Continue as far as Drumee Cemetery where you see signs pointing right and straight on towards Castlewellan.
(9) Turn right here and follow the grassy lane towards Castlewellan until it reaches the Drumee Road where you came from at the start of the walk. Retrace your steps along the Drumee Road returning to the car park at the Upper Square. (S/E)