Castlewellan forest park - Moorish tower

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The walk circumnavigates Castlewellan Lake. A short steep climb uphill brings you to the view point over the lake : Moorish Tower.

Details

n°30318644
Creation:
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 4.96 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 1h 40 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 85 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 81 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 188 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 121 m
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Photos

Moorish Tower

Description of the walk

Start : Lakeside Car Park. From Castlewellan the forest is signposted from Main Street. (BT31 9BU)

(S/E) From the Lakeside Car Park, turn left, the trail follows the southern shore of the lake for around 1.8 Km before winding steeply uphill.

(1) At any junction, keep the same bearing North-West-West for around 500 m.

(2) Then turn right (North-East) and walk around 400 m until reaching a narrow track leads to the Moorish Tower now hidden in the trees. When designed, this ‘tea house’ would have provided a fine vista across the Lake.

(3) Go past this path to Moorish Tower then at the next junction turn right then left towards the lake shore Northern side.

(4) A steep descent leads back to the lake shore.

(5) As you reach the lake shore, turn left and keep walking with the lake on your right-hand back to the start (around 1.8 Km). (S/E)

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 126 m - Lakeside Car Park
  2. 1 : km 1.72 - alt. 134 m - Junction
  3. 2 : km 2.17 - alt. 166 m - Junction
  4. 3 : km 2.6 - alt. 176 m - Moorish Tower
  5. 4 : km 2.98 - alt. 140 m - Steep descent
  6. 5 : km 3.1 - alt. 131 m - Lake shore
  7. S/E : km 4.96 - alt. 126 m - Lakeside Car Park

Notes

Start : Lakeside Car Park. From Castlewellan the forest is signposted from Main Street. (BT31 9BU)

Parking : Lakeside Car Park. (BT31 9BU)

Terrain : Moderate with some steep hills. Variable but stable, may be slightly uneven and include loose material.

Public Transport : Translink

Facilities : Car park (fee charged), café, toilets (disabled access), picnic areas, The Peace Maze, Activity Centre, lecture room/ classroom, camping & caravaning, orienteering route, mountain bike trails.

Note : This trail is signposted from the Lakeside car park – follow the brown waymarkers.

Find more information and walk ideas at Walk NI here.

Worth a visit

Moorish Tower and its view on the Castlewellan Lake

Other walks in the area

Walking Castlewellan to Newcastle - Newcastle Way Trail

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Walking Drumee Trail - Castlewellan

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This is a strenuous and challenging walk with some steep ascents, but it is certainly worth it. The walk takes in three of the four highest peaks in the Mourne Mountains (Slieve Donard 853m, Slieve Commedagh 765m, Slieve Bearnagh 739m) and also the Brandy Pad – the well-trodden and infamous smugglers track. The walk gives wonderful views to the Irish Sea and to the heart of the High Mournes.

Walking Murlough National Nature Reserve - Newcastle

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The Murlough Nature Trail starts and finishes in the National Trust car park. The trail initially follows the main visitor walkway, Slidderyford Path, to Murlough Beach. After a short walk along the beach one enters the Central Reserve via the Archaeology Path. From here the trail loops back to the car park by way of the Back Track. The trail is marked with yellow-topped posts and has a number of points of interest along it.

Walking Dundrum to Newcastle - Lecale Way Trail

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This is the 6th section of the Lecale Way Trail. The Lecale region of County Down is characterised by pretty villages, wild coastline and a liberal scattering of historic sites. This walking route uses a combination of country roads, tracks and footpaths to explore the best of the scenery, with lowland terrain and frequent signposts making it suitable for most levels of walking experience. Almost all of the final section is off-road, with the dunes and sands of Newcastle Beach providing a fitting finale.

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