Downpatrick to Newcastle - Lecale Way Trail

Lecale Way extends from the heart of Downpatrick, taking in Strangford Lough and finishing in the seaside resort of Newcastle. Tower houses, castles and ancient monuments are dotted throughout its landscape and a wealth of wildlife can be discovered along the contrasting shores of Strangford Lough and the Irish Sea. An entrance fee to Castle Ward applies (National Trust Property).

Technical sheet

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 78.02 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 6 days 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Difficult
  • ⚐
    Return to departure point: No
  • ↗
    Vertical gain: + 225 m
  • ↘
    Vertical drop: - 222 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 73 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 0 m

Step by step walk

This route needs several days, find the details below:

  1. S

    Downpatrick to Audley’s Castle - Lecale Way Trail

    ↔19.28 km ↗151 m ↘149 m
    This is the 1rst section od 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.
    See walk sheet
  2. 2

    Audley’s Castle to Kilclief - Lecale Way Trail

    ↔10.74 km ↗61 m ↘56 m
    This is the 2nd 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. The off-road trails along the shore of Strangford Lough provide the highlights of this section.
    See walk sheet
  3. 3

    Kilclief to Ardglass - Lecale Way Trail

    ↔11.26 km ↗21 m ↘20 m
    This 3rd 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. This section incorporates dramatic natural scenery around the Ballyhornan Coastal Path.
    See walk sheet
  4. 4

    Ardglass to Tyrella Beach - Lecale Way Trail

    ↔17.35 km ↗19 m ↘21 m
    This is the 4th 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. Most of this section follows roads, with a brief interlude along the Killough Coastal Path.
    See walk sheet
  5. 5

    Tyrella Beach to Dundrum - Lecale Way Trail

    ↔11.82 km ↗21 m ↘23 m
    This is the 5th 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. A series of roads now leads to a beautiful stroll along a disused railway line.
    See walk sheet
  6. E

    Dundrum to Newcastle - Lecale Way Trail

    ↔6.75 km ↗5 m ↘8 m
    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.
    See walk sheet

Practical information

Start : Once in Downpatrick follow the road signs for the St Patrick’s Centre. There is a free car park and several pay car parks within 300 metres of the start point at the St Patrick’s Centre.

Terrain : Path, beach and quiet road

Public Transport : Translink

Facilities : Toilets, accommodation and refreshments are available all the way along the walk including the villages and towns of Downpatrick, Strangford, Ardgalss and Newcastle. The following facilities are available for users with limited mobility: – Café (wheelchair accessible) – Downpatrick, Castle Ward, Strangford, Ardglass, Newcastle – Shop (wheelchair accessible) – Downpatrick, Strangford, Ardglass, Killough, Clough, Dundrum, Newcastle – Visitors Centre – Downpatrick, Newcastle – Disabled toilets – Downpatrick, Castle Ward, Strangford, Ardglass, Newcastle – Disabled parking – Downpatrick, Ardglass, Dundrum, Newcastle

Dog Policy : Dogs must be on leads at all times on the route.

Note : Please be aware that this walking route passes through areas of open land such as working farmland and tidal zones. Livestock may be present and ground conditions may be uneven or wet underfoot. Please refer to the ‘Walk Safely’ information that can be found at the link below.

Find more information and walk ideas at Walk NI here.

In the nearby area

St Patrick’s Centre,
Downpatrick Steam Railway,
Down Cathedral,
Down Museum,
Gallows Hill, Struell Wells,
St Patrick’s Monument,
Sandy beaches, seabirds and seals.

 Always stay careful and alert while following a route. Visorando and the author of this walk cannot be held responsible in the event of an accident during this route.

Other walks in the area

Walking Downpatrick to Audley’s Castle - Lecale Way Trail

Tourist office
↔19.28 km ↗+151 m ↘-149 m ◔5h 55 ▲Easy
⚑Departure from Down
This is the 1rst section od 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.

Walking Quoile River - Downpatrick

Tourist office
↔6.65 km ↗+20 m ↘-24 m ◔1h 55 ▲Easy
⚑Departure from Down
This walk begins at the Down County Museum, passing the Mound of Down, travelling along the Quoile River taking in sights such as Quoile Countryside Centre and Steamboat Quay.

Walking Tyrella Beach to Dundrum - Lecale Way Trail

Tourist office
↔11.82 km ↗+21 m ↘-23 m ◔3h 25 ▲Easy
⚑Departure from Down
This is the 5th 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. A series of roads now leads to a beautiful stroll along a disused railway line.

Walking Ardglass to Tyrella Beach - Lecale Way Trail

Tourist office
↔17.35 km ↗+19 m ↘-21 m ◔5h 00 ▲Easy
⚑Departure from Down
This is the 4th 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. Most of this section follows roads, with a brief interlude along the Killough Coastal Path.

Walking Castle Ward farm Trail - Strangford

Tourist office
Castle Ward farm Trail - Strangford
↔4.03 km ↗+17 m ↘-17 m ◔1h 10 ▲Easy
⚑Departure from Down
Let's see the countryside of Strangford and his castle. This trail leads along the shores of Strangford Lough and then winds through the woodlands surrounding Audleys Castle. The trail then leads through farmland before a narrow trail leads back to the car park. This trail leads through fields where there may be livestock.

Walking Dundrum to Newcastle Trail

Tourist office
Dundrum to Newcastle Trail
↔9.73 km ↗+53 m ↘-50 m ◔2h 55 ▲Easy
⚑Departure from Down
This trail is a link section between Dundrum and Newcastle. Walk in fields and along the Beach and become aware of the nature that surrounds us.

Walking Dundrum Coastal Path

Tourist office
Dundrum Coastal Path
↔3.91 km ↗+7 m ↘-7 m ◔1h 10 ▲Easy
⚑Departure from Down
The Dundrum Coastal Path runs along a 2.5 Km stretch of the disused railway line on the western shore of Dundrum Inner Bay. The path forms part of the Lecale Way and is popular with walkers and birdwatchers alike. The path itself is of considerable nature conservation interest with a variety of semi-natural habitats along its length including herb-rich grassland, marginal scrub and scrub-woodland, marshy tall herb stands, brackish pools, and a narrow fringe of saltmarsh.

Walking Audley’s Castle to Kilclief - Lecale Way Trail

Tourist office
↔10.74 km ↗+61 m ↘-56 m ◔3h 15 ▲Easy
⚑Departure from Down
This is the 2nd 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. The off-road trails along the shore of Strangford Lough provide the highlights of this section.

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