Dundrum to Newcastle - Lecale Way Trail
This walk is part of the trek Downpatrick to Newcastle - Lecale Way Trail.
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.
Technical sheet No. 30819812












Description
Start : St Donard's Community Church, 183 Main St, Dundrum, Newcastle (BT33 0LY)
(D) From St Donard’s Church of Ireland on the right when you are on A2, Main Street, walk along the road for around 130 m.
(1) Take the next turn left onto an off-road path which leads through a small plantation of trees on to Keel Point road. Walk South along this road for around 410 m.
(2) Cross the three stone arches of the Downshire Bridge, then turn right (South-West) onto a gravel track. If you look back across the estuary towards Dundrum you’ll get a fine view of the village, guarded by the hilltop ruins of its medieval castle. The track leads along the final stretch of Dundrum Inner Bay.
(3) Shortly before you reach the A2 road, a footpath veers left (South-East) into Murlough National Nature Reserve. Follow a wooden boardwalk across the site, undulating through the dunes and coastal heath. After 1 Km or so, as you exit the dunes and drop down onto the beach, a wonderful sight meets your eyes. The Mourne Mountains now seem just a stone’s throw away, rising majestically above the sweep of the bay.
(4) Turn right and follow the beach South-West for almost 2.7 Km. The terrain underfoot varies between firm sand and small pebbles, and depending on the state of the tide you may either have a wide space or a narrow strip at your disposal.
(5) As you approach Newcastle town, the first building you encounter is the Slieve Donard Hotel, with its imposing Victorian facade. Shortly beyond this, on your right, climb a set of steps to reach the wide pavement of the town promenade (Main Street A2).
(6) Turn left and make your way South along the waterfront to a white metal footbridge across the Shimna River. Cross the bridge, and keep left along the promenade. Take the next right turn through the small car park to finish at the Newcastle Tourist Information and the official end of the route. (A)
Waypoints :
D : km 0 - alt. 7 m - St Donard's Community Church
1 : km 0.13 - alt. 8 m - Off-road path - Keel Point
2 : km 0.81 - alt. 0 m - Downshire Bridge
3 : km 2.36 - alt. 7 m - Murlough National Nature Reserve - boardwalk
4 : km 3.3 - alt. 2 m - Beach
5 : km 5.95 - alt. 4 m - Slieve Donard Hotel and Spa
6 : km 6.62 - alt. 6 m - Shimna River - Metal footbridge
A : km 6.75 - alt. 4 m - Newcastle Tourist Information
Useful Information
Start : St Donard's Community Church, 183 Main St, Dundrum, Newcastle (BT33 0LY)
Arrival : Newcastle Tourist Information, 10-14 Central Promenade, Newcastle (BT33 0AA)
Terrain : Varried surfaces. 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.
Public Transport : Translink
Facilities : Toilets, accommodation and refreshments are available all the way along the walk including the village of Newcastle.
Dog Policy : Dogs must be on leads at all times on the route.
Find more information and walk ideas at Walk NI here.
Visorando and this author cannot be held responsible in the case of accidents or problems occuring on this walk.
During the walk or to do/see around
Did You Know?
The sand dune ecosystem of Murlough National Nature Reserve is 6000 years old, and is regarded as the best and most extensive example of dune heath in Ireland. The area was designated as Ireland’s first nature reserve in 1967, and is now home to 22 species of butterfly and an array of wildflowers.
Other walks in the area







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.







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.






This network of paths formed part of an intricate transport system connecting the settlements of Castlewellan, Annsborough, Maghera, Dundrum, Bryansford and Newcastle. These laneways offered the shortest, easiest routes for horse and cart; for example, transporting coal from Dundrum to Castlewellan; so avoiding the steep hill at Ardnabannon. Nowadays these routes offer peaceful country walks away from busy main roads.







This walk follows a popular route leading to the summit of Slieve Donard (850m), Northern Ireland highest mountain. From Newcastle it ascends through the woods along the Glen River and climbs 3km to the head of the river valley, high on the slopes below Slieve Donard ad Slieve Commedagh (765m). From here the path continues to the Saddle (the col between Donard and Commedagh) from which point either summit can be reached.






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.







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







Covering a relatively short distance from coast to open moorland, the Granite Trail offers the opportunity to see artifacts from the once thriving granite industry of Mourne. Differing natural habitats can be enjoyed as you walk through coniferous forest and mature woodland beside mountain streams and rivers.







The Hare’s Gap is the most dramatic mountain pass in the Mournes. Its sharply defined outline indicates that ice once passed this way; using the Gap’s convenient north-south alignment to advance and retreat over the entire Mournes range. In more recent times the Hare’s Gap marked the exit point for smuggled goods which had crossed the hills from the coast along the Brandy Pad. The contraband (which included soap, leather, spices and coffee) was carried through the mountains on the backs of small ponies which descended by the Hare’s Gap to the valley of the Trassey River and on to Hilltown (a favourite distribution centre). Nowadays, the Gap’s easily reached central location on the rim of the High Mournes makes it a popular starting point for routes scaling adjoining peaks, or simply for a walk along the gentle contours of the Brandy Pad.
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The GPS track and description are the property of the author.