Dundrum to Newcastle - Lecale Way Trail

Start : St Donard's Community Church, 183 Main St, Dundrum, Newcastle (BT33 0LY)

(S) 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. (E)

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.

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.