Newcastle to Trassey Car Park - Mourne Way Trek

Start : Newcastle Visitor Information Centre, 10-14 Central Promenade, Newcastle (BT33 0AA)

(S) From Newcastle tourist office, cross the road (A2) and turn right (West). Just before the Shimna bridge, turn left into Castle Park. Follow a paved footpath past the boating lake.

(1) Cross the busy Shimna Road. Continue across Islands Park to a footbridge. Cross the bridge right and follow a path along the river, past a series of recreational facilities.

(2) Leave the park and turn left along Bryansford Road. Cross a bridge, then turn right onto a track known as Tipperary Lane. This leads you into Tipperary Wood, an enclave of deciduous woodland on the banks of the Shimna River. Climb through the trees and past several houses to reach a road : Tullybrannigan Road after around 1.2 Km.

(3) Head right (North-West) here for less than 400m.

(4) Then turn left onto a narrow lane (West). Climb steeply now to reach the gate that bars the end of the road. Cross the adjacent stile and continue to a second gateway that marks the boundary of Tollymore Forest.

(5) For the next 6.5 Km you’ll be following tracks and footpaths through Tollymore Forest Park. Begin by climbing to a track, then turn left. The track swings round to the right and starts to descend.

(6) Turn left (South) at the next junction and skirt along the stone wall that marks Tollymore’s southern boundary. The mountain that rises on your left is Slieve Commedagh, the second highest summit in Northern Ireland at 767m.

Walk for a little more than 2 Km keeping left at the next two junctions, descending to meet the Spinkwee River.

(7) Cross Hore’s Bridge, then turn right (North-East), soon passing the beautiful, 10m-high Cascade Falls. The section ends at a track junction at the bottom of the Spinkwee River.

(8) Turn right (South-East) at the junction at the bottom of the Spinkwee, then look out for a path on the left that descends to a set of stepping stones over the Shimna River.

These stepping stones date back over 200 years, but if the water is too high to cross, turn around and retrace your steps back to the Spinkwee junction. Continue straight along the river’s southern bank.

(9) Cross the Shimna via a wooden footbridge some 500m further upstream. Once on the northern bank of the river, turn left (West) onto a beautiful stretch of path that follows the chutes and rapids upstream. Pass another set of stepping stones, then reach Parnell’s Bridge.

(10) Continue on the track straight ahead keeping the Bridge on your left. The path will cross a footbridge: the Boundary Bridge. Walk a few hundred metres until you reach a junction with four tracks.

(11) Now turn immediately right (West) onto a track, and continue straight ahead at the next junction. A sign soon indicates the location of the King’s Grave, which dates from 1500-1000 BC. Continue past several stiles and turnstiles to reach a road (Trassey Road). Just 20m away to the left, you’ll see a gated track. This is the Trassey Track and parking area. (E)

Start : Newcastle is on the A4. There are several car parks in Newcastle, close to the start of the walk. Newcastle Visitor Information Centre, 10-14 Central Promenade, Newcastle (BT33 0AA)

Arrival : Trassey Car Park, Trassey Rd, Down, Newcastle (BT33 0QA)
If you continue Walking on Trassey track, for 700m, you will join Meelmore Lodge, 52 Trassey Rd, Bryansford, Newcastle BT33 0QB. You can sleep there and continue the next day.

Parking : Newcastle Visitor Information Centre, 10-14 Central Promenade, Newcastle BT33 0AA and various car parks along the route.

Terrain : Mixed mountain terrain. This is a challenging yet rewarding walk, some of which crosses open hill side with no waymarking so please ensure you are adequatley prepared.

Public Transport : Translink

Facilities : Disabled toilets are located in Tollymore Forest Park and Newcastle. A wide range of B&B, guesthouse, hotel and hostel accommodation is available in Newcastle at the start of the section. There are no significant refreshment stops along the route after Newcastle.
At the Arrival : Meelmore Lodge, 52 Trassey Rd, Bryansford, Newcastle BT33 0QB. You can sleep there and continue the next day.
There is little accommodation available along the route so please ensure to make arrangements prior to setting off.

Note : If you wish, you can do several parts of this trek at once. Pay attention to the information given in each part to avoid unpleasant surprises.

Find more information and walk ideas at Walk NI here.

Did You Know?
The woodlands of the Tollymore estate have long served the dual purpose of pleasure and commerce. Oak wood from this forest was the preferred material for the interiors of the mighty White Star shipping liners, including the ill-fated Titanic which was built in Belfast in 1911.