Newcastle to Castlewellan - Newcastle Way Trail

Start : Newcastle tourist office - Centre, 10 - 14 Central Promenade, Newcastle (BT33 0AA)

(S) From Newcastle tourist office, walk 100m North along the Central Promenade (A2) to the bridge over the Shimna River.

(1) Turn right (East) here, then after 130m or so, turn left.

(2) Cross the river via a white metal footbridge. Now follow the promenade North-East, the wide pavement carrying you easily between town and sea for around 500m.

(3) At the northern end of the town, descend right a set of steps onto the sand. Continue North-East along the beach, passing beneath the imposing Victorian facade of the Slieve Donard Hotel. 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 to roam or be confined to a narrow strip at the base of the dunes.

(4) After roughly 2 Km, the dunes to your left become part of Murlough Nature Reserve. Keep ahead (North-East) along the sand, continuing all the way to the end of the beach.

(5) After roughly 5 Km the coast sweeps left (South-West), and you find yourself walking alongside the narrow channel that drains Dundrum Inner Bay. Part-way along this shoreline you pass the estate’s old boat house, with slipway tracks still running towards the water. The village of Dundrum can now be seen across the estuary, guarded by the hilltop ruins of its medieval castle.

(6) The route leaves the shore just before the three stone arches of Downshire Bridge. Here you join a gravel track, which leads along the final stretch of Dundrum Inner Bay before bringing you to a junction with the A2 road.

(7) Begin by crossing carefully to the western side of the A2. Follow the road ahead across the Carrigs River.

(8) After 220 m or so, take the first left (South-West), joining a quiet lane that winds between high hedgerows and past several farms. At one point a large, prehistoric standing stone extrudes from the verge itself.

(9) At the end of the lane, turn left again along B180. Follow a larger road (West) into the charming village of Maghera, which makes a great spot for a refreshment break.

(10) The road (B180) swings left in the village and leads across a humpback bridge.
The official route continues ahead, but you may choose to turn left in Carrigs Road and make an out-and-back detour of 600m to visit 13th-century Maghera Old Church and the base of a round tower.

(11) Otherwise, turn right onto a grassy track some 300 m beyond the humpback bridge. The track is sometimes squeezed to a single-file footpath as it climbs between the fields, and the ground can be muddy underfoot. You emerge onto a firmer gravel track, still passing traditional farm buildings that seem unchanged for a century.

(12) Turn right (North-West) on this road. A short section of a paved lane brings you to a right turn.

(13) Another stretch of path now leads over the brow of a hill, with fine coastal views to the south.

(14) On the far side of the rise after 800 m or so, turn left (North-West) onto Dundrinne Road and continue to a junction with the A25.

(15) Turn left (South-West) here and climb to the top of the hill. The section ends in Castlewellan’s Upper Square, beside the old market house. This was built in 1764 and now houses the public library. (E)

Start : Newcastle tourist office - Centre, 10 - 14 Central Promenade, Newcastle (BT33 0AA)

Arrival : Upper Square, Castlewellan (BT31 9DD)

Parking : Newcastle Centre Car park, 10 - 14 Central Promenade, Newcastle (BT33 0AA). Public Parking at the arrival (Upper Square)

Terrain : Mostly Gravel paths

Public Transport : Translink

Facilities : Toilets at Tollymore and Castlewellan parks and Newcastle town centre. Refreshments situated at numerous points along the way.
At the arrival : Hillyard House Hotel, 1-5 Castle Ave, Castlewellan (BT31 9DX)

Dog Policy : Dogs must be kept on leads

Note : Please be aware that this walking route passes through areas of open land such as hillside, working farmland and working forests. Livestock may be present, ground conditions may be uneven or wet underfoot and all forestry signage should be adhered to.

Find more information and walk ideas at Walk NI here.

Murlough Bay : Murlough Bay is one of the exceptional sites regularly used for film and series shooting. It was here that some scenes of the Iron Throne were shot! It must be said that the surroundings of the bay are pleasantly wild, being essentially composed of cliffs and rocky headlands of basalt, sandstone and limestone. The area is ideal for a short hike: don’t hesitate to walk along the bay to admire its views of the sea, and a few small islands belonging to Scotland!

Murlough National Nature Reserve : The ancient sand dune system of Murlough National Nature Reserve is 6000 years old, and was designated as Ireland’s first nature reserve in 1967. Along the coast, watch out for seals in particular. The area is regularly used by 50 to 130 common and grey seals, with numbers peaking each year between July and October.

On the route to Castlewellan: Much of this section follows traditional rights of way, old public paths and tracks that are still used by farmers and walkers alike. Some of the more remote tracks offer an evocative insight into rural times gone by, with small fields enclosed by stone walls, isolated stone sheds and even Victorian-style wrought iron gates lining the trail.