Newcastle Way Trail

This two-days circular route offers a perfect snapshot of life in rural County Down. The lowland terrain makes it accessible to all fit walkers, while the combination of forest trails, quiet, undulating country lanes and a long, golden Newcastle Beach ensures constant scenic diversity. All set within striking distance of Newcastle’s traditional, seaside-resort hospitality.

Technical sheet

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 41.24 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2 days 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Difficult
  • ⚐
    Return to departure point: Yes
  • ↗
    Vertical gain: + 577 m
  • ↘
    Vertical drop: - 573 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 239 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1 m

Step by step walk

This route needs several days, find the details below:

  1. S

    Newcastle to Castlewellan - Newcastle Way Trail

    ↔17.97 km ↗139 m ↘24 m
    This 1rst section takes you through Murlough Bay and Murlough Natural reserve. A trail between beach, sea, and forest where fantastic panoramic views await to amaze you.
    See walk sheet
  2. E

    Castlewellan to Newcastle - Newcastle Way Trail

    ↔23.27 km ↗438 m ↘549 m
    This 2nd section of the Newcastle Way Trail takes you through Tollymore and Castlewellan Forest Park. Those forest park are hiding those wonderful natural beauties from urban civilization. Take your time to observe those flora and fauna on the paths that wind through the trees.
    See walk sheet

Practical information

Start/Arrival : Newcastle Centre, 10 - 14 Central Promenade, Newcastle (BT33 0AA), Royaume-Uni

Parking : Newcastle Centre Car park, 10 - 14 Central Promenade, Newcastle (BT33 0AA),

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.

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.

In the nearby area

Tollymore Forest Park

Castlewellan Forest Park

Murlough Bay

 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 Newcastle to Castlewellan - Newcastle Way Trail

Tourist office
↔17.97 km ↗+139 m ↘-24 m ◔5h 30 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Down
This 1rst section takes you through Murlough Bay and Murlough Natural reserve. A trail between beach, sea, and forest where fantastic panoramic views await to amaze you.

Walking Newcastle to Trassey Car Park - Mourne Way Trek

Tourist office
↔10.65 km ↗+297 m ↘-143 m ◔3h 55 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Down
This 1rst section of the Mourne Way Trek marvellously varied carries you from the coast, across the edge of the Mourne Mountains. The route begins by climbing from urban parkland to a series of high forest tracks. This is a challenging yet rewarding walk, some of which crosses open hill side with no waymarking so please ensure you are adequatley prepared.

Walking Mourne Way Trek

Tourist office
↔37.08 km ↗+963 m ↘-917 m ◔4 days ▲Difficult
⚑Departure from Down
This route is almost entirely off road, traversing the foothill of the Mourne Mountains from Newcastle to Rostrevor on Carlingford Lough. The Mourne Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty is a unique, largely granite landscape shaped by ice and man, with stunning vistas of coast, sea and countryside.

Walking Slieve Donard (via Glen River) - Newcastle

Walker
Slieve Donard (via Glen River) - Newcastle
↔9.54 km ↗+839 m ↘-839 m ◔5h 05 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Down
Slieve Donard at 850m (2,789 ft) is the highest of the Mourne Mountains. The views from the summit are extensive and on a clear day the Isle of Man, Wicklow, Donegal, Wales, and Scotland may be seen, as well as the long stretch of Newcastle Beach.

Walking Glen River - Newcastle

Tourist office
Glen River - Newcastle
↔11.56 km ↗+930 m ↘-921 m ◔6h 00 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Down
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.

Walking Granite Trail (Bogie Line and Drinneevar Loop) - Newcastle

Tourist office
Granite Trail (Bogie Line and Drinneevar Loop) - Newcastle
↔3.82 km ↗+291 m ↘-288 m ◔1h 55 ▲Easy
⚑Departure from Down
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.

Walking Murlough National Nature Reserve - Newcastle

Tourist office
Murlough National Nature Reserve - Newcastle
↔4.53 km ↗+8 m ↘-7 m ◔1h 20 ▲Easy
⚑Departure from Down
The Murlough Nature Trail starts and finishes in the National Trust car park. The trail initially follows the main visitor walkway, Slidderyford Path, to Murlough Beach. After a short walk along the beach one enters the Central Reserve via the Archaeology Path. From here the trail loops back to the car park by way of the Back Track. The trail is marked with yellow-topped posts and has a number of points of interest along it.

Walking Slieve Donard (from bloody bridge) - Newcastle

Tourist office
Slieve Donard (from bloody bridge) - Newcastle
↔10.59 km ↗+829 m ↘-823 m ◔5h 25 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Newry and Mourne
This walk begins in the Bloody Bridge car park (on the coast), follows the Bloody Bridge River and then the Mourne Wall to the summit of Slieve Donard (850m).

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