Trassey to Bloody Bridge Trail

Start : Trassey car park, Trassey Rd, Down, Newcastle (BT33 0QA)

(S/E) Turn left (South) out of Trassey car park. Approx 50m ahead you will see double gates and a stone stile at the start of Trassey Track.

(1) Continue up this quarry track passing through another 2 sets of double gates, both of which have a kissing gate. The panorama of the mountains will open up in front of you. The path becomes increasingly steeper as it follows the Trassey River.

Look up to your right to see the crags of Spellack which are popular with climbers. Continue up Trassey Track and ascend to Hare’s Gap, the col between Slievenaglogh and Slieve Bernagh.

(2) Cross the Mourne Wall using the stile or gate and bear left, picking up a well worn track (the Brandy Pad) which is much flatter. Continue along the Brandy Pad for 3 Km where you will pass under Slievenaglogh, Slieve Corragh and Slieve Commedagh, the second highest peak in the Mournes.

(3) Stone steps will help you ascend the section of the Brandy Pad leading up to the col between Slieve Beg and Slieve Commedagh. At the obvious cairn on the col bear left passing under the craggy outcrops of the Castles on your left.

Continue along the main path which traverses around the base of Slieve Donard to meet the wall at the Bog of Donard.

(4) Cross over the Mourne Wall and follow the obvious track down following the Bloody Bridge River.

(5) At the quarry, cross over the Bloody Bridge River and continue along the well used quarry track.

(6) After a pronounced zig zag in the path, take the track to the left towards the Bloody Bridge River.

(7) Cross the Bloody Bridge River using conveniently located boulders. Follow the river downstream.

(8) Cross a stile and a wooden footbridge across the Glenfofanny River. Continue following the river towards the coast.

(9) Turn left when you reach the Ballagh Road (A2). Bloody Bridge car park is 20m away on the opposite side of the road. (S/E)

Start : Trassey car park, Trassey Rd, Down, Newcastle (BT33 0QA)

Driving to start : The walk starts at Trassey car park. To get here follow the Hilltown Road out of Bryansford for 2.9 km, turn left at the junction with Trassey Road and continue for 1.3 km, Trassey car park is on the left hand side. Trassey Rd, Down, Newcastle BT33 0QA

Arrival : Blood Bridge Car Park, 67 Ballagh Rd, Newcastle (BT33 0LA)

Parking : Both starting point and final point are parking.

Terrain : Unsurfaced mountain tracks

Public Transport : Translink

Facilities : Car park and picnic facilities available at Trassey and Bloody Bridge car parks. Disabled toilet and baby changing facilities available in Bloody Bridge car park. Further car parking, cafe, toilets, camping and accommodation available at Meelmore Lodge.

Dog Policy : Dogs must be kept on leads

Find more information and walk ideas at Walk NI here.

(A) Optional extra (challenging): At Hare’s Gap, pass through the gate or over the stile and turn left and follow the Mourne Wall up and over Slievenaglogh (586m). Continue along the Mourne Wall over Slieve Corragh and the Pot of Legawherry. Continue along the Mourne Wall and ascend Slieve Commedagh (765m). Descend Slieve Commedagh to the col between Slieve Commedagh and Slieve Donard, picking up the Brandy Pad to the Bog of Donard. Follow route description to Bloody Bridge car park as above.

The Mourne Wall : The Mourne Wall (Irish: Balla an Mhúrn) was constructed to enclose a catchment area of the Silent Valley Reservoir in the Mourne Mountains, Northern Ireland. The 1.5 metres (4 ft 11 in) high stone wall, which was built to keep livestock from contaminating water supplies, took almost twenty years to complete (1904 to 1922). The project was overseen by the Belfast City and District Water Commissioners.