Tyrella Beach to Dundrum - Lecale Way Trail

Start : Tyrella Beach, Clanmaghery Rd, Downpatrick (BT30 8SU)

(S) From Tyrella Beach car park, continue for around 2.2 Km along A2 to the junction with Commons Road (C287).

(1) Then turn left (West) onto a minor road (Commons Road (C287)) that carries you inland through the village of Ballykinler. Follow the road North out of Ballykinler before returning to the A2. (Around 4.2 Km).

(2) Bear left (North) and walk along A2 for 800 m towards Blackstaff Bridge.

(3) Turn left and crossing Blackstaff Bridge.

(4) Then 500m later still walking along A2, turn left (South) again onto a minor road. The minor road takes a sharp right turn. Do not turn.

(5) Leave the tarmac at the apex of the bend, continuing ahead and climbing a set of steps to reach the top of an old, stone railway bridge.

(6) Turn right (South-West), you are now on the Dundrum Coastal Path, which follows the line of a dismantled railway along the shore of Dundrum Inner Bay (A). Walk along this for around 2.5 Km. The southern end of the trail is marked by a National Trust sign and car park.

(7) Turn left (South) along the main road (A2), then veer left again onto a paved footpath that leads through a small stretch of parkland. Return to Main Street to pass through the centre of Dundrum village at St Donard's Community Church. (E)

Start : Tyrella Beach, Clanmaghery Rd, Downpatrick (BT30 8SU)

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

Terrain : Varried surfaces

Public Transport : Translink

Facilities : Toilets, accommodation and refreshments are available all the way along the walk including the village of Dundrum

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 Dundrum Coastal Path follows the line of the old Belfast and County Down Railway, which once ran from Belfast to Newcastle. The Dundrum section opened in March 1869. At its height, the network consisted of 129km of track, with five branch lines covering much of Country Down. After operating for almost 100 years, the railway finally closed in 1950.

(A) This beautiful stretch of trail takes you along a grassy corridor, with woodland on one side and the tidal inlet on the other. One particularly enjoyable section involves crossing your own personal causeway across a subsidiary bay. Wildlife is plentiful here too; rabbits scurry across the path ahead and at low tide you may see large flocks of wading birds picking their way across the mudflats in search of food.