Tyrella Beach to Dundrum - Lecale Way Trail

This walk is part of the trek Downpatrick to Newcastle - Lecale Way Trail.

This is the 5th section of the Lecale Way Trail. The Lecale region of County Down is characterised by pretty villages, wild coastline and a liberal scattering of historic sites. This walking route uses a combination of country roads, tracks and footpaths to explore the best of the scenery, with lowland terrain and frequent signposts making it suitable for most levels of walking experience. A series of roads now leads to a beautiful stroll along a disused railway line.

Technical sheet No. 30819785

A Down walk posted on 17/02/23 by Walk NI. Last update : 02/03/23
Calculated time Calculated time: 3h25[?]
Distance Distance : 11.82 km
Vertical gain Vertical gain : 20 m
Vertical drop Vertical drop : 20 m
Highest point Highest point : 27 m
Lowest point Lowest point : 1 m
Easy Difficulty : Easy
Back to starting point Back to starting point : No
Walking Walking
Location Location : Down
Starting point Starting point : N 54.253867° / W 5.747907°
Ending point Ending point : N 54.256344° / W 5.847836°
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Description

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

(D) 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. (A)

Waypoints :
D : km 0 - alt. 7 m - Tyrella Beach
1 : km 2.25 - alt. 17 m - Minor road
2 : km 6.42 - alt. 10 m - A2
3 : km 7.17 - alt. 1 m - Blackstaff Bridge
4 : km 7.84 - alt. 11 m - Minor road
5 : km 8.2 - alt. 6 m - Sharp right turn
6 : km 8.25 - alt. 4 m - Sharp right turn
7 : km 10.7 - alt. 3 m - Main road - Dundrum
A : km 11.82 - alt. 7 m - St Donard's Church - Dundrum

Useful Information

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.

Visorando and this author cannot be held responsible in the case of accidents or problems occuring on this walk.

During the walk or to do/see around

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.

Other walks in the area

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Dundrum Coastal Path
distance 3.91 km Vertical gain +7 m Vertical drop -7 m Duration 1h10 Easy Easy
Starting point Starting point in Down

The Dundrum Coastal Path runs along a 2.5 Km stretch of the disused railway line on the western shore of Dundrum Inner Bay. The path forms part of the Lecale Way and is popular with walkers and birdwatchers alike. The path itself is of considerable nature conservation interest with a variety of semi-natural habitats along its length including herb-rich grassland, marginal scrub and scrub-woodland, marshy tall herb stands, brackish pools, and a narrow fringe of saltmarsh.

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Dundrum to Newcastle Trail
distance 9.73 km Vertical gain +50 m Vertical drop -48 m Duration 2h55 Easy Easy
Starting point Starting point in Down

This trail is a link section between Dundrum and Newcastle. Walk in fields and along the Beach and become aware of the nature that surrounds us.

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distance 6.75 km Vertical gain +5 m Vertical drop -8 m Duration 1h55 Easy Easy
Starting point Starting point in Down

This is the 6th section of the Lecale Way Trail. The Lecale region of County Down is characterised by pretty villages, wild coastline and a liberal scattering of historic sites. This walking route uses a combination of country roads, tracks and footpaths to explore the best of the scenery, with lowland terrain and frequent signposts making it suitable for most levels of walking experience. Almost all of the final section is off-road, with the dunes and sands of Newcastle Beach providing a fitting finale.

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distance 19.28 km Vertical gain +125 m Vertical drop -125 m Duration 5h50 Easy Easy
Starting point Starting point in Down

This is the 1rst section od the Lecale Way Trail. The Lecale region of County Down is characterised by pretty villages, wild coastline and a liberal scattering of historic sites. This walking route uses a combination of country roads, tracks and footpaths to explore the best of the scenery, with lowland terrain and frequent signposts making it suitable for most levels of walking experience.

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distance 78.02 km Vertical gain +249 m Vertical drop -245 m Duration 6 days Difficult Difficult
Starting point Starting point in Down

Lecale Way extends from the heart of Downpatrick, taking in Strangford Lough and finishing in the seaside resort of Newcastle. Tower houses, castles and ancient monuments are dotted throughout its landscape and a wealth of wildlife can be discovered along the contrasting shores of Strangford Lough and the Irish Sea. An entrance fee to Castle Ward applies (National Trust Property).

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distance 17.35 km Vertical gain +19 m Vertical drop -21 m Duration 5h00 Easy Easy
Starting point Starting point in Down

This is the 4th section of the Lecale Way Trail. The Lecale region of County Down is characterised by pretty villages, wild coastline and a liberal scattering of historic sites. This walking route uses a combination of country roads, tracks and footpaths to explore the best of the scenery, with lowland terrain and frequent signposts making it suitable for most levels of walking experience. Most of this section follows roads, with a brief interlude along the Killough Coastal Path.

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Granite Trail (Bogie Line and Drinneevar Loop) - Newcastle
distance 3.82 km Vertical gain +277 m Vertical drop -277 m Duration 1h55 Easy Easy
Starting point Starting point in 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.

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Glen River Walk - Newcastle
distance 11.56 km Vertical gain +923 m Vertical drop -923 m Duration 5h55 Moderate Moderate
Starting point Starting point in 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.

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The GPS track and description are the property of the author.

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