PAGE 1 MOURNE MOUNTAINS VISITOR & RING OF GULLioN GUIDE NORTHERN IRELAND visitmournemountains.co.uk visitmournemountains.co.uk PAGE 3 Contents 4 Everyday magic 11 Can’t miss list 21 The great, green outdoors 29 Walk this way 35 Take a road trip 43 Heritage 53 Myths & legends – Go tell it on the mountain 58 Find yourself – Genealogy & family research 61 Family fun – Get busy 73 Cycling – Get pedalling 80 Saddle Up – Equestrian activities 85 Get Hooked – Fishing 93 Golf – Get in the swing 101 Health & leisure – Soak it up 107 On the water 115 Your place at the table 129 Shopping – Treat yourself 141 Events 144 Information & Services 147 Room with a view - Accommodation visitmournemountains.co.uk PAGE 5 Everyday magic Make your day “Great things are done when The spectacular scenery of the Mourne Mountains men and mountains meet.” and Ring of Gullion in the south east of Northern Ireland reflects their status as Areas of Outstanding Natural William Blake Beauty. With varied, stunning panoramas in a compact space, it’s a perfect destination for visitors looking for thrills or relaxation. The area is within easy travelling distance of Belfast and Dublin. Enjoy the natural beauty and clean air of the great outdoors on land and water – walking, cycling, riding, driving, golf, sailing and fishing. The mountains and beautiful beaches are just the beginning. visitmournemountains.co.uk PAGE 7 Coming out to play? The area is a big open-air playground – this perfectly sums up the Mourne Mountains and the Ring of Gullion. So what kind of person enjoys visiting the Mournes and the Ring of Gullion? The thrill seeker, walker, photographer, angler, golfer, shopper, cyclist and leisurely driver. It’s a land of opposites, both active and relaxed. You can pack your visit to maximise the time you have, or travel free and easy, and just take things as they come. The bustling market towns and city of Newry stand in contrast to the slow-changing, rural landscape. Around you, open skies drift over green farmland, and the water always seems to be in view. Enjoy rolling countryside, traffic-free roads, shorelines, seascapes and sunsets, along with postcard villages and fascinating wildlife. Step inside and feel the heat of roaring fires in country pubs, with dining and accommodation options to suit everyone’s taste and budget, and a warm welcome comes with them all. visitmournemountains.co.uk PAGE 9 Did you know? Land of legends Historic stones The area’s heritage is tied closely to Patrick, Kilnasaggart Pillar Stone near Ireland’s patron saint, and the story of how he Moyry Castle features a long Irish brought Christianity to Ireland. The land’s built inscription which can be dated to heritage also illustrates Ireland’s political and around AD 700, making it the earliest commercial history – the castles, dolmens and cross-carved stone in Ireland. ruins that dot the rural landscape and coast. Moyry Castle Found your own way? Like visitmournemountains on Facebook and join the conversation. Post your comments and pass on your tips to other visitors. Dromore Cross Kilnassaggart Stone visitmournemountains.co.uk PAGE 11 Can’t miss list Fit as many of these top attractions as you can into your visit, or take it slowly and come back again for more... 1 2 3 Annalong Cornmill Ballykeel Portal Tomb Bagenal’s Castle, Newry & Harbour This dolmen is known and Mourne Museum & The village of Annalong locally as the ‘Hag’s Chair’. Heritage Trail – Newry boasts a picturesque The Neolithic burial site The 16th Century Bagenal’s harbour dating back to (dated 4,000–2,500 BC) Castle is Newry’s oldest the early 1800s. As well has a huge capstone surviving building. The as fishing, the harbour supported on uprights city’s heritage trail starts at was used for many years over an octagonal burial Newry Town Hall and takes for exporting the famous chamber. you through Newry’s many quarried Mourne granite. attractions, exploring the The restored cornmill has a history and heritage of this working water wheel which ancient place. can be seen in operation on a guided tour. Bagenal’s Castle visitmournemountains.co.uk PAGE 13 Can’t miss list 4 5 6 7 8 9 Brontë Interpretative Cranfield Beach – Castlewellan Forest F E McWilliam Gallery Kilbroney Park & Killevy Old Church Centre & Homeland Kilkeel Park, Peace Maze & & Studio – Banbridge Rostrevor Mountain The site of one of Ireland’s Drive – Rathfriland Award-winning Cranfield Mountain Bike Trails This gallery celebrates the Bike Trails most important early Follow the story of Patrick Beach lies in an idyllic One of Northern Ireland’s work of Banbridge-born Just outside Rostrevor, convents, founded by Saint Brontë and his family at this location at the mouth of most famous lakes with a sculptor Frederick Edward Kilbroney Park has camping Moninna in the 5th Century. interpretative centre and Carlingford Lough, with the stunning Victorian Castle in McWilliam. Contemporary facilities, a restaurant and The earlier of two churches drive. Patrick, father of the majestic Mourne Mountains a dramatic setting between and friend of Henry Moore, magnificent walks with on the site dates from the novelist sisters, taught a stunning backdrop. The the mountains and the McWilliam is considered striking views of the 10th Century. in the old schoolhouse long south-facing beach sea. Castlewellan Forest is one of the most important Cooley Mountains. The here, and preached his has excellent facilities, home to one of the most sculptors of his generation. new mountain bike trails first sermon in the church. and lifeguards are on duty outstanding tree and shrub View the permanent display in Rostrevor cover 27 km, You can also see his during July and August. collections in Europe. The of McWilliam’s work, as including some exhilarating beauty and perfect shape birthplace cottage on this well as the temporary downhill runs. of the trees in the National short self-guided drive. exhibitions, craft shop, café Arboretum attracts tree and visitor information. enthusiasts from all around the world. For the thrill seeker there is 25km of mountain bike trails suitable for all levels and ability. To walk around the mile-long lake while encountering some intriguing modern sculptures on the way is to enjoy a great experience of 18th Century landscape. Brontë Homeland – Drumballyroney Parish Church & graveyard Cranfield Beach Rostrevor Mountain Bike Trails visitmournemountains.co.uk PAGE 15 Mourne Seafood Cookery School Can’t miss list 10 11 12 Legananny Dolmen & Mourne Seafood Murlough National Legananny Dolmen Finnis Souterrain Cookery School & Nature Reserve – One of Ireland’s most Mourne Maritime Dundrum/Newcastle frequently photographed Museum – Kilkeel Bordering one of Northern dolmens stands on the Kilkeel is the seafood capital Ireland’s most popular slopes of Slieve Croob. of the Mournes and home beaches, fragile 6,000- Megalithic Legananny is to a state of the art cookery year old sand dunes make probably the grave of a school in the Nautilus up Ireland’s first Nature chieftain. Finnis Souterrain, Centre, with panoramic Reserve. It’s an ideal spot for known locally as ‘Binder’s views of the harbour. The walking and wildlife, and a Cove,’ is another hidden Maritime centre tells the real haven for birdwatchers. gem nearby, dated around story of local fishing and A network of boardwalks the 9th Century. maritime heritage through leads you through this touch screen technology. stunning reserve. Murlough National Nature Reserve visitmournemountains.co.uk PAGE 17 Narrow Water Castle Soak Seaweed Baths Seaforde Gardens & Tropical Butterfly House 18 Silent Valley Reservoir Can’t miss list & Visitor Centre – Mourne Mountains 13 14 15 16 17 The Silent Valley reservoir is one of Northern Ireland’s Narrow Water Castle – Royal County Down Seaforde Gardens & Slieve Gullion Soak Seaweed Baths – ‘must see’ attractions. Forest Park Newcastle Surrounded by breath-taking Warrenpoint Golf Course – Tropical Butterfly House countryside, this huge With spectacular views, Newcastle Sited in a historic demesne, This forest park covers Hot seaweed bathing was reservoir was built to gather Narrow Water is a fine Regularly selected by which has been a family 2,500 acres and has all the rage in Victorian water from the mountains example of a tower house. professional golfers and home for almost 400 years, spectacular views. The play times. Soak Seaweed Baths over the high Mournes and In 1212, Hugh de Lacy, first experts as one of the top Seaforde Gardens and area includes a toddler’s is a modern take on an is the main water supply for Earl of Ulster, built a keep on courses in the world. Dating Tropical Butterfly House is section, adventure play old tradition, and offers a most of County Down and the site, to prevent river- back from 1889, Royal home to hundreds of free- equipment for older kids and unique chance to relax and Belfast. Ringed by dramatic borne attacks on Newry. County Down Golf Club is flying tropical butterflies, even a trim trail for adults. luxuriate in mineral-rich peaks, with Slieve Binnian In the 1560s, the tower one of the oldest in Ireland. as well as parrots, reptiles Enjoy walking the path to seaweed and hot seawater, to the east, the cliffs of house and bawn were It has two 18 hole courses, and insects. The beautiful the top of Slieve Gullion or detoxifying your body and Slievenaglogh to the west added. the Championship Course gardens include a maze and a leisurely stroll around the nourishing your skin. and to the north Doan and and the Annesley links. many rare trees and shrubs. walled garden. Ben Crom. Silent Valley Reservoir visitmournemountains.co.uk PAGE 19 Can’t miss list 19 20 Thomas Ferguson Tollymore Forest Park – Irish Linen Centre – Newcastle Banbridge One of Northern Ireland’s See Irish linen in production, largest and most attractive including designing, forest parks, with walks weaving, specialist sewing, along the Shimna River, cutting and ornamenting, featuring rocky outcrops, at the world’s only grottos, stepping-stones manufacturer of Double and caves.