Lecale Way

Getting to The Start

By Car

To drive to Strangford village take the A25 from Downpatrick or A2 from Newcastle.
There is ample car parking available beside the Ferry terminal in Strangford.

For those travelling down the Ards Peninsula take the ferry from Portaferry.
The Ferry departs from Portaferry on the quarter past and quarter to the hour.
The Ferry departs from Strangford on the hour and on the half hour.
http://www.roadsni.gov.uk/index/strangfordferry.htm

By Public Transport

Ulsterbus Service 16E from Downpatrick regularly bus services Strangford. Downpatrick. There are numerous Ulsterbus Services to Downpatrick.

For timetable information please consult Translink website http://www.translink.co.uk/present/IndexOpSvc.asp#ULB

How to Walk the Route (Following a Clockwise Direction)

The Lecale Way actually begins further west in Rapholp but the Ulster Way section of the route begins at Strangford Harbour and makes its way north out of the village past Strangford Castle and into woodland. Turn left along the shores of Strangford Lough using a path that can be rough in places. It leads around a headland and back to the south to join the A25 road. Turn right and walk along the road for a short distance before turning left onto a minor road, thirty minutes from Strangford.

Follow this road south for about forty-five minutes and then turn left, then left again at the next junction and then left once more to arrive at Kilclief Castle after twenty minutes. The Castle is open to visitors in the summer months and has stunning views. Continue along the A2 in the direction of Strangford for a short distance and take the road on the righ, passing Killard Nature Reserve. The road continues to Ballyhornan, an hour from Kilclief Castle, with its wide beach and views across the Irish Sea.

From Ballyhornan, follow the road until it ends at a small beach. Continue along the Ballyhornan Coastal Path to St Patrick’s Well**, one to one and a half hours from Ballyhornan.

Turn left at the end of this coastal section and head inland. Continue along a quiet road until the route reaches a junction with the Ardtole Road. Continue right to meet the main Strangford Road. Follow the road into Ardglass, reaching the Phenick Cove Marina, thirty minutes after leaving St Patrick's Well.

From the Marina, turn left into the village, heading uphill in the direction of Coney Island. Pass Coney Island and turn sharp left over Killough Bridge and into the picturesque village of Killough, about an hour's walk from Ardglass. Follow the waymarker posts past Point Road onto a public right of way. This links the old coastguard station and the road leading towards the ruins of St John’s Church. The lighthouse at St John’s Point can be reached by walking slightly further along the coast. Ulster Way walkers should continue past the ruined Church, about forty minutes from Killough, along a quiet country road before turning left at the next junction. Eventually it joins the main coast road, passing through Minerstown and Tyrella Beach, about an hour and a half from St John’s Church.

Continue past Tyrella Beach and then follow the road inland through the village of Ballykinler. From here, keep on a mainly straight line along the main roads and across the Blackstaff Bridge. Take the next left onto the Ardilea Road and then climb the steps to join the Dundrum Coastal Path. This follows the old railway line to the National Trust car park at Dundrum, two to two and a half hours from Tyrella.

Walk through Dundrum along almost the full length of the Main Street. Once past St Donard’s Church of Ireland on the right hand side, look out for a path on the left which leads into a small planted area leading to Keel Point at the southern end of Dundrum, thirty of forty minutes from the National Trust car park.

This road connects to Murlough National Nature Reserve. After crossing the Downshire Bridge, the route follows the path on the right until it comes to the next junction just off the main Newcastle Road. At this point turn left, following the waymarker posts through the dunes and onto Newcastle Beach, forty minutes from Dundrum. This is an excellent place to savour the classic view of the Mourne Mountains. Follow the beach south for forty-five minutes to Newcastle, passing the Slieve Donard Hotel. Now walk along the seafront to the finish at the bridge over the Shimna River in the centre of Newcastle. The well-stocked Tourist Information Centre is slightly further along the Main Street. From here, the Ulster Way continues along the route of the Mourne Way.

**Please note - the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) may close the path between Ballyhornan and St Patrick’s Well, Ardglass during October each year to facilitate the safe management of the Sheepland Coast ASSI .

Facilities Along the Route

Refreshments are available all the way along the walk including the villages and towns of Strangford, Ardgalss and Newcastle.

There is a Bed and Breakfast and Guesthouse at the start of the section in Strangford with more options available a short ferry ride across the Narrows in Portaferry.

Both Dundrum and Ardglass offer a few Bed & Breakfasts and Guesthouses along the route.

Newcastle and the end of the route offers a wide variety of accommodation to suite all tastes and budgets.

Linking to the Next Section

The next section is Quality Section - Mourne Way which starts in Newcastle so it could not be easier to start the next Quality Section.