Mourne Way

Getting to The Start

By Car

Newcastle is on the A4. There are several car parks in Newcastle, close to the start of the walk.

By Public Transport

There are regular bus services to Newcastle and links to Rostrevor.

Ulsterbus Service 720 from Belfast, 305a from Newtownards

In the summer months (July & August) the Mourne Rambler Bus Service 405 from Newcastle stops close to the route at Bryansford Village, Trassey Bridge, Meelmore, Fofanny Dam and Ott Mountain.

The South Down Rambler Bus Services 408 connects Newcastle to Newry.

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 walk begins at Newcastle Tourist Information Centre, on Main Street. Cross the road, turn right and then left to enter Castle Park. Proceed past the boating lake and cross the Shimna Road into Islands Park, keeping right at the footbridge over the Shimna River. Follow the path alongside the Shimna up to the Bryansford Road. Turn left over the bridge, then right across the Bryansford Road and onto Tipperary Lane. At the top of the lane, turn right onto the Tullybrannigan Road and continue for about 400m. As the road goes around to the right, take the marked laneway on the left. This ascends into Tollymore Forest Park, and provides excellent views before reaching the trees forty to fifty minutes from the start. The route is waymarked through Tollymore Forest Park and emerges through a small beech wood onto hillside, where the path meets the Trassey Road. You can expect the walk through Tollymore to take approximately two hours.

From the Trassey Road turn uphill along the Trassey Track, part of an old smuggler’s’ route known as the Brandy Pad. Once through the kissing gate, turn right and follow a stone wall as it contours around the lower slopes of Slieve Meelmore, providing fine views across the Dromara Hills. After approximately thirty minutes, the route crosses a mountain stream and then continues up the pipe track to Fofanny Dam Reservoir. This site processes 52 million litres of water a day for the city of Belfast. Proceed between the reservoir and the overflow and through the corner of the wood. Then follow the field wall and cross over the stile onto the Slievenaman Road. Turn left and continue up the road to reach the Blue Quarry Car Park (also known as the Ott Car Park).

The trail from Blue Quarry Car Park to Spelga Pass crosses open mountain and is not waymarked. Walkers using this section should carefully plan their route and have the necessary skills to navigate safely using a map and compass. This section of the route is not suitable in poor weather conditions. If you are unsure of your abilities, take the alternative route that simply follows the road between Blue Quarry Car Park and the footbridge over the River Bann at Spelga Pass.

To follow the mountain route take the stone steps and the wooden stepping stile and proceed to the viewpoint at Butter Mountain. Continue along the top of Butter Mountain to a fence line then cross over the boggy saddle between Butter Mountain and Spelga Mountain via the “Ecogrid” path. Approximately 500m further along, the route leaves the fence and rises onto the top of Spaltha, with views across the Mournes and the Ring of Gullion in County Armagh. Continue around the western slopes of Spelga in order to avoid the steeper slopes on the southern side. following a wall around to reach Spelga Pass, approximately one and a half-hours from Blue Quarry Car Park.

From Spelga Pass, go straight over the Hilltown to Kilkeel Road and across the footbridge. The route then contours around Slievenamiskan and Hen Mountain before reaching the New Bog Road. About two miles along the path the route turns right over a ford and follows the Rowan Tree River before crossing Rocky River and going through the saddle between Rocky Mountain and Tornamrock to reach Castle Bog Road, two and a half hours from Spelga Pass.

The route continues past Altataggart Mountain and into Rostrevor Forest on firm tracks. A long, gradual descent then brings you to the finishing point in Kilbroney Park, Rostrevor, approximately two hours from Castle Bog Road.

Facilities Along the Route

A wide range of B&B, guesthouse, hotel and hostel accommodation is available in Newcastle at the start of the section.

There is an adequate range of Bed and Breakfast accommodation in Rostrevor with a campsite in Kilbroney Park right at the end of the section.

There are no significant refreshment stops along the route between Newcastle and Rostrevor but Meelmore Lodge offers hostel accommodation, camping and a coffee shop (Sat and Sun 9a.m - p.m.) approximately 7.5 miles along the route at GR J306307.

The Cnocnafeola Centre/ Mourne Hostel based off the route in Attical also offers prearranged transfers to and from Ott Car Park.

Linking to the Next Section

The next section is Link Section - Rostrevor to Newry which links to Qulaity Section Ring of Gullion Way.

This is a Link section therefore walkers are actively encouraged to make use of the public transport links between Rostrevor and Newry.

This section of the route mainly follows a busy main road which is not signposted on the ground.

Check out this section to find information of public transport and walking directions.