Fairy Glen – circular walk
The Fairy Glen in Rostrevor provides the start of a pleasant walk with varied scenery from gentle riverside to scenic parkland and woodland. The Fairy Glen is on the left immediately after the bridge beside the entrance to Kilbroney Park.
County Down
Distance 2.3 miles
OS Map Sheet 29
Terrain Off road paths and country road
Nearest Town Rostrevor
Route Shape Circular
Grid Reference J180183
Route Type Parkland & Grassland, Riverside, Woodland
The walk starts in the village, on the Kilkeel side of the bridge and follows the Kilbroney River upstream for half a mile. The path follows the east bank of the river until reaching Forestbrook.
Before the bridge at Forestbrook road, turn right. Follow the path for approx. 50 metres and turn left. Pass the stile. The path runs in the field adjacent to the river and then alongside the back of the houses (the line of the path is visible on the ground).
The path runs in the fields for approx. 800m. Then on the left, use the brown wooden stile (not the 1st green metal stile). Follow the path until you reach Newtown Road. Turn right (be careful, this is a public road). After approx. 150m, take the first road to the right. Go up until you reach a gate across.
You are now entering Rostrevor Forest. Follow the road keeping to your right. After approx. 1.5 km you’ll be reaching the entrance to the Caravan Park. Go through heading toward Kilbroney Cafe. At the cafe, go down through the park to return where you started at the bridge. Enjoy the views over Carlingford Lough.
Scenic vews over Carlingford Lough
Rostrevor is located on the A2 between Newry and Kilkeel. From the centre of the village, go down Bridge street. The Fairy Glen is immediately after the bridge beside the entrance to Kilbroney Park. Buses run from Newry to Rostrevor and from Kilkeel to Rostrevor. Please contact Ulsterbus for further details.
Translink – journeyplanner.translink.co.uk
Dogs must be kept under close control
Toilets, accomodation and refreshments are available in Rostrevor. There is a café in Kilbroney Park with accessible toilets facilities. The following facilities are available for users with limited mobility: – Café (wheelchair accessible) – Shop (wheelchair accessible) – Disabled toilets
Grade 5
- There may not be a formalised path, and variable, single file trails are to be expected.
- Gradients and cross slope could be expected to be steep and not limited.
- Obstacles and surface breaks of greater than 75mm measured across the line of the path to be expected.
- Overhanging branches are possible. Passing places and rest areas may not be formalised or provided.
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Walk Route
Fairy Glen – circular walk
Nice walk however we followed the route exactly and this was not 6 miles, more like 3 miles? Fairly flat in most places, a bit of a hill at the top getting into the forest.
This is a very enjoyable walk and is exactly 6 miles. The directions are somewhat misleading.
I suggest that the sentences “From the centre…….Kilbroney Park” in the ‘Getting to the Park….’ section is added to the route description.
Also, “Go up until you reach a gate across is misleading: Follow the road for approx. 1.8 miles and find a metal forestry service gate on the right, entering Rostrevor Forest.
Lovely return walk from there, and not too testing!