County Down, south-east of Belfast, is best known for the Mourne Mountains and Titanic-building Belfast - but several quieter spots nearby are well worth the detour.
Newcastle
A coastal town at the foot of Slieve Donard, the tallest of the Mourne Mountains, Newcastle offers sandy beaches (Murlough and Newcastle Beach), Tollymore Forest Park, and easy access to hiking in the Mournes. The town has a historical connection to the Irish poet Percy French, commemorated with a statue on the central promenade, and is twinned with New Ross, County Wexford.
Things to Do
Murlough National Nature Reserve offers one of County Down’s best beaches, with views of Slieve Donard. Newcastle Beach runs the length of the town centre, alongside the promenade. Tollymore Forest Park, a Game of Thrones filming location, is popular with locals and visitors alike. Slieve Donard itself, the highest peak in the Mournes, rewards climbers with sea views stretching as far as St John’s Point lighthouse on a clear day.
For food, options include Railway Coffee, Villa Vinci, the Percy French Restaurant at the Slieve Donard Hotel, and Newcastle’s home-grown ice cream brands, Nugelato and Lick Gelato.
Dundrum Castle
Dundrum Castle, a short drive north of Newcastle, was founded around 1177 by the Norman knight John de Courcy as part of his invasion of Ulster, positioned on a rocky hilltop to control access to the Lecale peninsula, with views over Dundrum Bay to the Mourne Mountains. The ruin is free to visit, with information boards on site and some sections fitted with stairs for better views - wear sturdy footwear if you plan to climb them, as the steps can be steep. Toilets and free parking are available on site, beside the castle entrance.
St John’s Point
Named for a nearby ruined church, St John’s Point Lighthouse was built in 1844, designed by George Halpin Senior. Originally shorter, it was extended in the 1880s and today, at around 40 metres, is considered the tallest onshore lighthouse on the Irish coast (Fastnet, in County Cork, holds the record for tallest offshore lighthouse). It was automated in 1981 and remains an active navigation aid. Take care near the water’s edge - there’s no railing along the site.
