The information in this guide is correct at the time of print and every care has been taken to ensure accuracy. However Newry, Mourne and Down District Council cannot accept responsibility for any errors, omissions or changes which may occur. All liability for loss, disappointment, negligence or other damage caused by the reliance on the information contained in this guide, or in the event of bankruptcy or liquidation of any company, individual or firm mentioned, or in the event of any company, individual or firm ceasing to trade, is hereby excluded. ©2019.
mournegullionstrangfordgeopark.com
CARDIFF
LONDON
ENGLAND
WALES DUBLIN
IRELAND
BELFAST
SCOTLAND EDINBURGH
Our Aspiring UNESCO Global Geopark encompasses stunning landscapes bound and blessed by their mountain and maritime settings. The foundation for many of our myths and legends, this dramatic place shaped by fire and ice is millions of years in the making - a world apart!
DISCOVER A TALE OF TWO OCEANS — EXPERIENCE THE PEOPLE AND PLACES — FIND WHERE NATURE STARTS — CELEBRATE LEGENDARY HEROES
MOURNEGULLIONSTRANGFORDGEOPARK.COM
The Mourne, Gullion, Strangford Aspiring UNESCO Global Geopark takes in the breathtaking beauty of the Ring of Gullion, Mourne Mountains and Strangford & Lecale. The Geopark is jam-packed full of world-class geological marvels, stunning landscapes and a wealth of opportunities to experience the great outdoors. The area’s spectacular beauty has been forged by nature, torn apart by volcanic activity and sculpted by ice, providing a stunning backdrop to remarkable people and places. This dramatic and thriving landscape is where people live and work every day. UNESCO Global Geopark status will act as a catalyst to grow a vibrant community upheld by tourism with the potential to develop a sustainable future for the region.
A myriad of ancient monuments from ancient civilisations, famous for battles that have been both won and lost, and a home to countless generations. The variety of landscapes found within the Geopark have led to a rich cultural and built heritage bounded and blessed with mountains and maritime settings.
The landscape of the Geopark has undergone an incredible journey. Travelling thousands of miles over many millions of years, the area has seen the death of one ocean and the birth of another all of which is evident in the underlying rocks. Since then, vast ice sheets have sculpted and shaped the mountains and valleys, leaving behind a truly spectacular outdoor classroom.
PEOPLE AND PLACES
TALE OF TWO OCEANS
WHERE NATURE STARTS The exceptional geology of the Geopark has led to a remarkable range of natural and semi-natural habitats. All of these combine to make a varied mosaic of heather, moor, bog and pasture, dotted with freshwater and woodlands, and meeting sand and rocky shores, mudflats and salt marshes.
LEGENDARY HEROES The dramatic scenery of the Geopark has been shaped by the underlying geology but it has also given inspiration to some of Ireland’s most famous and legendary heroes. Both Cú Chulainn and Fionn mac Cumhaill, the legendary Irish heroes, have legends based in the Geopark area and more often than not inspired by the local geology.
B5
MOURNE GULLION STRANGFORD ASPIRING UNESCO GLOBAL GEOPARK
A2
MONEYREAGH LISBURN LISBANE
M1 SOUTH FROM BELFAST
BALLYGOWAN
A22
M1
BALLYHALBERT STRANGFORD LOUGH
WHITEROCK
B1
73
BALLOO HILLSBOROUGH
SAINTFIELD
KILLINCHY
DARRAGH CROSS
PORTAVOGIE
ARDS PENINSULA
B6
BOW LOUGH
MOURNEGULLIONSTRANGFORDGEOPARK.COM
A7 CLEA LAKES
DAIRY LOUGH
ST PATRICK’S TRAIL
SHRIGLEY
BALLYNAHINCH A 50
A1
A26
DRUMKEERAGH FOREST
B3
15 36
SLIEVEGARRAN
NEWRY CANAL WAY
22
KNOCKIVEAGH
B3
B25
CASTLEWELLAN FOREST PARK LOUGH ISLAND REAVY
KILCOO
A25
8 A2
3 NEWRY
CAMLOUGH CAMLOUGH CAMLOUGH LAKE MOUNTAIN
SLIEVE
BALLYKEEL GULLION DOLMEN
B13
MULLAGHBANE
5
B30
CREGGAN
A2 9
SLIEVE GULLION FOREST PARK
30
16 FLAGSTAFF
KILNASAGGART PILLAR STONE N1
CROSSMAGLEN
BEN CROM
SLIEVE MUCK
M1
SILENT VALLEY
SHANLIEVE
MOURNE WALL
WARRENPOINT 27
RING OF GULLION WAY OMEATH
FORKHILL
SLIEVE BEARNAGH
ROOSLEY SCENIC LOOP
MOURNE WAY
ROSTREVOR
CARLINGFORD LOUGH GREENWAY
FINLIEVE
ROSTREVOR FOREST
10 18
KILLOWEN
MOURNE MOUNTAINS
SLIEVE MARTIN ROCKY MOUNTAIN KNOCKSHEE
FOREST SLIEVE COMMEDAGH AND PARK
SLIEVE DONARD
COVE MOUNTAIN SLIEVE LAMAGAN
8
1
WHITEWATER SCENIC LOOP
KEY Visitor Information Centre
ANNALONG CORNMILL
ANNALONG
Caravan/Motorhome Park Camping/Glamping Historic Building Ancient Monument
BALLYMARTIN
Museums & Cultural Centres National Trust Car Parking Ferry Crossing
KILKEEL CARLINGFORD
BLOODY BRIDGE
Geopark Boundary
MOURNE COASTAL ROUTE
GREENORE
11
Mourne Coastal Route
MOURNE SEAFOOD COOKERY SCHOOL & MOURNE MARITIME MUSEUM
St Patrick’s Trail (Driving Route) St Patrick’s Way Pilgrim Walk
Newry Canal Way Ring of Gullion Way
This is Crown Copyright and is reproduced with the permission of Land & Property Services under delegated authority from the Controller of Her Majesty’s Stationery Office, © Crown copyright and database right 2019 CS&LA156.
Lecale Way South East Coast Canoe Trail 10km 6.2 miles
Carlingford Lough Greenway
GEOPARK SITES 1
Annalong Cornmill
2
Ardglass
WE ARE BEAUTIFUL
3
Bagenal’s Castle
4
Ballyhornan
Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONBs) are some of the UK & Ireland’s most cherished and outstanding landscapes.
5
Bernish View Point
6
Bloody Bridge
7
Camlough (Keggal)
Mourne AONB One of the most picturesque mountain districts in Ireland. Beneath the cluster of fine peaks, cliffs and rock pinnacles, the mountain slopes descend through moorland, woodland, field and farm before meeting the coast.
8
Carrick Little Car Park
9
Castlewellan Forest Park
10
Cloughmore
11
Cranfield Beach
12
Delamont Country Park
13
Down County Museum
14
Dundrum Inner Bay
15
Finnis Souterrain
16
Flagstaff
17
Happy Valley Car Park
18
Kilbroney Park
19
Kilclief
20
Killard Point
21
Killough
22
Lighthouse Road View Point
23
Murlough National Nature Reserve
Emergency Services - Dial 999 Non-Emergency Services - Dial 101
24
Newry Canal
25
Ott Car Park
Public Transport (Translink bus and train services) 028 9066 6630 / www.translink.co.uk
26
Quoile Countryside Centre
27
Ross Monument
28
Slieve Croob
29
Slieve Donard / Donard Park
30
Slieve Gullion Forest Park
Parking: Please pay attention to parking restriction notices as parking fines will be issued.
31
Spelga Dam
32
St Patrick’s Grave
Taxis: All legal taxis will display taxi licence plates. Taxis should generally be pre-booked in advance.
33
Strangford
34
Tollymore Forest Park
35
Trassey Car Park
36
Windy Gap
Ring of Gullion AONB Slieve Gullion mountain lies at its heart. The area has an extensive geology and is rich in a natural, cultural and built heritage. Strangford Lough and Lecale AONB A coastal AONB which tells the story of our glacial past. From the southern part around Downpatrick this AONB covers a varied landscape.
USEFUL INFO
Driving: is on the left hand side and speed limit signs should be obeyed at all times.
Mourne Way
CRANFIELD
M1 NORTH FROM DUBLIN
ARDGLASS
KILLOUGH
TYRELLA
MAGGIES LEAP
ROCKY MOUNTAIN
HIGH MOURNES SCENIC LOOP
MOURNE WOOD
GREENCASTLE
BALLYHORNAN
21
23
CHIMNEY ROCK MOUNTAIN
SLIEVE BINNIAN WEE BINNIAN
6
A2
SLIEVE FOYE
4
A2
NEWCASTLE
DONARD
25
24
MEIGH
LOUGH ROSS
A37
SPELGA DAM
31
B27
ANNAGHMARE COURT CAIRN
B8
BURREN
B113
RING OF GULLION
CASTLEBLANEY
MAYOBRIDGE
5
7 CULLYHANNA
B8
B25
BELLEEK
34 29
17
B27
STRANGFORD LOUGH AND LECALE
20
DUNDRUM BAY
B7
HILLTOWN
DOWNPATRICK RACE COURSE
19
A2
35
NEWTOWNHAMILTON
13 DOWNPATRICK 32
2
0 B18
B8
BESSBROOK
80
B1
0
7 A2
RATHFRILAND
BRYANSFORD
LECALE WAY
SLIEVENAGRIDDLE
14
CASTLEWELLAN
A25
4 B13
ST PATRICK’S TRAIL
A25
A5
CRAIGMORE VIADUCT
9
CLOUGH MOUNTPANTHER FARM PARK WHITEWATER BREWERY
CASTLEMAHON MOUNTAIN
LOUGH MONEY
76
A2 8
SLIEVE CROOB SCENIC LOOP
THE SAINT PATRICK CENTRE
SEAFORDE GARDENS AND TROPICAL BUTTERFLY HOUSE SEAFORDE
LEGANANNY DOLMEN
SLIEVE PATRICK
B1
A25
SLIEVENABOLEY MOUNTAIN
SLIEVENISKY
LEGANANNY MOUNTAIN
A50
B13 3
26
LOUGHINISLAND LAKE
B1
LOUGHBRICKLAND
GOSFORD FOREST PARK MARKETHILL
28
SCARVA
SLIEVE CROOB
PORTAFERRY
A25
McAULEY’S LAKE
B175
ST PATRICK’S WAY PILGRIM WALK
33
B2
B10
A2 7
STRANGFORD
12
DRUMANESS
A2
A51
MONTALTO ESTATE
ANNACLOY
BANBRIDGE
A2 8
A29
DROMARA
THE SPA
MOURNE COASTAL ROUTE
KILLYLEAGH
DELAMONT COUNTRY PARK
RADEMON ESTATE DISTILLERY
4 A2
A28
DROMORE
CROSSGAR
B7
B7
A2
CLOUGHEY
CREEVY LOUGH
ARMAGH
KIRCUBBIN
Money: Currency is pounds sterling (£). Some large stores may accept Euros (€).