Introduction to Newcastle town, Co Down, Northern Ireland

35 miles south of Belfast City, at the north east side of the Mourne Mountains.

Newcastle Town
Newcastle is one of the best-known seaside and golfing resorts in Northern Ireland. situated in a beautiful setting under the shadow of the Mourne Mountains. From the town a fine golden beach stretches north east for around 3 miles towards Dundrum Bay.

Apparently the Magennises, the lords of Iveagh, built a New Castle in the town (1588)to take the place of a much older one, close to where the River Shimna flows into the sea, hence the name “Newcastle”. No castle is to be seen in the town today.

Apart from cafe's, restaurants and bars, off which there are many, good shopping is also available in Newcastle. Many B&B are in the area and a few hotels, the "Slieve Donard" Hotel on Downs road is located at the north side of town, it is named after the highest peak on the nearby Mourne Mountains. This hotel is well known for its beautiful lawns and gardens and its pleasant views over Newcastles beach. This hotel is right beside the Royal, Co Down Golf Club.Two other fine hotels in the area are the ,"Donard Hotel" main Street and "Burrendale Hotel & Country Club" on the Castlewellan road.

Camping/Caravan sites are also plentiful, most are situated on the Dundrum Road, and a few others on the Castlewellan road. There is an excellent site in the grounds of Tollymore Forest Park, this one is a very popular with hill walkers having many trails from the campsite up through the forests and into the Mourne Mountains.

Newcastles harbour is situated south of the town on the way to Annalong village .

Meghera
Two miles north of Newcastle at Meghera, are the stump of a round tower and the ruins of a church. South of the resort, on the coast, is Donard Cave and the cliff ravine known as Maggie’s Leap.

Lost Village
At Ballyvaston there is a complete village buried by sand, its very existence had been forgotten until 1735 when it was partially uncovered by a great storm.

A fine area for the Botanist with its rare flora on the mountains, for the geologist, numerous traces of glacier action and glacier deposits, and moraines in the valley of the Mournes. For the leisurely tourist there are some excellent rambles by coast, mountain and stream. A walk up the banks of the Glen River, which flows down the mountainside and through Donard Park before eventually entering the sea, is especially inviting with its waterfalls and deep crystal clear pools. The path (one of many) will eventually take you all the way up the mountainside and onto Slieve Donard summit as well other peaks and valleys in the range. The ascent of Slieve Donard (highest peak 2796 ft) with its great granite mass, lapped round with Silurian shales) is an especially interesting experience, rewarding the climber with great views all around. The second highest peak is “Slieve Commedagh”; other peaks include “Slieve Bearnagh” and “Slieve Biginan” between which is the “Silent Valley”, where two reservoirs are located adding much more strength to the scenery in the centre of this fine mountain range.

One of the oldest Golf Clubs in Ireland with traditions dating back one hundred years. it has an 18 hole Championship Course and is rated amongst the ten best in the world.

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