Castlewellan Forest Park
Castlewellan Forest Park covers 450 hectares of land lying to the north of the Mourne Mountains.
Activities
Castlewellan Forest Park caters for many outdoor activities including walking, caravanning and camping, horse riding, orienteering and many others.
Special events can be arranged by permit. Guided walks are also available on application.
Such activities may include sporting events or educational visits.
To arrange a special event or activity in this forest, you should apply in the first instance to the Recreation Manager, Forest Service NI at Castlewellan Forest Park.
There may be restrictions on access to parts of our forests from time to time to facilitate forest operations. Please adhere to safety signage which will be posted for your safety.
Camping and caravanning
The main stay site offers extensive facilities, on tarmac and grass pitches, for the caravan or camping enthusiast. There are toilets and showers, some of which are wheelchair accessible; a fresh water supply; chemical toilet disposal point and electricity hook up for caravans.
Caravanning and camping charges
For details of the current charges for caravanning and camping at Castlewellan please see our recreation charges.
Preventing the spread of tree disease
A plant disease, Phytophthora lateralis, that affects Lawson cypress trees has been diagnosed in Castlewellan Forest. Users of the forest are asked to observe signage and remain on the way marked paths.
Bookings
Bookings can be made by contacting:
The Forest Ranger
Castlewellan Forest Park
Castlewellan
BT31 9BU
Tel: +44 28 4377 8664
Trails
Lake Path and Leisure Cycling (blue trail - four kilometres)
This path circumnavigates Castlewellan Lake providing good views of Slievenaslaat and Castlewellan Castle. Points of interest along this path are the Ice House, various sculpted features and the Autumn Wood. The Leisure cycling route follows this path.
Cypress Pond Trail (red trail - six kilometres)
The initial part of the trail follows the former stagecoach route known locally as the Crow Road where striking views of the northern Mourne Mountains can be glimpsed before reaching Castlewellan Lake.
There are delightful lake views heading to the Cypress Pond and the National Arboretum where a visit to the Annesley Garden is worthwhile. The return route to the car park offers expansive views of the lake, castle and the historic open parkland.
Slievenaslaat Trail (black trail - eight kilometres)
Leading off the blue path the black trail enters the mainly coniferous plantation where the remnants of the Moorish Tower can be viewed. There are openings in the forest with impressive views of the farmland on and around Slievenaboley, Legananny Mountains and Slieve Croob.
Further east there are vistas where the lake can be viewed as the trail reaches its highest point by Slievenaslaat and the Mountain Lake. The return trail passes by the Winter and Annesley Gardens, open parkland, the lake and castle.
Parts of these trails are used for horse riding.
Shorter informal walks are possible around the gardens area of the Park.
About the forest
The extensive area of woodland in this Forest Park is managed as a commercial forest together with other plantations in the area.
The variety of tree species is one of the most attractive features of the woodlands at Castlewellan.
How to get there
From Castlewellan, the Forest Park is signposted from the Main Street.
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