Skip to main content
N I Direct government services

Main navigation

  • Home
  • News
  • Contacts
  • Help
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • YouTube
  • RSS

Breadcrumb

  1. Home
  2. Environment and the outdoors
  3. Forests and outdoor recreation
  4. Forests
  5. Public forests in Northern Ireland
  6. Forests in County Down

Rostrevor Forest

Rostrevor Forest covers an area of 1,700 hectares, of which 1,000 hectares are planted with trees.

Activities

The Cloghmore car park is 230 metres above sea level with views of the surrounding forest.

A scenic drive is open daily for access to the top level car park. There are three waymarked trails which vary in length from two kilometres to seven kilometres and take the visitor to various areas within the forest to enjoy the magnificent views and beautiful woodland.

Occasionally there may be restricted access to parts of the forest during work or other forest operations so pay attention to safety signage.

About this forest

The first planting was in 1931, mostly with coniferous species sitka spruce, douglas fir and pine. These are species best suited to the less fertile steep hillsides in this area. Much of the tree crop has reached maturity and there is an ongoing programme of felling and replanting.

During the replanting phase, landscaping and wildlife conservation are given high priority. The forest is home to a variety of wildlife including jays, sparrow hawks, wood pigeons, red and grey squirrels, foxes and badgers.

The Cloghmore Stone

The Cloghmore Stone is a 40 tonne granite boulder which was deposited here at the end of the last ice age, about 10,000 years ago. It is a well known local landmark. The views over Carlingford from this point are spectacular.

Fiddler's Green

Fiddler’s Green is a small clearing at the southern edge of the Oakwood. It was once a focal point for local entertainment. Rostrevor's annual festival of traditional music, the Fiddler’s Green Festival, takes its name from this site.

Rostrevor Oakwood

Rostrevor Oakwood is a Special Area of Conservation believed to be over 250 years old. It is a remnant of the old oak woodlands that clothed the lower slopes of the Mournes several centuries ago. Most of these oak woods were cleared during the 18th and 19th centuries for use in boat building.

In an effort to preserve and encourage the natural development of the woodland, the area was declared a National Nature Reserve and a Special Area of Conservation.

How to get there

From Rostrevor follow the Shore Road towards Kilkeel. About half a mile from the town centre, the forest is signposted on the left at Kilbroney Park.

Other places of interest

  • Permits for vehicles and activities in forests 
  • Rostrevor Forest Nature Reserve (Newry)
  • Forests that you can cycle in
  • Camping and touring sites in forests
  • Forests
  • Parks and green spaces
Share this page Share on Facebook (external link opens in a new window / tab) Share on Twitter (external link opens in a new window / tab) Share by email (external link opens in a new window / tab)

Forests in County Down

  • Annalong Forest
  • Ballysallagh Forest
  • Belvoir Park Forest
  • Bohill Forest
  • Castle Ward Forest
  • Castlewellan Forest Park
  • Clandeboye Forest
  • Donard Forest
  • Drumkeeragh Forest
  • Hillsborough Forest
  • Hollymount Forest
  • Mount Stewart Forest
  • Mourne Forest
  • Narrow Water Forest
  • Rostrevor Forest
  • Tollymore Forest Park

Translation help

How to translate this page

Help improve this page - send your feedback

What do you want to do?
Report a problem
Which problem did you find on this page? (Tick all that apply)

Messages

You will not receive a reply. We will consider your feedback to help improve the site.

Don't include any personal or financial information, for example National Insurance, credit card numbers, or phone numbers.

What is your question about?

What to do next

Comments or queries about angling can be emailed to anglingcorrespondence@daera-ni.gov.uk 

If you have a comment or query about benefits, you will need to contact the government department or agency which handles that benefit.  Contacts for common benefits are listed below.

Carer's Allowance

Call 0800 587 0912
Email 
dcs.incomingpostteamdhc2@nissa.gsi.gov.uk

Discretionary support / Short-term benefit advance

Call 0800 587 2750 
Email 
customerservice.unit@communities-ni.gov.uk

Disability Living Allowance

Call 0800 587 0912 
Email dcs.incomingpostteamdhc2@nissa.gsi.gov.uk

Employment and Support Allowance

Call 0800 587 1377

Jobseeker’s Allowance

Contact your local Jobs & Benefits office

Personal Independence Payment

Call 0800 587 0932

If your query is about another benefit, select ‘Other’ from the drop-down menu above.

Comments or queries about the Blue Badge scheme can be emailed to bluebadges@infrastructure-ni.gov.uk or you can also call 0300 200 7818.

For queries or advice about careers, contact the Careers Service.

For queries or advice about Child Maintenance, contact the Child Maintenance Service.

For queries or advice about claiming compensation due to a road problem, contact DFI Roads claim unit.

If you can’t find the information you’re looking for in the Coronavirus (COVID-19) section, then for queries about:

  • Restrictions or regulations — contact the Department of Health
  • Travel advice (including self-isolation) — contact the Department of Health
  • Coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccinations — contact the Department of Health or Public Health Agency

If your query is about another topic, select ‘Other’ from the drop-down menu above.

For queries about your identity check, email nida@nidirect.gov.uk and for queries about your certificate, email covidcertni@hscni.net.

For queries or advice about criminal record checks, email ani@accessni.gov.uk

Application and payment queries can be emailed to ema_ni@slc.co.uk

For queries or advice about employment rights, contact the Labour Relations Agency.

For queries or advice about birth, death, marriage and civil partnership certificates and research, contact the General Register Office Northern Ireland (GRONI) by email gro_nisra@finance-ni.gov.uk

For queries about the High Street Spend Local Scheme,  email HSSS.mail@economy-ni.gov.uk.

For queries about:

  • Car tax, vehicle registration and SORN
    contact the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA), Swansea
     
  • Driver licensing and tests, MOT and vehicle testing
    contact the Driver & Vehicle Agency (DVA), Northern Ireland

If your query is about another topic, select ‘Other’ from the drop-down menu above.

For queries about your identity check, email nida@nidirect.gov.uk.

 

For queries or advice about passports, contact HM Passport Office.

For queries or advice about Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs), including parking tickets and bus lane PCNs, email dcu@infrastructure-ni.gov.uk

For queries or advice about pensions, contact the Northern Ireland Pension Centre.

If you wish to report a problem with a road or street you can do so online in this section.

If you wish to check on a problem or fault you have already reported, contact DfI Roads.

For queries or advice about historical, social or cultural records relating to Northern Ireland, use the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland (PRONI) enquiry service.

For queries or advice about rates, email LPSCustomerTeam@lpsni.gov.uk

For queries or advice about  60+ and Senior Citizen SmartPasses (which can be used to get concessionary travel on public transport), contact Smartpass - Translink.

If you have a question about a government service or policy, you should contact the relevant government organisation directly.  We don't have access to information about you.

Related sites

  • gov.uk
  • nibusinessinfo.co.uk

Links to supporting information

  • Accessibility statement
  • Crown copyright
  • Terms and conditions
  • Privacy
  • Cookies
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • YouTube
  • RSS