If you want to make a short break out of your visit, there is a range of excellent accommodation within easy travelling distance. You can choose from friendly B&Bs, welcoming hostels with ensuite, traditional self-catering cottages, or relaxing 3 & 4 star hotels.
There is a host of other things to do and see in the area including coastal and mountain walks / hikes, golf, horse riding, deep sea and game angling, outdoor activities, spa pamper breaks, cycling, painting breaks etc.
The Mournes is rich in dramatic scenery and steeped in myths and legends.
C S Lewis used to holiday in the Mournes as a child and it influenced his writings such as in “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe”. There is plenty to visit on your doorstep with:
- Mourne mountain range which is designated an area of outstanding beauty,
- Award winning blue flag beaches at Cranfield along Carlingford Lough,
- 22 miles of the Mourne Wall,
- Silent Valley Reservoir Park,
- Picturesque Annalong Harbour and Cornmill,
- Tollymore, Castlewellan and Kilbroney Forest Parks,
- Murlough Dunes & Nature Reserve,
- Castleward & Mountstewart National Trust Properties,
- Historical castles at Newry & Mourne Museum at Bagenal’s Castle, Narrowwater, Greencastle, Dundrum, Castlewellan,
- Visit the final resting place of St Patrick in Downpatrick & the St Patrick’s Centre,
- Belfast the birthplace of Titanic
- Rostrevor with it’s Fairy Glen and where CS Lewis holidayed as a child
- Follow in the footsteps of Finn McCool at the Giant’s Causeway
- Try a dram of whiskey at Bushmills Distillery
- Cruise the Fermanagh Lakelands
Kilkeel Town Centre
Kilkeel is a bustling little market town with a variety of shopping experiences, with traditional butchers, gift shops and homeware emporiums. Newry City has the Quays and Buttercrane Shopping centres, where you can indulge your passion for shopping.
Translink Ramber Service
Translink operates Rambler services that offer hikers and visitors access to many visitor attractions, natural heritage and archaeological sites in Northern Ireland. The Kilkeel Rambler (Service 407) operates all year round with the Mourne Rambler (Service 405) operating during the summer months and both of these provide regular, easy access to a number of Northern Ireland’s most popular landmarks; including Kilkeel and the outstanding Mourne Mountains.
These services make an important contribution to reducing the rural isolation experienced by many local residents, but also enable more people to enjoy some of the most varied and interesting scenery in the country and by doing so assists the local tourist industry.
A Summer Bus Rambler Day Ticket is available from 1st July to 31st August 2011 at a special rate of Adult – £8 / Child – £4. This ticket offers passengers unlimited day travel on all Ulsterbus, Goldline and Metro services Monday – Sunday after 9.15am.
Download the 2011 Rambler Bus Services Booklet.
Info on the Rambler Bus Services is also available from bus stations and tourist information centres across Northern Ireland, or by calling (028) 9066 6630 or visiting www.translink.co.uk. Don’t forget over 60s travel free on presentation of a valid SmartPass.
THIS PROJECT HAS BEEN PART-FINANCED BY THE