Walk Northern Ireland - Mountaineering Ireland

Top, left & right:
Castlewellan
Forest
Park
Castlewellan
Forest Park
The land now covered by
Castlewellan Forest Park was once a
stronghold of the powerful
Magennis family. The estate was
sold to the Forest Service in 1967,
and opened as a Forest Park two
years later.
Three waymarked walking trails
explore the 1,100-acre park. The
hilly landscape means some routes
involve significant ascent, so take
care when deciding which path to
follow. The least demanding route
is the 3.8km Lake Path and
Sculpture Trail, which circles the
watery expanse of Castlewellan
Lake. The trailside
sculptures
have been
fabricated from
natural materials
gathered locally.
If you don’t
mind a little
ascent, try the
Slievenaslat Trail,
which climbs
through the
wood to the
273m summit of
Slievenaslat.
There are fine
walk… Forest
views from the top over the
Mourne Mountains and the Irish
Sea. The most challenging route is
the 8km Boundary Trail, which
involves several ascents and
descents and takes you near the
Moorish Tower in the remote
northwestern corner of the park.
Also within the park you’ll see a
granite castle built in a Scottish
baronial style, a distinctive walled
garden and an arboretum. The
Grange Yard, a former farmstead
built in the 1720s, is now home to
the cafe and exhibition centre.
Yet the most recent feature is also
one of the most distinctive. In
2001 the Peace Maze was opened
in the forest park, an ambitious
project that involved planting the
largest, and longest permanent
hedge maze in the world. As the
maze matures it becomes more
difficult to navigate, so you might
want to visit sooner rather than
later to ensure your escape.
Castlewellan Forest Park F5
Starting Point: Main Car Park at
Castlewellan Forest Park
Distance: Up to 7km
Maps & Books: Castlewellan
Arboretum leaflet. OSNI sheet: 29
Facilities: Parking/toilets: Castlewellan
Forest Park
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