Overview
Tollymore Forest Park sits at the foot of the Mourne Mountains, just five minutes from the seaside town of Newcastle in County Down. Covering 630 hectares, it holds the distinction of being Northern Ireland’s first state forest park, opening to the public on 2 June 1955. What was once a private aristocratic estate has evolved into a beloved destination for walkers, nature enthusiasts, and families. The Shimna River cuts through the heart of the park, carving rocky gorges and feeding a series of cascades that have shaped both the landscape and the historic structures built alongside them.
A Landscape Shaped by History
The name Tollymore comes from the Irish Tulaigh Mhór, meaning “large hill or mound”, referring to the two prominent hills within the boundary: Slieve Neir and Slieve Snaran (locally known as The Drinns). The land passed through several notable families before becoming a public park. The Magennis clan held the area in the 15th century, followed by the Hamilton family in the 17th century. James Hamilton, 1st Earl of Clanbrassil, transformed the estate in the 1700s, commissioning the Gothic follies and ornamental bridges that define the park today. Ownership later passed to the Jocelyn (Roden) family until the Ministry of Agriculture purchased the estate in 1941. The Forest Service formally opened it to visitors six years later, preserving its romantic woodland character for public enjoyment.
Walking Trails
Four colour-coded trails radiate from the main car park, catering to all fitness levels. Maps and wayfinding markers are available at the entrance notice board.
- Blue Trail – Arboretum Path (0.7 km / 25 min): A gentle, wheelchair- and stroller-friendly loop through the historic arboretum. Ideal for a relaxed stroll among mature trees.
- Red Trail – River Trail (5.2 km / 1.5–2 hrs): Follows the Shimna River upstream to Parnell’s Bridge, passing the Hermitage and a dramatic 10-metre cascade. The route loops back along the Spinkwee River, crossing the park’s oldest bridge.
- Black Trail – Mountain Trail (8.8 km / 3–4 hrs): A more demanding route through mixed conifer and broadleaf woodlands, crossing the Shimna at the Boundary Bridge and offering views of the surrounding peaks.
- Black 1 – The Drinns Loop (adds 4.8 km): An optional extension that circumnavigates the two forested hills, gaining elevation to the Curraghard viewpoint for sweeping panoramas of Newcastle, Dundrum Bay, and the Mournes.
The Ulster Way long-distance path also traverses the park, connecting it to a wider network of trails across Northern Ireland.
Historic Follies and Bridges
Tollymore is an open-air museum of 18th- and 19th-century landscape architecture. Much of the built heritage reflects the influence of Thomas Wright of Durham, a friend of the Earl of Clanbrassil.
- Barbican Gate & Gothic Arches: The grand entrance features a 1780 Barbican Gate and matching Gothic arches, flanked by a stately avenue of Himalayan cedars.
- Clanbrassil Barn: Built around 1757 to resemble a church, this Grade B1-listed structure originally housed stables and storage. It now contains modern toilets and an education room.
- The Hermitage: A small stone shelter built into the gorge wall in the 1770s. It bears a Greek inscription dedicating the space to John Montagu, Marquess of Monthermer, and was originally designed as a quiet retreat for ladies while men fished.
- Stone Bridges: Sixteen bridges cross the waterways, with the Old Bridge (1726) being the oldest. Notable spans include Ivy Bridge (1780), Foley’s Bridge (1787), and Parnell Bridge (1842). The Mourne Heritage Trust completed extensive restoration work on fifteen of these structures in 2014.
- Ancient Monuments: The park also holds prehistoric and medieval remains, including the King’s Grave (a megalithic cairn dating to 1000–1500 BC) and the White Fort, a large cashel with 3-metre-thick walls.
Flora and the Arboretum
Planting began in the arboretum around 1752, making it one of the oldest of its kind in Ireland. The slightly milder microclimate near the coast has allowed a remarkable collection of exotic species to thrive. Highlights include towering Himalayan cedars, a cork oak with exceptionally thick bark, and the remains of a giant redwood struck by lightning. Tree enthusiasts should seek out the original Picea abies ‘Clanbrassiliana’, a slow-growing spruce planted circa 1750 that holds the title of the oldest tree in any Irish arboretum. Historically, oak from Tollymore was highly prized; Harland & Wolff selected its wood for the interior paneling of the RMS Titanic.
Wildlife and Conservation
The park’s diverse habitats support a thriving wildlife population. A herd of 120–150 wild fallow deer roams the woodlands, while otters, badgers, foxes and the increasingly rare pine marten inhabit the riverbanks and forest floor. Birdwatchers frequently spot kingfishers, dippers, great-spotted woodpeckers and a resident population of feral Mandarin ducks, which have bred here since 1978 and represent Ireland’s only regular breeding site for the species.
Red squirrel conservation is a major focus. After severe declines caused by squirrel pox transmitted from grey squirrels, the volunteer-led Tollymore Red Squirrel Group established feeding stations and management programmes. Numbers have steadily recovered since the early 2010s, making early morning or late afternoon walks the best time to spot them.
Filming Locations
Tollymore’s atmospheric woodlands and ancient stone bridges have featured in several major productions. The park doubled as the Haunted Forest in Game of Thrones, hosting scenes where the Stark children first encounter their direwolf pups. It also appeared in the film Dracula Untold. Seasonal guided walking tours are available for fans wishing to visit the exact filming spots, combining pop-culture history with the park’s natural and architectural heritage.
Practical Information
- Opening Hours: Open daily from 10:00 until sunset. Closing times adjust seasonally (typically 7:00 pm in summer, 4:00 pm in winter).
- Admission & Parking: Charges apply for vehicles: £5 per car, £2.50 per motorcycle, £13 per minibus, £35 per coach. Pedestrians and cyclists enter free of charge.
- Camping: Year-round camping and touring facilities are available, offering tarmac pitches with electric hookups and grass areas for tents. Amenities include modern toilets, hot showers, fresh water, and chemical disposal. Booking in advance is highly recommended, especially during summer months and school holidays.
- Accessibility: The Blue Trail (Arboretum Path) is fully accessible for wheelchairs and pushchairs. Other trails are unpaved and feature natural terrain, including roots, steps, and uneven ground.
- Dogs: Welcome on all trails but must be kept under close control, particularly near nesting wildlife and the river.
- Getting There: Located on Bryansford Road, Newcastle, County Down (BT33 0PR). The park is approximately 40 km south of Belfast and easily accessible via the A2 coastal road. Public transport options are limited, so most visitors arrive by car. A short drive brings you to nearby Castlewellan Forest Park and Murlough National Nature Reserve, both offering complementary coastal and woodland walks.