Meelmore Lodge | Local Attractions

Local Attractions

Meelmore Lodge is ideally situated on the foothills of Slieve Meelmore, which forms part of the Mourne Mountains in south Down. The facilities at Meelmore Lodge are perfect for those interested in walking in the Mournes, both professionals and amateurs alike! However, if walking is not your thing, there are plenty of other attractions to tickle your fancy:

The Silent Valley is a nearby reservoir that, along with Ben Crom reservoir, supplies over 30 million gallons of water to Belfast and County Down.

The local village of Bryansford offers many special treats, including Tollymore Forest Park. The Tollymore Mountain Centre is the Northern Ireland National Centre for Mountaineering and Canoeing and offers a wide range of activities including the Hot Rock indoor climbing wall.

The neighbouring town of Castlewellan offers another forest park, which, as well as having a superb lake, also includes the largest permanent hedge maze in the world: the Peace Maze, representing the path to a peaceful future for Northern Ireland.

A short car or taxi journey can take you into the local town, Newcastle, which boasts numerous horse-riding centres, swimming facilities and the world renown Royal County Down Golf Club. The newly refurbished south promenade offers a truly spectacular way to access the three miles of beach. A short walk from Newcastle will lead you to the Murlough Natural Nature Reserve - one of County Down's coastal treasures, home to numerous wildlife and some rare breeds.

Newcastle's newly opened skate park offers something for the kids or for those into dirt boarding, the

highly popular Surfin Dirt Mountain Boarding Centre provides a new and exciting venue for mountain boarders of all skills and ages.

Action Outdoors, based in Annacloy, Downpatrick, offers the chance to take part in numerous outdoor activities including: kayaking, canoeing, bouldering, rock climbing, mountain biking, archery, orienteering, abseiling, and many more.

Turnip House is located on the Trassey Road, just a few minutes from Meelmore Lodge and offers a wide collection of Celtic Knitwear.

Getting Around

The Mourne Rambler is a Translink bus service which runs throughout the summer months taking a round trip through the Mournes every hour, on the hour from 10am - 12pm and 2pm - 5pm. The bus is usually great value for money and it is definitely worth purchasing an all day ticket for only £4. There are no restrictions with the 'Rambler' - hop on and off as often as you like (providing you have a ticket), or if you want a relaxing day just taking in the surroundings, just stay on for the entire route and embrace the full beauty of the Mournes from the bus. The bus route encompasses Newcastle - Bryansford - Trassey - Meelmore - Fofanny Dam - Ott Mountain - Pigeon Rock - Slievenagore - Silent Valley - Carrick Little - Rouke's Park - Bloody Bridge - Glenada House - Newcastle.

For other local attractions, please check out the Northern Ireland Tourist Board website.