Starting in Newcastle (1), follow the A50 towards Castlewellan from the nothern part of the town centre. After 1.2 miles turn left into the Tollymore Road and then right into the Middle Tollymore Road. Exiting at the entrance to Tollymore Forest Park (2), turn right onto the Bryansford Road. At the next T-junction turn left onto the Hilltown Road.
Passing through the village of Bryansford the route leads you along the edge
of Tollymore Forest Park and past the Tollymore Mountain Centre on your left.
After 2.3 miles turn left into Trassey Road, where you pass the start of the
Trassey Track, one of the main routes through the high Mourne Mountains.
Continue along this road until you reach the crossroads. Go straight through
the crossroads onto the Moyad Road. Here views of Slieve Croob open up immediately
ahead of you.
At the end of this road turn right and after 300 yards, take the first left
into Bog Road. Lough Island Reavy Reservoir will now be visiable on your left
(4).
At the crossroads turn left into the Tullyree Road towards the village of
Kilcoo. At the village turn right into the main Dublin Road and take an immediate
left onto the Ballymoney Road, past Kilcoo Graveyard (3). At the next T-Junction
turn right into Letalion Road and then next right onto the Lacken Road. After
1/2 mile the route takes you along the edge of Lough Island Reavy Reservoir
(4) on your right. At the end of the reservoir turn left into Largy Road.
Passing Slievenalargy Rare Breeds Open Farm (5) on your left, continue to
the end of this road and turn left into Altnadue Road. Continue along this
road for approximately 1 mile and go straight ahead at the crossroads into
the Ballymagreehan Road. At the next T-junction turn right. This is a steep
part of the route for several hundred yards and you may wish to consider dismounting.
At the top of the hill turn left onto the Leitrim Road. Ahead are views of
Slieve Croob and the village of Leitrim in the valley. Follow the roads downhill
towards the village of Leitrim. The route turns right into Ballymaginty Road.
However, for refreshments and tourist information you may wish to continue
a few hundred yards into the village of Leitrim.
On joining the Ballymaginty Road, Castlewellan Forest Park is visible directly
ahead of you to the right. At the next T-junction turn right into the Clarkhill
Road and after several hundred yards, turn right again into the Old Road.
This again is a steep upwads section of the rout for several hundred yards
and you may wish to consider dismounting. At the to pof the hill yhou are
afforded spectacular views of the Mourne Mountains and Dundrum Bay with the
town of Newcastle in the distance. At the end of this road turn left and after
100 yards turn right into the Drumbuck Road. The route now runs along the
edge of Castlewellan Forest Park (6) to your right. At the end of this road
turn right into the main Dublin Road. Caution is advised here.
The route now turns left into Station Road, however you may wish to continue
for several hundred yards into Castlewellan (7) where shops and refreshments
are available. On joining Station Road across into Corrigs Road. After 200
yards yhou pass the entrance to Maghera Church and Round Tower (8), an ancient
monument, on your left. Continue to the end of Corrigs Road where it joins
the main A50 Newcastle to Castlewellan Road adjacent to the Burrendale Hotel
and Country Club. Turn left here and follow the road back to your start point
in Newcastle.
Distance
25 miles (40 km)
Advice
A long cycle with steep section