national park
Tollymore Forest Park
Northern Ireland's first state forest park at the foot of the Mourne Mountains, with Gothic arches, ancient trees and Game of Thrones filming locations.
5 km · about 10 min drive
EuropeUnited KingdomNorthern Ireland
Castlewellan
Northern Ireland, United Kingdom · Europe
About Castlewellan
Castlewellan works well as a base: 10 minutes from Newcastle, 5km from Tollymore Forest Park.
Castlewellan is in Northern Ireland, United Kingdom, with about 2,500 people. You drive on the left here. The nearest town is Newcastle, about 6 km away.
Castlewellan (from Irish Caisleán Uidhilín, meaning 'Hugelin's castle') is a small market town in County Down, in the south-east of Northern Ireland close to the Irish Sea. It is 11 miles (18 km) south-west of Downpatrick and 4 miles (6.4 km) north-west of Newcastle. Lying between the Mourne Mountains and SlieveRead more
Croob, it has Castlewellan lake and Slievenaslat mountain nearby. The town had a population of 2,822 people in the 2021 census.
Castlewellan has a wide main street which runs through two main squares lined with chestnut trees. The town was designed by a French architect for the Annesley family. The Annesley family did not always own the land as they bought it from the Maginess family, then owners of what is now Castlewellan Christian Conference Centre and Castlewellan Forest Park. Castlewellan is unique within Ireland due to its tree-lined squares both in the old town (upper square) and new town (lower square) as well as its very wide main street. The old market house in the upper square was built in 1764 and now houses the public library.
Where to Stay in Castlewellan
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to see near Castlewellan?
Within an hour or so of Castlewellan: Tollymore Forest Park (5 km), Slieve Donard and the Mourne Wall (9 km), Mourne Mountains (12 km), Castle Ward (Winterfell) (27 km).
Are there any good drives near Castlewellan?
The nearest famous roads are Dundrod Circuit, Craigantlet Hillclimb and Causeway Coastal Route (A2 Antrim Coast Road).
Where is Castlewellan?
Castlewellan is in Northern Ireland, United Kingdom, about 6 km from Newcastle.
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Quick Information
- Population
- 2,499
- Continent
- Europe
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Region
- Northern Ireland
- Timezone
- Europe/London
- Coordinates
- 54.2569, -5.9445
Emergency & Services
Essential numbers in United Kingdom
112 also works. NHS non-emergency medical advice: 111. National Highways breakdown assistance on motorways: 0300 123 5000.
Full driving guide for United KingdomTags
Worth the detour from Castlewellan
8 notable places within an hour's drive.
scenic viewpoint
Slieve Donard and the Mourne Wall
Northern Ireland's highest peak at 850m, with the 22-mile granite Mourne Wall running over its summit.
9 km · about 15 min drive
scenic viewpoint
Mourne Mountains
Granite mountain range that inspired C.S. Lewis's Narnia, with the Mourne Wall traversing 15 peaks and sweeping views to the Irish Sea.
12 km · about 20 min drive
film location
Castle Ward (Winterfell)
The farmyard at Castle Ward on Strangford Lough was Winterfell's courtyard in season one; archery and banquet experiences run on site.
27 km · about 30 min drive
historic highway
Dundrod Circuit
A 11.9km loop of Northern Irish country lanes still used for the Ulster Grand Prix motorcycle races, with jumps, stone walls and hedges inches from the racing line. Open public roads the rest of the year.
37 km · about 45 min drive
museum
Titanic Belfast
World-leading visitor attraction in a striking angular building on the exact spot where RMS Titanic was designed, built and launched in 1912.
39 km · about 45 min drive
natural wonder
Lough Neagh
The largest freshwater lake in the British Isles at 392 square kilometres, with a famous eel fishery.
39 km · about 45 min drive
historic highway
Craigantlet Hillclimb
A hillclimb on public roads in the hills above Belfast, running since 1946 and closed to traffic only on event days. The narrow climb gives long views over Belfast Lough.
41 km · about 50 min drive
Driving roads near Castlewellan
- Right hereSlieve Donard and the Mourne WallNorthern Ireland's highest peak at 850m, with the 22-mile granite Mourne Wall running over its summit.
- Right hereMourne MountainsGranite mountain range that inspired C.S. Lewis's Narnia, with the Mourne Wall traversing 15 peaks and sweeping views to the Irish Sea.
- 37 kmDundrod CircuitA 11.9km loop of Northern Irish country lanes still used for the Ulster Grand Prix motorcycle races, with jumps, stone walls and hedges inches from the racing line. Open public roads the rest of the year.
- 41 kmCraigantlet HillclimbA hillclimb on public roads in the hills above Belfast, running since 1946 and closed to traffic only on event days. The narrow climb gives long views over Belfast Lough.
- 60 kmThe GobbinsA dramatic Edwardian cliff-path of bridges and tunnels clinging to the basalt cliffs of Islandmagee.
Driving in United Kingdom
- Drives on
- the left
- Petrol
- ~€1.73/litre
- Motorway tolls
- None
When to drive here
April to October
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