Top 5 Places in the Mournes to take the kids (and buggy too!)
Part 1: Adventure, fairies and giants!
The Mournes and their surrounding areas offer an abundance of playgrounds and nature trails for kids to enjoy and get their imaginations going!
We’ve rounded up our initial Top 5 to whet your appetite for the weekend:
5. Murlough Nature Reserve
Murlough Nature Reserve is a National Trust Park where you can find a wealth of flora and fauna including rabbits, birds, pygmy shrews, moths and butterflies as well as one of the most stunning beaches in Northern Ireland. It is located close to Newcastle and has views of Slieve Donard and Dundrum Bay.
There are three walking trails on offer at Murlough: the North and South trail, which both take in a mixture of woodland and beach views, and the Woodland trail. The North and South walks are approx. 3 miles in length, and the Woodland trail is about 1.5 miles. If you’re looking for a pram-friendly walk, the Woodland trail is flat and there is a path all of the way along it.
The North and South walks both offer some great sights and beautiful scenery. From the beach, you can look out over both Slieve Donard and Slieve Commedagh. In the opposite direction you can see Dundrum Castle which dates back from the late 12th century.
Cost:
Pay and Display in effect all year round.
Car: £5.00 (March – October)
£3.00 (November – February)
Opening times: Nature reserve 08:00 – 17:00
Dogs are allowed but must be kept on a lead.
4. Slieve Gullion Forest Park
This park offers walking trails, a scenic drive, an Adventure Playpark, Giant’s Lair children’s story trail and a courtyard with coffee shop, so it has something to offer to families, couples, groups of friends and visitors of all ages.
On a rainy day, you can take the kids for a 10km drive around the slopes of Slieve Gullion, taking in the stunning views across the Ring of Gullion, Mourne Mountains, Cooley Peninsula and Armagh Drumlins.
The Adventure Playpark includes a specially designed toddler’s area, adventure and play equipment for the older kids, including a zipline! Get them burning off some energy on the slides, climbing frames and outdoor gym equipment and after that you can all explore the Giant’s Lair in the wonderful Hawthorn Hill Forest Nature Reserve and woodland trails!
If you’re looking to get a walk in with the kids, the Hawthorn Hill walk is a 1 mile loop walk from the car park. It does go uphill, utilising the lower trails of Slieve Gullion, so just be mindful with little legs!
Cost: FREE
Opening times:
Slieve Gullion Forest Park is open daily from 08:00 until sunset.
Adventure Playpark and Giant’s Lair:
1st April to the last weekend in October – 8am until 9pm
Last weekend in October to 31st March – 8am until 4pm
Dogs are not allowed in the Adventure Playpark, and must be ‘under control’ at all times in the rest of the Forest Park.
3. Silent Valley
A stunning park with quite a few walks/trails on offer for all fitness levels.
All trails start and end at the car park and are graded according to difficulty. The Reservoir Walk (orange route) and the Nature trail (green route) are the easiest to complete and are both suitable for prams. They are just over 1 mile in length, circular routes that take in both wildlife and views of the Mournes. The kids will love the “big plughole” in the reservoir which, in itself, is a fantastic view.
Cost: Car £4.50
Opening times: The reservoir grounds are open daily from 10:00 until 18:30 (Summer) and 10:00 until 16:00 (October to March).
Dogs are allowed but must be kept on a lead.
2. Kilbroney Forest Park
Kilbroney Forest Park offers great options for young families. You can enjoy the Narnia Trail in a 30 minute dander, which lets imaginations run wild as the kiddies get to duck and dart around wooden animals, a mini castle, thrones and fairy doors.
The main section of the park has a cafe, a playground and plenty of space for kids to run around as well as being pram-friendly. The Fairy Glen at the bottom entrance is a beautiful, short nature walk alongside a shallow river bed, which joins up with a trail back up through the park to the main car park.
If your kiddies want to tackle a mini mountain, you can drive up to the top car park in Kilbroney and take them to the “Big Stone” (Cloughmore Stone). It is a short 20 minute walk to the stone which is moderately steep but pram-friendly.
Here you have a wonderful view over the Carlingford Lough to the Cooley Mountains with a foreground which inspired CS Lewis’ Chronicles of Narnia books.
Cost: FREE
Opening times:
October 09:00 – 19:00
November – March 09:00 – 17:00
April 09:00 – 19:00
May 09:00 – 21:00
June – September 09:00 – 22:00
Dogs are allowed but must be kept on a lead.
1. Tollymore Forest Park
Tollymore Forest Park tops the list as it ticks all of the boxes for what you could want from a day out in the Mournes, set against a beautiful backdrop of forest, mountains and the Shimna river.
There are easy and moderate level nature walks. The red route (River Walk) is a 3 mile loop along the Shimna river and is best for kids and prams alike!
There are many stunning features along the river that kids will love including: Foley’s Bridge, The Hermitage, grottos and caves.
The river contains pools, steep gorges and cascades which make for exciting viewing along your walk. You might even spy some fantastic wildlife on your journey such as wild deer, Mandarin ducks, pine martens or kingfishers!
The “Big Deer” at the kids playground will inspire their creativity and there are plenty of picnic spots next to the main car park to sit with your packed lunch.
Cost: Car park charge: £5
Opening times: The forest is open every day of the year from 10:00 until sunset.
Dogs are allowed but must be kept on a lead.