■Distance: 4½ miles/7.3km ■Time: 3 hours ■Grade: Moderate
SEE FEATURE ON PAGE 14
CHOSEN BY… PHOEBE TAPLIN
A lovely coastal town, mossy pine and beech forests, heatherpurple moorland and a cascading river: these four fabulous components are combined in a short, energetic circuit into the foothills of the Mourne Mountains.
It starts from Newcastle bus station with a seaside hike, passing a series of artworks.
After a steep climb to a viewpoint and old quarry, the trail descends past woods and waterfalls to Newcastle’s main street with its choice of pubs and cafés. On the way, discover an old granite quarry and the line of the funicular railway that once brought rock down the mountain to the harbour. There are industrial relics along the route like stone blocks with holes in them that were used to anchor the railway.
In fine weather, walkers with plenty of time, energy and mountain-hiking experience could extend the route from point 4 with a there-and-back to the top of Slieve Donard, Northern Ireland’s highest peak.
1 Start
Turn L out of Newcastle bus station and walk past Lidl and Percy French Inn.
Turn R along coastal walkway and keep going for nearly 1½ miles with sea on L, crossing white footbridge. On reaching the second (road) bridge, continue to walk along the pavement of South Promenade.
2 1½ miles/2.5km
Soon after Harbour House Inn, turn R up tarmac drive and R again up steps signed Granite Trail. Cross King Street and keep straight up concrete slope. Continue up steps, through archway and straight uphill, past info boa
