This is a strenuous circular route taking in some very attractive countryside with stunning views of the Mourne Mountains and Slieve Croob.

Route Factfile

Distance:	25 miles
Advice:	A long cycle with steep sections
Start and Finish:	Castlewellan
Refreshments:	Refreshments are available in the Slieve Croob Inn, Castlewellan, Maghera and nearby Dundrum

Route Finder
From the town of Castlewellan follow the A25 towards Clough.  Take the first road on the left onto the Drumbuck Road.  This road takes you along the edge of Castlewellan Forest Park.  Continue along the Drumbuck Road for approximately 1¼ miles until you come to a T-junction, where you turn left onto the Clarkhill Road.  Continue downhill, passing Ross’s Cycles on your left.  At the next crossroads continue straight ahead onto the Ribadoo Road.  After approximately ½ mile, turn right onto Clonvaraghan Road, where you pass the Slieve Croob Inn on your Left – refreshments and lunch are available here.  After the Slieve Croob Inn, turn left into Slievenisky Road and continue along this road until the T-junction, where you turn left into the Ballywillwill Road.  Slieve Croob is visible on your left. At the next T-junction, turn left onto the Drumnaquoile Road, keeping Slieve Croob on your left.  Continue along the road where you will pass the entrance to Drumkeeragh Forest to your right.  Turn right onto Drumboy Road.  At the end of the Drumboy Road, turn right onto Drumkeeragh Road.  After approximately 4 miles, turn right onto Cauleys Pipe Road.  Continue along this road and straight ahead at the next crossroads with Drumnaquoile Road.  At the next T-junction turn left onto Ballywillwill Road and then right onto Ballylough Road. Take the second road to the left onto Aughlisnafin Road.  Follow this road to the end where it joins the main A25 Castlewellan to Clough Road.  Caution is advised at this point.  Turn right on to the Castlewellan Road, then immediately left onto Kilmegan Road.  Continue to the end of the Kilmegan Road, passing the Kilmegan historic Church on your right.  Towards the bottom of Kilmegan Road, turn right onto Old Road.  Continue along this road with Dundrum Inner Bay on your left. The route continues to the right onto Flush Road.  However, you may wish to continue a short distance to visit Murlough National Nature Reserve before continuing.  On joining Flush Road, spectacular views of the Mourne Mountains open up.  You pass Slidderyford Standing Stone adjacent to the road on your right.  At the end of this road turn left towards the small village of Maghera.  Follow the road through the village towards Bryansford, passing Newcastle Riding Centre.  Turn right at the next crossroads onto Dundrinne Road, back to Castlewellan, finishing not far from where you started.  This is a steep uphill section and you may wish to consider dismounting at this point.


Points of Interest

Castlewellan	Perched on a hillside, nestled between the northern foothills of the Mourne Mountains, Castlewellan is a market town on the main Downpatrick to Dublin road.  It is uniquely laid out, with 2 main squares and a broad main street designed by a French architect in the style of a French market town.
Castlewellan Forest Park	The Park covers 460 hectares, including a mile long lake, an Arboretum, Castle, camping and caravan park, way-marked trails and fishing.
Seeconnell	Seeconnell is a townland on the lower slopes of Slieve Croob towards Castlewellan.  The local Slieve Croob Inn offers welcome refreshment to weary passers by.
Slieve Croob	Slieve Croob (from the Irish for mountains of the hoof) rises to a height of 534m (1755 feet) above sea level and is the source of the River Lagan.  Presiding over the Dromara Hills, it offers magnificent views of the higher Mournes to the south. The best viewpoint is found at the Windy Gap.
Drumkeeragh Forest	The Forest lies on the eastern slopes of Slieve Croob and is open to the public throughout the year.  There are 6 miles of forest paths for easy to moderate walking.
Dundrum Inner Bay & Murlough National Nature Reserve	Ireland’s first nature reserve features thousands of acres of sand dunes and harbours a stunning diversity of plant and animal life.  Visitors to this National Trust property can access the dunes and beach at Dundrum Bay.
Slidderyford Dolmen	On the route back to Castlewellan via Maghera you will pass Slidderyford Dolmen, which is a good example of a tripod dolmen with large capstone on three supportive uprights.
Maghera	Maghera is a hamlet lying 2.5 miles to the north of Newcastle and is a site of great antiquity. The earliest remains are those of a rath, standing on the banks of the Carrigs River. It is also thought that St Donard (from whom the mountain Slieve Donard takes its name) spent the summer months on the summit of Slieve Donard and returned in the winter to Maghera. At the small church, burial slabs of the Anglo-Saxon and Norman periods are to be found in the ancient church graveyard.

Accommodation

Dornan's Clachan - 3* Self-Catering

Henry John's Clachan - 3* Self-Catering

Slieve Croob Inn - 3* Guesthouse

Cycle Hire

The Cycle Centre 31a Church Square Banbridge Co. Down T: 028 4066 2863

Ross Cycles 9 Railway Street Newcastle Co. Down T: 028 4372 5525

Wiki Wiki Wheels 10b Donard Street Newcastle Co. Down T: 028 4372 3973