Tollymore Forest Park

Tollymore Forest Park covers an area of almost 630 hectares at the foot of the Mourne mountains offering stunning views of sea at nearby Newcastle.

The park is a fantastic area for many outdoor activities including walking, caravanning/camping, horse riding and orienteering and has a fantastic Nature Play Space for the kids.

‘Big Deer’ designed for four to eleven year olds can be found beside the lower car park in Tollymore Forest Park. This impressive and beautiful wooden play space is sure to keep the kids entertained featuring a giant timber Fallow Deer, castle turret, folly tower and hollow tree all connected through a series of rope-bridges, tunnels, spider webs, basket swings and slides. Parents can sit back, admire the views and enjoy a picnic at the Deer tables as the kids play in this great outdoor location.  Check out our blog 'Kids Go Wild for Nature Play' for one families first hand account of the play area.

The forest has four walk trails signposted by different colours.  The Shimna River flows through the forest adding to its reputation for being a superb place for a picnic. 

There are many features within Tollymore Forest Park including many follies, such as a barn dressed to resemble a church, gothic style gate arches and stone cones atop gate piers.  The Walk Trails along the River Shimna are marked by rocky outcrops, bridges, grottos and caves.   The original tree of the slow-growing spruce, Picea abies  'Clanbrassiliana', which originated nearby in about 1750, remains and is the oldest tree in any arboretum in Ireland. 

Tollymore National Outdoor Centre is located within the forest. It is a centre for Mountaineering and Canoeing Activities and is funded and managed by Sport Northern Ireland. The centre's aim is to provide an unrivalled service to customers regardless of their level of experience.The centre also has a mountain bike skills course and climbing wall. The centre entrance is located on the Hilltown Road outside of Bryansford.