Ireland (Lonely Planet, 9th Edition) - Fionn Davenport [548]
Stretching north of town is the Royal County Down Golf Course ( 4372 3314; www.royalcountydown.org; green fees weekday/weekend £160/180 May-Oct, £75/80 Nov-Mar). The challenging Championship Links – venue for the 2007 Walker Cup – is full of blind tee shots and monster rough, and is regularly voted one of the world’s top 10 golf courses. It’s open to visitors on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday.
SLEEPING
Tollymore Forest Park ( 4372 2428; 176 Tullybranigan Rd; tent/caravan sites £9/13) Many of Newcastle’s ‘camping sites’ are for caravans only; the nearest place where you can pitch a tent is amid the attractive scenery of Tollymore Forest Park, 3km northwest of the town centre. You can hike here (along Bryansford Ave and Bryansford Rd) in 45 minutes.
Newcastle Youth Hostel ( 4372 2133; www.hini.org.uk; 30 Downs Rd; dm £14; daily Mar-Oct, Fri & Sat nights only Nov & 1-22 Dec, closed 23 Dec-Feb) This hostel is only a few minutes’ walk from the bus station, housed in an attractive 19th-century villa with sea views. It has 37 beds, mostly in six-bed dorms, a kitchen, a laundry and a TV room.
Briers Country House ( 4372 4347; www.thebriers.co.uk; 39 Middle Tollymore Rd; s/d from £40/60; ) A peaceful farmhouse B&B with a country setting and views of the Mournes, Briers is just 1.5km northwest of the town centre (signposted off the road between Newcastle and Bryansford). Huge breakfasts – vegetarian if you like – are served with a view over the garden, and evening meals are available by prior arrangement.
Beach House ( 4372 2345; beachhouse22@tiscali.co.uk; 22 Downs Rd; s/d £50/90; ) Enjoy a sea view with your breakfast at the Beach House, an elegant Victorian B&B with three rooms (all with private bathroom) and a balcony (open to all guests) overlooking the beach.
Harbour House Inn ( 4372 3445; www.harbourhouseinn.co.uk; 4 South Promenade; s/d £60/90; ) The Harbour House is a family-friendly pub and restaurant with four recently redecorated rooms upstairs that are clean and comfortable. It’s next to the old harbour, almost 2km south of the bus station, a perfect base for climbing Slieve Donard.
Slieve Donard Resort & Spa ( 4372 1066; www.hastingshotels.com; Downs Rd; s/d from £80/100; ) Established in 1897, the Slieve Donard is a magnificent, Victorian red-brick pile overlooking the beach, equipped with several restaurants and a luxurious spa. This is where golf legends Tom Watson, Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods stay when they’re in town.
EATING
Maud’s ( 4372 6184; 106 Main St; mains £3-7; 9am-9.30pm) Maud’s is a bright, modern cafe with picture windows framing a stunning view across the river to the Mournes. It serves breakfast, good coffee, a range of tempting scones and sticky buns, plus salads, crêpes, pizzas and pastas; there’s a kids menu, too.
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WALK: SLIEVE DONARD
The rounded form of Slieve Donard (853m), the highest hill in Northern Ireland, looms above Newcastle like a slumbering giant. You can hike to the summit from various starting points in and around Newcastle, but remember – it’s a stiff climb, and you shouldn’t attempt it without proper walking boots, waterproofs and a map and compass.
On a good day the view from the top extends to the hills of Donegal, the Wicklow Mountains, the coast of Scotland, the Isle of Man and even the hills of Snowdonia in Wales. Two cairns near the summit were long believed to have been cells of St Donard, who retreated here to pray in early Christian times.
The shortest route to the top is via the Glen River from Newcastle. Begin at Donard Park car park, at the edge of town, 1km south of the bus station. At the far end of the car park, turn right through the gate and head into the woods, with the river on your left.