20 Attractions to Explore Near Slieve Croob

The dolmen at Legananny is probably the most famous and certainly the most photographed megalithic monument in Northern Ireland. This tripod dolmen has a capstone over 3m long and 1.8m from the ground. It dates to the Neolithic period, making the monument approximately 5,000 years old. Such portal tombs were funerary sites for the disposal of the dead in Neolithic society. It is a State Care Historic Monument sited in the townland of Legananny, in Banbridge District.

A privately owned estate nestled in the picturesque surroundings of Co. Down offering a wonderful visitor experience including a café and trails. It is also home to an exotic plant collection initially created by ‘The Father of Irish Gardening’, Sir Arthur Rawdon. It is an iconic attraction in this area and invites all visitors.

Slievenaslat is a mountain summit in the region in the county of Newry, Mourne and Down, Ireland. Slievenaslat is 272 metres high with a prominence of 109 metres. An iconic attraction in this area and also a good trekking destination.

Seaforde Gardens, Maze and Tropical Butterfly House promises a truly plant rich and nature-filled experience for visitors. Situated in the historic Demesne of Seaforde in County Down, which has been a family home for almost 400 years, visitors will discover an historic walled garden that has something for everyone. The Tropical Butterfly House is set in beautiful grounds, with avenues of mature trees, a maze set in the middle of an old walled garden.

Newcastle is a small seaside resort town in County Down, Northern Ireland. It comprises of sand, pebbles and larger stones and is approximately 2.5 km in length. The major part of Newcastle Beach is backed by a promenade and the seaside town of Newcastle, which has lots of shops, amusements and other attractions. It also offers opportunities for watersports and amazing walks in the Mourne mountains.

Europes largest permanent hedge maze was designed to commemorate the peace and reconciliation efforts of Northern Ireland in the past century. The paths of the maze are quite narrow, with large hedges growing on either side. The surface is flat, except for a shallow incline which winds round to the centre of the maze where the “Peace Bell” is located. A smooth ramp then connects from this upper level to a path to the East of the maze.

This is one of the most outstanding tree and shrub collections in Europe, located in a dramatic setting of mountains and sea. The garden is a mixture of informal and formal design with terraces, fountains, ornamental gates and flower borders. It was opened to the public in 1967 after the Forest Service of the Department of Agriculture purchased the land from the Annesley family. Features of the park include the National Arboretum, the Peace Maze and Castlewellan Castle.

Clough Castle is an 11th century Anglo-Norman motte-and-bailey castle located in Clough, County Down, Northern Ireland. It consists of a ruined tower house situated on a 7.6 metres high motte. A small crescent-shaped bailey lies next to the south-east of the motte, separated by a 2.1 metres deep ditch. The castle may have been abandoned during the early 14th century before it was rebuilt as a tower house in the 15th century.

The Annadorn Dolmen is an imposing dolmen from Down County, more precisely located near Loughinisland. Built on a mound overlooking the Loughinisland Churches, this dolmen is said to date from the Neolithic period, and is today classified as a Historic Monument . To see: it is really worth the detour.

Drumena Cashel is a small stone built farmstead enclosure or cashel of the early Christian period. Measuring approximately 130 feet by 108 feet, this oval cashel has 10 foot thick walls that have been partially rebuilt. In the center if the cashel are the foundation remains of a dwelling. The most notable feature of the site, however, is the T-shaped souterrain that has two separate entrances.

Lough Island Reavy is a small man-made lough in Kilcoo, County Down, Northern Ireland. It is a fishing spot, which is controlled by the Belfast Anglers club. The lake contains pike and perch, as well as small numbers of wild brown trout and eels.

A small man-made lough in Kilcoo, County Down, Northern Ireland. It is a fishing spot, which is controlled by the Belfast Anglers club. The lake contains pike and perch, as well as small numbers of wild brown trout and eels. An iconic location for a short picnic and also there are so many options for leisure here.

Tollymore Forest Park was the first state forest park in Northern Ireland, established on 2 June 1955. It is located at Bryansford, near the town of Newcastle in the Mourne and Slieve Croob Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. It covers an area of 630 hectares at the foot of the Mourne Mountains and has views of the surrounding mountains and the sea at nearby Newcastle.

A beautiful bay located next to Dundrum, County Down, Northern Ireland. It is divided into the Outer Bay, and the almost entirely landlocked Inner Bay. The bay was home to a roughly year-long "shipwreck" of the SS Great Britain; in actuality, the "wreck" was a period of time in which the ship had run aground of a sandbar. The Dundrum Coastal Path, a part of the larger Lecale Way, is a popular hiking trail that winds along the fronts of the bay; the trek is especially popular with birdwatchers.

This is the most beautiful bridge in Tollymore Park. It has graced the Shimna River since 1787. It was named after a young niece of the 2nd Countess Clanbrassil, called Harriot Foley. The Castle at Newcastle housed the Coastguard Revenue Officers when this bridge was built, and Donard Lodge wasn't started until c.40 years later.

Murlough National Nature Reserve is a fragile 6000 year old sand dune system owned by the National Trust and managed as Ireland’s first Nature Reserve since 1967. It is an excellent area for walking and bird watching due to its spectacular location at the edge of Dundrum Bay and the Mourne Mountains. The sand dunes were extensively used by the US Army during the Second World War.

Royal County Down Golf Club is a golf club in Northern Ireland, located in Newcastle, County Down. It opened on 23 March 1889 and is one of the oldest golf clubs in Ireland. It has two 18-hole links courses, the Championship Course and the Annesley Links.

Rowallane Gardens are well known for its large collection of rhododendrons there is much else to see including wildflower meadows, snowdrops, an interesting rock garden and a walled garden with many rare plants including the National Collection of Penstemon. In the Autumn the Garden comes alive with a good display of Autumn tints. There is a farmland trail to the summit of Trio Hill.

Joyland Amusement Centres Ltd Newcastle is an amusement park serving the local area. They offer arcade games. It was one of the iconic attraction in this area and also there are so many things to see and do here.