Alpaca walking, kayaking, e-bike exploring, chocolate factory experiences, numerous amazing restaurants, stunning beaches and all within a short drive of one another, and right on your doorstep in Northern Ireland.
Where we stayed in Newcastle
We checked into the stunning Slieve Donard on the Friday afternoon and were given a beautiful room on the fourth floor, with an amazing birdseye view of all the preparations ongoing at Royal County Down next door, ahead of the The Amgen Irish Open, which the famous Co Down club will host from 11-15 September.
As keen golf fans, this was a great buzz for myself and my husband who are planning a return trip to watch the professionals in action next month.
What did we do in the Mourne Mountains?
From there it was onto our first adventure of the weekend and what a start to the weekend it was, walking and feeding the alpacas at Cranfield. A quick 30-minute drive across the stunning Mournes, Cranfield Alpacas has been named the winner of the Best NI Tourism Experience, and after our trip, I can completely understand why.
Husband and wife duo Pamela and Peter have 11 alpacas on their farm, each of them unique and special with their own names (and personalities!) After a quick introduction and a little history lesson, the friendly alpacas were herded together where we grabbed a lead and took them for a stroll around the fields which just neighbours the picturesque Cranfield beach.
The alpacas are super friendly which we found out when it came to feeding time as they got up close and personal, much to the delight of everyone, especially the children who giggled as they fed the adorable animals from little tubs and the palms of their hands.
With a treasure hunt to finish the experience and some great pictures, we will definitely be back for another visit to see our friends, especially Mr Midnight and Wilbur, who were our personal buddies for the day.
Cranfield Alpaca experience was a definite highlight for us, Pamela and Peter couldn’t have been more welcoming and their passion for what they do shines through.
Eating out in Newcastle, County Down
After a quick freshen-up back at the hotel, we headed out for dinner, at Brunel's, located just a few hundred yards away from the entrance to the Slieve Donard on Down’s Road.
A warm, friendly atmosphere greeted us in the busy eatery which had a mix of couples, pals and others like ourselves dining out with young children. I can often feel nervous trying new restaurants as I worry that they might not be child-friendly but Brunel’s is.
After browsing the menu, whilst sipping on one of the nicest Pornstar Martini’s I’ve probably ever had, while my husband praised the incredibly cold and smooth pint of Guinness we placed our order.
We skipped the starters and I opted for the Cornfed chicken supreme served with roasted corn, crispy pancetta, baked potato champ and blue cheese hollandaise, while my husband chose the Iberico pluma pork loin served with roast garlic pomme puree, celeriac, honey roast carrot, cavalo nero, apple puree, cider jus.
Both the children chose sausages while one opted for mash, the other chose chunky chips, both served with beans.
It wasn’t too long of a wait and every minute we did wait was worth it, as Brunel’s can now claim the accolade of being the ‘best meal’ my husband has ever had! He was blown away by the mix of flavours in the tender pork dish, so much so he’s already planning our next visit.
I too couldn’t fault the chicken dish. It was juicy, tender, and a beautiful mix of flavours and textures with the crispy corn and crunchy pancetta. The dishes were also stunningly presented on the plate, showcasing the best of local produce,
It was clean plates and full bellies from the children as well, especially for our eldest who declared the sausages were the ‘nicest ever!’.
We did leave some room for dessert as I couldn’t resist one of my favourites when I spotted Pannacotta on the menu and my husband went for the same, while the children shared a chocolate fudge cake and ice-cream, much to their delight.
The pannacotta was melt-in-your-mouth amazing, really light, not too sweet and just the perfect size.
We couldn’t honestly praise Brunel’s enough, the staff were so helpful and friendly and brilliant with the children as well which just helped make the dining experience much more enjoyable.
We of course finished the evening with a walk up the street and were led astray into the arcades, as well as the playpark before heading back to the hotel to get some rest before another busy day.
Day Two in the Mournes
Up and at it and ready for day two, we enjoyed a very tasty breakfast at the Slieve Donard, which had everything we wanted and more. The fresh pancakes were a particular hit with the children alongside the beautiful array of fresh fruit and yoghurt. There was no shortage of options in the hot buffet section with everything you could want for the perfect Ulster fry, which set us up for another action-packed day.
We headed from there a short 15-minute drive to nearby Castlewellan Forest Park, which was buzzing on a Saturday morning full of park runners and families out enjoying the sunshine we were lucky enough to get.
We had been booked into the Life Adventure centre where we were met by the brilliantly helpful John who was a fountain of knowledge and information and really put us at ease as we embarked on our first-ever e-bike experience.
We had a quick run-through of how they work, much easier than I imagined and with helmets on and the children strapped in safely to the buggy on the bike of one of the bikes, we headed out to explore.
I was really surprised at how much I enjoyed it, I can’t recall the last bike I was on that wasn’t a stationary spin bike in the gym, but this definitely gave me the buzz to get on a bike more often and get out and explore. It’s something I plan to do when the children are a little older and can properly cycle themselves but for now, they were loving life in the back of the buggy as we explored the beautiful lake and forest trails.
From there we were booked to tackle the kayaks, which I was more than a little apprehensive about. I’m not into water sports and was nervous taking the children out as well, but John again assured us we were in safe hands. My husband opted for the larger kayak and he was in charge of the two little ones, while I had one to myself and John the instructor in another guiding us along.
Into the wet suits and life jackets and it was down to the water for a safety briefing before we hit the lake. I have to say I have a new found appreciation for the rowers at the Olympics as rowing a simple kayak was a full-body workout, especially as the wind picked up a little, but we managed, and it was beautiful to stop and take in the stunning surroundings and the castle from the middle of the lake on a beautiful sunny day. Castlewellan Forest Park has so much to offer, we could easily have spent the entire day there and the super helpful and friendly team at Life Adventure really do make the experience.
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An action-packed morning completed we had definitely worked up an appetite and stopped for lunch at the Hillyard House Hotel, which is right at the entrance to Castlewellan Forest Park.
My husband and I both started with the soup of the day which was Potato and Leek served with Guinness wheaten bread, while the children tucked into chicken goujons and chips.
I then opted for the Southern Fried Chicken Ceasar Wrap while my husband chose the Pulled Beef Brisket flatbread, both were served with skin-on fries that we struggled to finish but both were incredibly tasty and just what we needed after a busy morning.
The next stop on our whistle-stop tour of the Mournes was NearyNógs Stoneground Chocolate Makers, or as our children liked to call it ‘Charlie’s chocolate factory’.
I wasn’t sure what to expect but if our drive through the Mournes was anything to go by, I knew the setting of Neary Nogs alone was just picture-perfect.
We were met on arrival by founder Shane, who talked us through the fascinating story behind the chocolate factory and how they source their Cacao Beans from farms in Central America, South America, the Caribbean islands and West Africa.
It was a really immersive experience with not only chocolate tasting but the children loved getting to handle the beans and smell the different flavours and stages that it goes through to become their speciality chocolate.
As well as the indulgent range of different chocolates, we were treated to possibly the nicest coffee and hot chocolates we’ve ever had, well worth the drive up the mountains alone and it's got a lovely outdoor area where you can sit and enjoy a hot drink with your four-legged friends and take in the beautiful scenery.
Shane’s super-friendly and easy-going approach made us feel right at home as we came away with much more knowledge and understanding about the processes that go into creating pure chocolate with none of the nasties you get in other brands.
Back down the mountains and it was time to head back to the hotel and ready for dinner at the Percy French, located on site at the Slieve Donard. Having eaten here in the past we knew exactly what to expect, and we weren’t disappointed.
My husband and I both chose the Sirloin steak while both children chose the Tomato pasta dish which they loved. But I’d maybe think about ordering one portion between them in future as the children’s portions were quite large and I just hate seeing food left behind.
Our steaks were cooked to perfection and we added a side of crispy onion rings to accompany the chunky chips and tasty peppercorn sauce. I wasn’t sure I’d have room left for dessert but we ordered a Sticky Toffee pudding to share while the children again shared chocolate fudge cake, I think they thought it was their birthdays all weekend they were treated like kings at every place we went to.
Another action-packed day complete and we headed for a little walk to stretch the legs and walk off some of the food before heading back to the hotel for the night.
Final Day in Mourne Gullion Strangford Geopark
Our last day was just as a Sunday should be a day of rest and chill, after another delicious breakfast, we spent the morning in the hotel pool which the children couldn’t get enough of before sadly checking out (the children wanted to move in!), and heading off to explore a bit more before heading home.
Our stay at the Slieve Donard was flawless, the staff were super-friendly and again it's really family-friendly, and dog-friendly too which I wasn't aware of so you're four-legged friends can also stay in luxury.
Before heading back to Tyrone, we opted for a visit to Tyrella beach, another spot we’d been to before and the weather again was in our favour so it was the perfect spot to relax for a few hours and let the kids play before heading for home.
But we couldn’t leave our tour of the Mournes area without stopping for lunch in the Mourne Seafood bar in Dundrum. I have to admit, I’m not much of a seafood lover, I do like fish but I’d rarely order it out but once I saw the menu I had trouble choosing which dish to go for!
In the end, I chose the Crispy Cod special which was served with the most amazing Peri Peri fries, napa slaw and chipotle mayo. I’ve honestly never tasted fish like it, so flaky, fresh and moreish, and the batter was super light and airy.
My husband opted for the Lobster Linguine and he too was blown away by the mix of flavours, it really was a superb Sunday lunch.
The children once again were well looked after and enjoyed the fun colouring in pages while they waited for their Chicken Goujons and chips.
With full-bellies, happy and exhausted kids, we headed for home, along with half the sand from Tyrella beach. I really was blown away by the beauty of the Mournes and the wealth of things to do in close proximity to one another.
With the Irish Open rolling into town in just a few weeks time, there’s no better time than to book a staycation in Newcastle and the surrounding areas. There’s such a wealth of things to do and just stunning natural beauty to behold. We will definitely be back, and I might even let my husband bring his golf clubs next time!
Sheena McStravick
A beloved destination for families, golfers, and holiday travellers, Slieve Donard is a local landmark that’s equal parts homey and breath-taking. The resort sits at the foot of the Mourne Mountains, on the edge of Royal County Down Golf Club, ranked no. 1 in the world by Golf Digest.
Royal County Down is located in one of the world's most naturally beautiful links settings in the Murlough Nature Reserve. Against the magnificent backdrop of the Mountains of Mourne.
The 2024 Amgen Irish Open will take place from 11-15 September, at Royal County Down Golf Club, in Newcastle, Northern Ireland. World-class golf, live music, and the best fans in the world are all to be enjoyed at this unmissable tournament.
"Where the Mountains of Mourne sweep down to the sea" (Percy French) The popular song has made the Mournes the best known mountains in Ireland. Distinctive and self-contained, they are tucked away in the southeast corner of Northern Ireland, with 12 shapely summits rising about 2,000ft on the eastern side.
Feel the stresses and strains of daily life vanish in the presence of beautiful animals and majestic scenery of the Mourne Mountains.
Cranfield West offers a gently sloping, mainly sandy beach located at the entrance to Carlingford Lough, an area designated as being of Special Scientific Interest.
Modern European Cuisine. Focusing on seasonal produce. A Creative menu that evolves constantly, showcasing when possible locally sourced ingredients.
Located on Forest Park View, Castlewellan, County Down, in a dramatic setting of mountains and sea, Castlewellan Forest Park has one of the most outstanding tree and shrub collections in Europe. The beauty, vigour and perfect shape of the trees in the National Arboretum attract tree enthusiasts from around the world.
Epic adventures are on offer all year round at Life Adventure Centre. Their extensive range of activities include mountain biking, stand-up paddleboarding, wet bouldering, rock climbing, sit on top kayaking, coasteering, electric biking and open canoeing - something for everyone!
A wonderful award winning boutique hotel located beside the entrance gates to the stunning Castlewellan Forest Park in the historic market town of Castlewellan, near the seaside resort of Newcastle. Hillyard House Hotel, The Yard Restaurant and Mrs Coleman's Bar have everything to make your stay cosy, culinary and great craic.
NearyNogs is a small family-run business that produces some of Northern Ireland’s finest, most irresistible chocolate, and they’re ready to welcome you in and show you how it’s made.
At the foot of the Mourne Mountains, local favourite The Percy French serves pub classics, regional fare, bar snacks and a traditional Sunday roast — all with a focus on in-season and local produce. A wide-ranging wine list sits alongside draught beers and a menu of classically inspired cocktails.
Our aim is to provide locally sourced seafood at an affordable price. All our produce is sourced from local ports and delivered daily to ensure freshness and quality.
Tyrella beach and conservation area is a small, enclosed dune complex within Dundrum Bay. It is a wide, flat, sandy beach two kilometres long and backed by 25 hectares of mature dunes in a conservation area.
