Forests, villages and a nineteenth-century man-made lough.
From Newcastle, follow A50 towards Castlewellan. Turn left onto Tollymore Road and then right. Exiting at entrance to Tollymore Forest Park turn right onto Bryansford Road. At next junction turn left onto Hilltown Road. Pass through Bryansford alongside Tollymore Forest Park. Turn left onto Trassey Road and continue to crossroads. Go straight onto Moyad Road. Views of Slieve Croob open up in front of you. At end of the road turn right then take first left onto Bog Road. Lough Island Reavy Reservoir will now be visible on your left.
Cycling to Kilcoo
At crossroads turn left onto Tullyree Road towards Kilcoo. At the village turn right onto Dublin Road and immediately left onto Ballymoney Road. At T-junction turn right onto Letalion Road and then take next right, passing Lough Island Reavy Reservoir on your right. At the end of reservoir turn left onto Largy Road, continue to end of the road and turn left. Continue straight ahead at crossroads onto Ballymagreehan Road.
Views of Slieve Croob ahead
At next T-junction turn right. At top of hill turn left onto Leitrim Road. Ahead are views of Slieve Croob and the village of Leitrim. Continue towards Leitrim, which you can visit, or follow route right onto Ballymaginty Road.
Spectacular views of the Mourne Mountains and Dundrum Bay
At next T-junction turn right onto Clarkhill Road, then right again onto Old Road. The top of the hill affords spectacular views of the Mourne Mountains and Dundrum Bay with town of Newcastle in the distance. At the end of this road turn left and then right onto Drumbuck Road. The route continues alongside Castlewellan Forest Park. At end of the road turn right onto Dublin Road.
Cycle your way to Castlewellan
Continue into Castlewellan or follow route left onto Station Road, then turn right and continue towards Newcastle. At next crossroads continue across onto Corrigs Road, passing entrance to Maghera Church and Round Tower on your left. Continue to where it joins the A50. Turn left and return to Newcastle.
