Main image

Ardfern CC BY-SA 4.0 Wikimedia Commons

Tollymore Park

Park

Tollymore Park near Newcastle, County Down offers riverside trails, stone follies and forest glades; visitors hike toward the Mourne foothills and explore estate-era features and filming locations.

Tollymore Park BelfastLondonderryLisburnNewryArmaghLiffordTollymore Park
In this guide

Tollymore Park essentials

Address: Tollymore Forest Park, Bryansford, Castlewellan, County Down, Northern Ireland
Website: nidirect.gov.uk
Hours: Open daily, dawn to dusk
Admission: Free (public park)
GoogleAppleOSM

About Tollymore Park

Tollymore Forest Park is a public forest park in County Down, Northern Ireland, situated at the foothills of the Mourne Mountains near the town of Newcastle. It was established as a state forest park in 1955 and combines managed woodland, riverside glens and designed landscape features from the former estate. Visitors use a network of waymarked walking trails that pass stone-built bridges over the River Shimna, areas of mixed woodland and riverside glens. The park has been used as a filming location for television productions, and it is popular for walking, picnicking and birdwatching.

  • Best viewpoints: Several carved stone bridges span the River Shimna and offer good short walks and photographic viewpoints within the park.
  • Film location: Filming for television programmes, including sequences from a major fantasy series, used locations within the park; some marked trails lead past notable filming spots.
Things to Do
When to Go

Best Time to Visit Tollymore Park

Spring through autumn provides the best walking conditions; winter trails may be slippery.

Spring
March-May · 5-15 °C
Rhododendrons and bluebells enliven the forest; paths can be muddy after rain.
Summer
June-August · 12-20 °C
Lush canopy and long evenings; prime time for forest walks and picnics.
Autumn
September-November · 5-14 °C
Rich colours and quieter trails; mornings can be misty-excellent for atmosphere.

Weather & Climate near Tollymore Park

Climate

Tollymore Park's climate is classified as Oceanic - Oceanic climate with mild summers (peaking in July) and cold winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from 0°C to 20°C. Abundant rainfall (1046 mm/year), wettest in January.

Air Quality: AQI 29 Good
Best Time to Visit
JulyMayJune
Temperature & Rainfall
Temperature Range
21°
Warmest Month
0°
Coldest Month
Monthly Conditions
Month Comfort Temp Feels Rain Sky Humidity Wind UV Daylight
January Poor 0° - 6° -2° 111 mm overcast 87% 7.2 m/s 0.0 low 7.7h
February Poor 1° - 7° -1° 82 mm overcast 87% 6.8 m/s 0.1 low 9.5h
March Acceptable 2° - 9° 2° 93 mm overcast 87% 6.5 m/s 0.3 low 11.7h
April Acceptable 4° - 12° 5° 70 mm overcast 86% 5.5 m/s 0.7 moderate 13.9h
May Good 6° - 15° 11° 63 mm overcast 85% 5.1 m/s 1.1 high 15.8h
June Good 9° - 18° 13° 69 mm overcast 86% 4.7 m/s 1.3 high 16.9h
July Good 11° - 20° 15° 67 mm overcast 87% 4.5 m/s 1.2 high 16.4h
August Good 11° - 19° 15° 89 mm overcast 87% 4.6 m/s 0.9 moderate 14.7h
September Good 8° - 16° 12° 91 mm overcast 87% 5.3 m/s 0.6 moderate 12.5h
October Poor 6° - 13° 6° 105 mm overcast 86% 6.2 m/s 0.2 low 10.3h
November Poor 3° - 9° 1° 100 mm overcast 86% 6.4 m/s 0.1 low 8.3h
December Poor 1° - 6° -1° 106 mm overcast 87% 6.9 m/s 0.0 low 7.1h
Getting There & Around

How to Get to Tollymore Park

Tollymore Forest Park lies near Bryansford, about 12 km south of Newcastle, County Down, and about 40 minutes’ drive from Belfast. The main car park is off the B39 road near the park entrance; local buses serve Newcastle from Belfast and provide the nearest public transport option.

Tips for Visiting Tollymore Park

  • Arrive early to walk the River Shimna glade before dog walkers and picnickers increase in number.
  • Seek out the Hermitage and the stone bridges-these small follies are atmospheric and make excellent photography subjects.
  • One of the best ways to visit is to follow the marked trails from the Tollymore Park entrance near Bryansford village; the car park fills quickly on weekends.