Kilbroney Park

Kilbroney Park Forest features riverside walks and an arboretum. There is a two-mile forest drive which showcases panoramic views over Carlingford Lough. There is also a Play Park with children's play area and tennis courts, an Information area and a café all on site.    The forest drive leads to a car park from where walkers have the opportunity to climb to Cloughmore, 'the big stone', a 30ton erratic, which sits at approx 1000ft above Rostrevor. Geologists explain its presence here as having been deposited during the ice age.  However, local folklore claims it was thrown here by Finn Mac Cool during a fight with a Scottish Giant. During the same battle, the Scottish Giant allegedly tore out a handful of earth and flung it back at Finn, it missed and landed in the sea.  We now know that area as the Isle of Man and the divot he made, filled up with water and became Lough Neagh.    Rostrevor Oak wood is a relic of a much larger forest. The woodland contains Oak, Ash, Sycamore, Hazel to name but a few. There are lots of ferns and flowers like wild garlic, primroses and bluebells. The forest is home to jays and squirrels and it hosts a number of rare plants like wood avens and hard shield fern.  The Kilbroney Tree Trail will guide walkers through Kilbroney Park.  The trail is not waymarked, each tree highlighted on the trail has a number and a plaque adjacent to the tree.  The Narnia Trail  This walk starts and finishes within Kilbroney Park and brings to life the Chronicles of Narnia with a number of features along the route. The trail is entered, like the magical world of Narnia itself, through a ‘Wardrobe Door’, beyond which lies a land filled with strange and intriguing creatures. Enter at your peril, as the White Witch has put a curse on the land. It is always winter and never Christmas – and she can turn you into stone. Be warned, don’t eat any “enchanted” Turkish Delight!  Other features along the way include ‘The Lamp Post’, ‘The Beaver’s House’ and ‘Aslan’s Table’. These features offer many opportunities to interact and take photos/selfies.  “That part of Rostrevor which overlooks Carlingford Lough is my idea of Narnia” (CS Lewis)    This family trail seeks to capture the imagination of children of all ages.  Fairy Glen  The Fairy Glen walk provides varied scenery from gentle riverside to scenic parkland and woodland.  The Fairy Glen is located on the left immediately after the bridge beside the entrance to Kilbroney Park.  Wheelchair accessible in some areas.  Dogs welcome on leads.

Rostrevor

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