Castlewellan Forest Park: The Lake, the Peace Maze and the Walks
Four miles from Tollymore and a completely different day out: a flat lake circuit anyone can manage, one of the world’s largest permanent hedge mazes, and twenty-seven kilometres of mountain-bike trail in the hills above.
Published 18 August 2026
Castlewellan is the family-friendly one. Where Tollymore asks you to climb for its views, Castlewellan hands you a flat loop round a lake with the Mournes reflected in it, then gives the children a maze to get lost in. It is the more forgiving of the two County Down forest parks, and the better call with a buggy, a toddler or indifferent weather.
The Lakeside Walk
The headline route is a 3.9 km circular loop of the lake, roughly two and a half miles, flat, on even and well-maintained surfaces. It is the most popular thing in the park for good reason: you get Slieve Donard and the northern Mournes across the water for most of the circuit, and you never have to think about navigation.
The Peace Maze
Planted in 2000 with community involvement from across Northern Ireland, the Peace Maze is one of the world’s largest permanent hedge mazes: 6,000 yew trees and about 3.5 kilometres of winding path, with the symbolism of a route to reconciliation built into the design. Reaching the middle takes most groups longer than they expect, which is either the appeal or the problem depending on the age of your party.
The rest of the trail network
Beyond the lake there are 7.5 miles, around 12 km, of marked walking routes, plus 27 km of mountain-bike trail on the higher ground. The walking options, longest to shortest:
| Route | Distance |
|---|---|
| Moorish Tower Walk | 3.2 miles |
| Cypress Pond Walk | 3.1 miles |
| Slievenaslat Walk | 2.7 miles |
| Lakeside Walk | 2.4 miles |
| Annesley Garden Walk | 2.2 miles |
| Bunkers Hill Walk & Play Trail | 1.2 miles |
The Annesley Garden walk takes in the walled garden and arboretum, which is the park’s quiet highlight and almost always empty compared with the lake path. If you have an hour and the maze queue is long, go there instead.
- Bikes: the mountain-bike network is a genuine draw, graded and kept separate from the walking trails.
- Dogs: welcome on a lead on the walking routes. See dog-friendly stays in Northern Ireland.
- Parking: charged per vehicle, and the lake car park is the one that fills first.
Where to stay
Castlewellan and Tollymore share a catchment, so the same accommodation serves both. We list 29 sites within ten miles, concentrated around Newcastle, Bryansford and Castlewellan town itself.
Glamping near Castlewellan Forest Park
Within ten miles of the Mourne forest parks, best-rated first.
See all 29 sites (23 more not shown here).
Two parks, two very different days, four miles apart. It is the most efficient weekend in County Down. Pair this with the Tollymore trail guide and both days are planned.
Common questions
- How long is the Castlewellan lake walk?
- The Lakeside Walk is a 3.9 km circular route, about 2.4 miles, flat and evenly surfaced the whole way round.
- How big is the Peace Maze at Castlewellan?
- It is one of the largest permanent hedge mazes in the world: 6,000 yew trees planted in 2000, with roughly 3.5 km of pathway inside it.
- Is Castlewellan Forest Park good for mountain biking?
- Yes, there are around 27 km of dedicated mountain-bike trails, separate from the walking routes.
- Which is better, Castlewellan or Tollymore?
- Castlewellan for flat lakeside walking, the maze and biking with children. Tollymore for river scenery, stone bridges and hill views. They are four miles apart, so most people do both.
Keep reading
- Northern IrelandTollymore Forest Park: Walks, Bridges and Where to StayA walker’s guide to Tollymore Forest Park in the Mournes, the river, mountain and Drinns trails, what each one costs you in time, and the glamping sites within a few miles.
- Northern IrelandWalks in Northern Ireland: The Mournes, the Causeway and the GlensThe best walking in Northern Ireland by region, the Mourne Wall and Slieve Donard, the Causeway Coast Way, the Glens of Antrim and the forest parks, with stays near each.
- Northern IrelandThings to Do in Northern IrelandA practical guide to Northern Ireland by region, the Causeway Coast, the Mournes, the Glens of Antrim, Strangford and the cities, with where to stay in each.
- Northern IrelandStrangford Lough: What to Do and Where to StayA guide to Strangford Lough and the Ards Peninsula, Mount Stewart, the Portaferry ferry, the seals and birds, Castle Ward, and the glamping within reach.