Castlewellan Forest Park 874 ha
Plan your visit
🦉 Wildlife🦅 Birds🍄 Fungi
Public access Free entry Dogs welcome 874 ha
Places › Northern Ireland › Newry, Mourne and Down Getting here
54.26597, -5.96163
Open directionsv Visiting this summer
Seasonal nature notes and what to look for now
▾ ☀️ June — long evenings and clear skies; one of the most rewarding months for a late visit 🍄 Mushroom foraging is at its best in summer here 🐕 Dogs welcome — bring water in summer; the site has enough space to find shade on hot days 🌤️ Visiting this summer
☀️ June — long evenings and clear skies; one of the most rewarding months for a late visit 🍄 Mushroom foraging is at its best in summer here 🐕 Dogs welcome — bring water in summer; the site has enough space to find shade on hot days £ Free to visit — no entry charge🐕 Dogs welcome🦉 Wildlife
Very strong match
Multi-group wildlife — Amphibians, Birds, Mammals; Multi-group wildlife — Amphibians, Birds, Mammals
Free
🦅 Bird watching
Very strong match
Birds — Robin, Black-headed Gull, Jackdaw +49 more · last seen 2025; Birds — Robin, Black-headed Gull, Jackdaw +49 more · last seen 2025
Free
🍄 Mushroom foraging
Strong match
Fungi — Cingroen, Parrot Waxcap, Meadow Waxcap +22 more · last seen 2025; Fungi — Cingroen, Parrot Waxcap, Meadow Waxcap +22 more · last seen 2025
Varies
🦋 Insect spotting
Strong match
Insects — Speckled Wood, Red Admiral, Peacock +127 more · last seen 2025; Insects — Speckled Wood, Red Admiral, Peacock +127 more · last seen 2025
Free
🍂 Seasonal nature
Strong match
Plants — Japanese Knotweed, Himalayan Honeysuckle, Wood-sorrel +121 more · last seen 2026; Plants — Japanese Knotweed, Himalayan Honeysuckle, Wood-sorrel +121 more · last seen 2026
Free
Plants — Wood-sorrel, Bramble, Common Nettle +12 more foraging species
Varies
Trails nearby Within roughly 5 km 26 signed routes nearby · 3 public paths nearby
Signed route nearby Public paths
Tollymore Forest - Arboretum Path Walking route 700 m ▾
Named route Length 700 m Round trip Local walking route
Show on map Tollymore Forest - River Trail Walking route 5.2 km ▾
Named route Length 5.2 km Round trip Local walking route
Show on map Tollymore Forest - Mountain Trail Walking route 8.8 km ▾
Named route Length 8.8 km Round trip Local walking route
Show on map Newcastle Way Walking route 42.5 km ▾
Named route Length 42.5 km Round trip Regional walking route
Show on map Moorish Tower Walk Walking route ▾
Named route Round trip Local walking route
Show on map Magee's Walk public footpath · 5 m ▾
Public path public footpath Length 5 m Surface asphalt Path type: track
Show on map Magee's Walk public footpath · 118 m ▾
Public path public footpath Length 118 m Surface compacted Path type: track
Show on map Cow Lane public footpath · 257 m ▾
Public path public footpath Length 257 m Surface dirt Path type: track
Show on map 5 signed routes nearby
Signed route nearby
National Cycle Network National Route 99 Extension Cycling route ▾
Newcastle to Newry
Named route Ref 99 National Cycle Network
Show on map Castlewellan Cycleway/Footway Cycling route ▾
Route 1 - The Newcastle / Lough Island Reavy Route Cycling route 25 km ▾
Named route Ref 1 Length 25 km Round trip Regional cycle route
Show on map Route 2 - The Slieve Croob Route Cycling route 25 km ▾
Named route Ref 2 Length 25 km Round trip Regional cycle route
Show on map Route 3 - The Legananny Route Cycling route 20 km ▾
Named route Ref 3 Length 20 km Round trip Regional cycle route
Show on map 5 signed routes nearby
Signed route nearby
Castlewellan Forest Park - Blue Trail Mountain bike route 4.5 km ▾
Named route Length 4.5 km
Show on map Castlewellan Forest Park - Black Trail (The Great Escarpe) Mountain bike route ▾
Castlewellan Forest Park - Green Trail Mountain bike route 4 km ▾
Named route Length 4 km
Show on map Castlewellan Forest Park - Black Trail (Dolly's Chute) Mountain bike route ▾
Castlewellan Forest Park - Red Trail Mountain bike route 19 km ▾
Named route Length 19 km
Show on map Photos J3237 : View SE along the Cypress Lake Trail at Castlewellan Forest Park
‹ ›
Weather for this location Next 14 days Nearby places Useful places within 5 km
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UK green spaces mapped from open public data — so anyone can find the woodland, trail, or nature reserve closest to them.
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Bookable tours Wildlife to spot
2,156 records · National Biodiversity Network
▾
Wildlife to spot 2,156 records · National Biodiversity Network Chaffinch · Robin · Wren · Blue Tit · Black-headed Gull +32
Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs Robin Erithacus rubecula Wren Troglodytes troglodytes Blue Tit Cyanistes caeruleus Black-headed Gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo Great Tit Parus major Rook Corvus frugilegus Blackbird Turdus merula Jackdaw Coloeus monedula Coal Tit Periparus ater Mallard Anas platyrhynchos Woodpigeon Columba palumbus Goldcrest Regulus regulus Willow Warbler Phylloscopus trochilus Herring Gull Larus argentatus Song Thrush Turdus philomelos2024 Hooded Crow Corvus cornix2024 Siskin Spinus spinus2024 Pied Wagtail Motacilla alba yarrellii2024 Grey Heron Ardea cinerea2024 Treecreeper Certhia familiaris Coot Fulica atra Great Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos major Jay Garrulus glandarius2024 Common Gull Larus canus2024 Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea2024 Long-tailed Tit Aegithalos caudatus2024 House Sparrow Passer domesticus2023 Magpie Pica pica2023 Starling Sturnus vulgaris2023 Mistle Thrush Turdus viscivorus2023 Stonechat Saxicola rubicola2023 Dunnock Prunella modularis2023 Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla2023 Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita2023 🦌 Mammals 2 species
summer autumn
2025 ▾
Red Squirrel · Hedgehog
Red Squirrel Sciurus vulgaris Hedgehog Erinaceus europaeus2024 🐸 Amphibians 2 species
winter spring
2026 ▾
Frog · Smooth Newt
Frog Rana Smooth Newt Lissotriton vulgaris2023 🐝 Insects 38 species
spring autumn
2025 ▾
Leucozona glaucia · Glyphotaelius pellucidus · Ctenicera cuprea · Azure Damselfly · Blue-tailed Damselfly +33
Leucozona glaucia Leucozona glaucia Glyphotaelius pellucidus Glyphotaelius pellucidus Ctenicera cuprea Ctenicera cuprea2024 Azure Damselfly Coenagrion puella2024 Blue-tailed Damselfly Ischnura elegans2024 Irish Damselfly Porcelain Fungus · Amanita'r Gwybed · Geranium Brittlegill · Cingroen · Golden Waxcap +5
Porcelain Fungus Mucidula mucida Amanita'r Gwybed Amanita muscaria Geranium Brittlegill Russula fellea Cingroen Phallus impudicus Golden Waxcap Hygrocybe chlorophana Parrot Waxcap Gliophorus psittacinus Ugly Milkcap Lactarius turpis 🌿 Plants 27 species
spring summer
2026 ▾
Wood Anemone · Gorse · Wood-sorrel · Dock · Lesser Celandine +22
Wood Anemone Anemone nemorosa Gorse Ulex europaeus Wood-sorrel Oxalis acetosella Dock Rumex Lesser Celandine Ficaria verna Holly Ilex aquifolium Hedera Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas
Wildlife to spot 2,156 records · National Biodiversity Network Chaffinch · Robin · Wren · Blue Tit · Black-headed Gull +32
Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs Robin Erithacus rubecula Wren Troglodytes troglodytes Blue Tit Cyanistes caeruleus Black-headed Gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo Great Tit Parus major Rook Corvus frugilegus Blackbird Turdus merula Jackdaw Coloeus monedula Coal Tit Periparus ater Mallard Anas platyrhynchos Woodpigeon Columba palumbus Goldcrest Regulus regulus Willow Warbler Phylloscopus trochilus Herring Gull Larus argentatus Song Thrush Turdus philomelos2024 Hooded Crow Corvus cornix2024 Siskin Spinus spinus2024 Pied Wagtail Motacilla alba yarrellii2024 Grey Heron Ardea cinerea2024 Treecreeper Certhia familiaris Coot Fulica atra Great Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos major Jay Garrulus glandarius2024 Common Gull Larus canus2024 Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea2024 Long-tailed Tit Aegithalos caudatus2024 House Sparrow Passer domesticus2023 Magpie Pica pica2023 Starling Sturnus vulgaris2023 Mistle Thrush Turdus viscivorus2023 Stonechat Saxicola rubicola2023 Dunnock Prunella modularis2023 Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla2023 Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita2023 🦌 Mammals 2 species
summer autumn
2025 ▾
Red Squirrel · Hedgehog
Red Squirrel Sciurus vulgaris Hedgehog Erinaceus europaeus2024 🐸 Amphibians 2 species
winter spring
2026 ▾
Frog · Smooth Newt
Frog Rana Smooth Newt Lissotriton vulgaris2023 🐝 Insects 38 species
spring autumn
2025 ▾
Leucozona glaucia · Glyphotaelius pellucidus · Ctenicera cuprea · Azure Damselfly · Blue-tailed Damselfly +33
Leucozona glaucia Leucozona glaucia Glyphotaelius pellucidus Glyphotaelius pellucidus Ctenicera cuprea Ctenicera cuprea2024 Azure Damselfly Coenagrion puella2024 Blue-tailed Damselfly Ischnura elegans2024 Irish Damselfly Porcelain Fungus · Amanita'r Gwybed · Geranium Brittlegill · Cingroen · Golden Waxcap +5
Porcelain Fungus Mucidula mucida Amanita'r Gwybed Amanita muscaria Geranium Brittlegill Russula fellea Cingroen Phallus impudicus Golden Waxcap Hygrocybe chlorophana Parrot Waxcap Gliophorus psittacinus Ugly Milkcap Lactarius turpis 🌿 Plants 27 species
spring summer
2026 ▾
Wood Anemone · Gorse · Wood-sorrel · Dock · Lesser Celandine +22
Wood Anemone Anemone nemorosa Gorse Ulex europaeus Wood-sorrel Oxalis acetosella Dock Rumex Lesser Celandine Ficaria verna Holly Ilex aquifolium Hedera Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas
Coenagrion lunulatum2024
Coenagrion lunulatum2024
Large Red Damselfly Pyrrhosoma nymphula2024
Large Red Damselfly Pyrrhosoma nymphula2024
Halesus radiatus Halesus radiatus
Halesus radiatus Halesus radiatus
Shining Alder Leaf-miner Phyllonorycter klemannella
Shining Alder Leaf-miner Phyllonorycter klemannella
Common Red Soldier Beetle Rhagonycha fulva
Common Red Soldier Beetle Rhagonycha fulva
Common Cockchafer Melolontha melolontha
Common Cockchafer Melolontha melolontha
Nut Leaf Blister Moth Phyllonorycter coryli2024
Nut Leaf Blister Moth Phyllonorycter coryli2024
Knopper Gall Causer Andricus quercuscalicis f. agamic2024
Knopper Gall Causer Andricus quercuscalicis f. agamic2024
Chrysolina banksii Chrysolina banksii2024
Chrysolina banksii Chrysolina banksii2024
Nettle-Tap Anthophila fabriciana2024
Nettle-Tap Anthophila fabriciana2024
Phytomyza marginella Phytomyza marginella2024
Phytomyza marginella Phytomyza marginella2024
Phytomyza ranunculivora Phytomyza ranunculivora2024
Phytomyza ranunculivora Phytomyza ranunculivora2024
Limnephilus rhombicus Limnephilus rhombicus2024
Limnephilus rhombicus Limnephilus rhombicus2024
Green Shieldbug Palomena prasina2024
Green Shieldbug Palomena prasina2024
Common Hawker Aeshna juncea2024
Common Hawker Aeshna juncea2024
Birch Shieldbug Elasmostethus interstinctus2024
Birch Shieldbug Elasmostethus interstinctus2024
Common Darter Sympetrum striolatum2024
Common Darter Sympetrum striolatum2024
Comma Polygonia c-album2024
Comma Polygonia c-album2024
Brown Hawker Aeshna grandis2024
Brown Hawker Aeshna grandis2024
Marmalade Hoverfly Episyrphus balteatus2024
Marmalade Hoverfly Episyrphus balteatus2024
Limnephilus Limnephilus2024
Limnephilus Limnephilus2024
Volucella pellucens Volucella pellucens2024
Volucella pellucens Volucella pellucens2024
Melanostoma scalare Melanostoma scalare2024
Melanostoma scalare Melanostoma scalare2024
Eristalis pertinax Eristalis pertinax2024
Eristalis pertinax Eristalis pertinax2024
Paropsisterna selmani Paropsisterna selmani2024
Paropsisterna selmani Paropsisterna selmani2024
Xylota sylvarum Xylota sylvarum2023
Xylota sylvarum Xylota sylvarum2023
Lagria hirta Lagria hirta2023
Lagria hirta Lagria hirta2023
Variable Damselfly Coenagrion pulchellum2023
Variable Damselfly Coenagrion pulchellum2023
Scalloped Hazel Odontopera bidentata2023
Scalloped Hazel Odontopera bidentata2023
Pale Tussock Calliteara pudibunda2023
Pale Tussock Calliteara pudibunda2023
Nut-tree Tussock Colocasia coryli2023
Nut-tree Tussock Colocasia coryli2023
Poplar Hawk-moth Laothoe populi2023
Poplar Hawk-moth Laothoe populi2023
10-spot Ladybird Adalia decempunctata2023
10-spot Ladybird Adalia decempunctata2023
Blusher Amanita rubescens var. rubescens
Blusher Amanita rubescens var. rubescens
Witch's Butter Exidia glandulosa
Witch's Butter Exidia glandulosa
Clouded Funnel Clitocybe nebularis
Clouded Funnel Clitocybe nebularis Hedera
Hedera
Hyacinthoides Hyacinthoides
Hyacinthoides Hyacinthoides
Bramble Rubus
Bramble Rubus
Wood Sage Teucrium scorodonia2025
Wood Sage Teucrium scorodonia2025
Common Figwort Scrophularia nodosa2025
Common Figwort Scrophularia nodosa2025
Toothwort Lathraea squamaria2025
Toothwort Lathraea squamaria2025
Montbretia Crocosmia aurea x pottsii = C. x crocosmiiflora2024
Montbretia Crocosmia aurea x pottsii = C. x crocosmiiflora2024
Himalayan Honeysuckle Leycesteria formosa2024
Himalayan Honeysuckle Leycesteria formosa2024
Cuckooflower Cardamine pratensis2024
Cuckooflower Cardamine pratensis2024
Germander Speedwell Veronica chamaedrys2024
Germander Speedwell Veronica chamaedrys2024
Ramsons Allium ursinum2024
Ramsons Allium ursinum2024
Bugle Ajuga reptans2024
Bugle Ajuga reptans2024
Herb-Robert Geranium robertianum2024
Herb-Robert Geranium robertianum2024
Bush Vetch Vicia sepium2024
Bush Vetch Vicia sepium2024
Japanese Knotweed Reynoutria japonica2024
Japanese Knotweed Reynoutria japonica2024
Honeysuckle Lonicera periclymenum2023
Honeysuckle Lonicera periclymenum2023
Selfheal Prunella vulgaris2023
Selfheal Prunella vulgaris2023
Bell Heather Erica cinerea2023
Bell Heather Erica cinerea2023
Marsh Thistle Cirsium palustre2023
Marsh Thistle Cirsium palustre2023
Nipplewort Lapsana communis2023
Nipplewort Lapsana communis2023
Salmonberry Rubus spectabilis2023
Salmonberry Rubus spectabilis2023 