Plan your visit
🦉Wildlife🦅Birds🍂Seasonal
Dogs welcome
Getting here
54.27601, -6.04940
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
- 🌿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
- 🌿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
🦉Wildlife
Very strong match
Multi-group wildlife — Birds, Mammals; Multi-group wildlife — Birds, Mammals
Free
🦅Bird watching
Strong match
Birds — Jackdaw, Magpie, Robin +29 more · last seen 2019; Birds — Jackdaw, Magpie, Robin +29 more · last seen 2019
Free
🍂Seasonal nature
Strong match
Plants — Hazel, Bramble, Cleavers +29 more · last seen 2018; Plants — Hazel, Bramble, Cleavers +29 more · last seen 2018
Free
Plants — Hazel, Bramble, Hogweed +8 more foraging species
Varies
🦋Insect spotting
Good match
Insects — Yellow-legged Furrow Bee, Neoascia podagrica, Gwynne's Mining Bee +15 more · last seen 2023; Insects — Yellow-legged Furrow Bee, Neoascia podagrica, Gwynne's Mining Bee +15 more · last seen 2023
Free
Trails nearby
Within roughly 5 km9 signed routes nearby
Signed route nearby
Newcastle WayWalking route42.5 km▾
Named routeLength 42.5 kmRound tripRegional walking route
Moorish Tower WalkWalking route▾
Named routeRound tripLocal walking route
Adders LoanainWalking route▾
Named routeLocal walking route
Scotch Rock PadWalking route▾
Kilcoo GraveyardWalking route▾
Named routeLocal walking route
2 signed routes nearby
Signed route nearby
Route 1 - The Newcastle / Lough Island Reavy RouteCycling route25 km▾
Named routeRef 1Length 25 kmRound tripRegional cycle route
Route 3 - The Legananny RouteCycling route20 km▾
Named routeRef 3Length 20 kmRound tripRegional cycle route
4 signed routes nearby
Signed route nearby
Castlewellan Forest Park - Blue TrailMountain bike route4.5 km▾
Named routeLength 4.5 km
Castlewellan Forest Park - Green TrailMountain bike route4 km▾
Named routeLength 4 km
Castlewellan Forest Park - Black Trail (Dolly's Chute)Mountain bike route▾
Castlewellan Forest Park - Red TrailMountain bike route19 km▾
Named routeLength 19 km
Photos
J2738 : Sharp bend in the A50 at the entrance to Ballyward Lodge
Weather for this location
Next 14 daysNearby places
Useful places within 5 km
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Events & activities nearby
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Wildlife to spot
240 records · National Biodiversity Network
Wildlife to spot
240 records · National Biodiversity Network🐦Birds32 species
winterspring
2019▾
Jackdaw · Magpie · Robin · Blackbird · Woodpigeon +27
- JackdawColoeus monedula
- MagpiePica pica
- RobinErithacus rubecula
- BlackbirdTurdus merula
- WoodpigeonColumba palumbus
- ChaffinchFringilla coelebs
- Great TitParus major
- StarlingSturnus vulgaris
- WrenTroglodytes troglodytes
- Hooded CrowCorvus cornix2014
- House SparrowPasser domesticus
- DunnockPrunella modularis
- GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis
- Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus
- Meadow PipitAnthus pratensis2014
- RookCorvus frugilegus2014
- LinnetLinaria cannabina
- SwallowHirundo rustica
- Coal TitPeriparus ater
- PheasantPhasianus colchicus
- MallardAnas platyrhynchos2018
- Pied WagtailMotacilla alba yarrellii2014
- Grey HeronArdea cinerea2014
- Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorus2014
- Rock DoveColumba livia2014
- Collared DoveStreptopelia decaocto2014
- House MartinDelichon urbicum
- Grey WagtailMotacilla cinerea
- Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscus2014
- Herring GullLarus argentatus2014
- RedwingTurdus iliacus2014
- JayGarrulus glandarius2012
🦌Mammals5 species
springsummerautumn
2024▾
Brown Rat · Hedgehog · Pine Marten · Red Fox · Red Squirrel
- Brown RatRattus norvegicus2014
- HedgehogErinaceus europaeus
- Pine MartenMartes martes2023
- Red FoxVulpes vulpes2017
- Red SquirrelSciurus vulgaris2016
Yellow-legged Furrow Bee · Neoascia podagrica · Gwynne's Mining Bee · Marmalade Hoverfly · Eristalis tenax +13
- Yellow-legged Furrow BeeHalictus rubicundus
- Neoascia podagricaNeoascia podagrica
- Gwynne's Mining BeeAndrena bicolor
- Marmalade HoverflyEpisyrphus balteatus
- Eristalis tenaxEristalis tenax
- Common Furrow BeeLasioglossum calceatum
- Syritta pipiens
Cleavers · Rough Meadow-grass · Cow Parsley · Common Nettle · Hazel +32
- CleaversGalium aparine2017
- Rough Meadow-grassPoa trivialis2017
- Cow ParsleyAnthriscus sylvestris2017
- Common NettleUrtica dioica2017
- HazelCorylus
- BrambleRubus
Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas
Wildlife to spot
240 records · National Biodiversity Network🐦Birds32 species
winterspring
2019▾
Jackdaw · Magpie · Robin · Blackbird · Woodpigeon +27
- JackdawColoeus monedula
- MagpiePica pica
- RobinErithacus rubecula
- BlackbirdTurdus merula
- WoodpigeonColumba palumbus
- ChaffinchFringilla coelebs
- Great TitParus major
- StarlingSturnus vulgaris
- WrenTroglodytes troglodytes
- Hooded CrowCorvus cornix2014
- House SparrowPasser domesticus
- DunnockPrunella modularis
- GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis
- Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus
- Meadow PipitAnthus pratensis2014
- RookCorvus frugilegus2014
- LinnetLinaria cannabina
- SwallowHirundo rustica
- Coal TitPeriparus ater
- PheasantPhasianus colchicus
- MallardAnas platyrhynchos2018
- Pied WagtailMotacilla alba yarrellii2014
- Grey HeronArdea cinerea2014
- Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorus2014
- Rock DoveColumba livia2014
- Collared DoveStreptopelia decaocto2014
- House MartinDelichon urbicum
- Grey WagtailMotacilla cinerea
- Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscus2014
- Herring GullLarus argentatus2014
- RedwingTurdus iliacus2014
- JayGarrulus glandarius2012
🦌Mammals5 species
springsummerautumn
2024▾
Brown Rat · Hedgehog · Pine Marten · Red Fox · Red Squirrel
- Brown RatRattus norvegicus2014
- HedgehogErinaceus europaeus
- Pine MartenMartes martes2023
- Red FoxVulpes vulpes2017
- Red SquirrelSciurus vulgaris2016
Yellow-legged Furrow Bee · Neoascia podagrica · Gwynne's Mining Bee · Marmalade Hoverfly · Eristalis tenax +13
- Yellow-legged Furrow BeeHalictus rubicundus
- Neoascia podagricaNeoascia podagrica
- Gwynne's Mining BeeAndrena bicolor
- Marmalade HoverflyEpisyrphus balteatus
- Eristalis tenaxEristalis tenax
- Common Furrow BeeLasioglossum calceatum
- Syritta pipiens
Cleavers · Rough Meadow-grass · Cow Parsley · Common Nettle · Hazel +32
- CleaversGalium aparine2017
- Rough Meadow-grassPoa trivialis2017
- Cow ParsleyAnthriscus sylvestris2017
- Common NettleUrtica dioica2017
- HazelCorylus
- BrambleRubus
Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas
Syritta pipiens
Syritta pipiens
Ashy Mining BeeAndrena cineraria2017Ashy Mining BeeAndrena cineraria2017Rhingia campestrisRhingia campestrisRhingia campestrisRhingia campestrisMelanostoma mellinumMelanostoma mellinumMelanostoma mellinumMelanostoma mellinumSphaerophoria scriptaSphaerophoria scriptaSphaerophoria scriptaSphaerophoria scriptaWhite-jawed Yellow-face BeeHylaeus confususWhite-jawed Yellow-face BeeHylaeus confususHelophilus pendulusHelophilus pendulusHelophilus pendulusHelophilus pendulusBuffish Mining BeeAndrena nigroaeneaBuffish Mining BeeAndrena nigroaeneaBloomed Furrow BeeLasioglossum albipesBloomed Furrow BeeLasioglossum albipesEupeodes lunigerEupeodes lunigerEupeodes lunigerEupeodes lunigerWhite-tailed BumblebeeBombus lucorum/terrestris/magnus/cryptarumWhite-tailed BumblebeeBombus lucorum/terrestris/magnus/cryptarumSmall TortoiseshellAglais urticae2017Small TortoiseshellAglais urticae2017Opposite-leaved Golden-saxifrage
Opposite-leaved Golden-saxifrage
Chrysosplenium oppositifolium2017
Chrysosplenium oppositifolium2017
HogweedHeracleum sphondylium2017HogweedHeracleum sphondylium2017Bush VetchVicia sepium2017Bush VetchVicia sepium2017Creeping ButtercupRanunculus repens2017Creeping ButtercupRanunculus repens2017HawthornCrataegus monogyna2017HawthornCrataegus monogyna2017AshFraxinus excelsiorAshFraxinus excelsiorPlumPrunus domestica subsp. domesticaPlumPrunus domestica subsp. domesticaSycamoreAcer pseudoplatanus2017SycamoreAcer pseudoplatanus2017ElderSambucus nigra2017ElderSambucus nigra2017Barren StrawberryPotentilla sterilis2017Barren StrawberryPotentilla sterilis2017Sow ThistleSonchus2017Sow ThistleSonchus2017WillowherbEpilobium2017WillowherbEpilobium2017Lesser CelandineFicaria verna2017Lesser CelandineFicaria verna2017Wavy Bitter-cressCardamine flexuosa2017Wavy Bitter-cressCardamine flexuosa2017Common SorrelRumex acetosa2017Common SorrelRumex acetosa2017VioletViola2017VioletViola2017Herb-RobertGeranium robertianum2017Herb-RobertGeranium robertianum2017BluebellHyacinthoides non-scripta2017BluebellHyacinthoides non-scripta2017Wood AvensGeum urbanum2017Wood AvensGeum urbanum2017IvyHedera helix2017IvyHedera helix2017Wild AngelicaAngelica sylvestris2017Wild AngelicaAngelica sylvestris2017MeadowsweetFilipendula ulmaria2017MeadowsweetFilipendula ulmaria2017Germander SpeedwellVeronica chamaedrys2017Germander SpeedwellVeronica chamaedrys2017Sweet Vernal-grassAnthoxanthum odoratum2017Sweet Vernal-grassAnthoxanthum odoratum2017BlackthornPrunus spinosa2017BlackthornPrunus spinosa2017Wood-sorrelOxalis acetosella2017Wood-sorrelOxalis acetosella2017Autumn HawkbitScorzoneroides autumnalis2010Autumn HawkbitScorzoneroides autumnalis2010Common Bird's-foot-trefoilLotus corniculatus2010Common Bird's-foot-trefoilLotus corniculatus2010Meadow FoxtailAlopecurus pratensis2010Meadow FoxtailAlopecurus pratensis2010Festuca rubraFestuca rubra2010Festuca rubraFestuca rubra2010Common BentAgrostis capillaris2010Common BentAgrostis capillaris2010