Kilbroney Park — Attraction in Newry, Mourne and Down District Council

Absolutely disgusting behaviour by Park Staff who seem to forget they are employed by the Rates Payers. Locked in Car Park by Staff who obviously don't care about the safety and well being of visitors or locals. Entered the car park at 9.15 cause it seemed to be opened after the closing time stated on the sign, to drive across the bottom car park immediately turn and return to the entrance to find it locked. Not one loop by the staff to see if anyone was in the car park and inform them that it was closing, especially today on the warmest day of the year you think that they would be trying to be as diligent as possible to ensure visitor safety. After eventually getting in contact with someone there was a pleasant young girl who came to try her best to help us and a visiting family of 2 adults, a 2 year old, and a new born baby from Cavan, who had fallen to the same fate as ourselves. This young girl tried to get the gate opened but was unable to do so because there had been no keys left with staff on Council Property to be able to unlock the gates of the park. Then arrived the problem, a very pompous individual who obviously thinks they hold a higher position than what she actually does arrived and began to try and school a visitor to this area who obviously hadn't gotten a very good introduction from the outset of their visit. What ever happened to Irish hospitality and helping out a person in need. This jobsworth obviously thinks they need to belittle people to make themselves feel better. Eventually after an argument with a visitor who's new born child wasn't coping too well with the heat and was quite agitated, and an argument with myself trying to say that it wasn't council employees position to ensure the safety of visitors to the park, she pulled herself of her pedestal and opened the gate. Maybe in future this individual can send someone who actually can relate to humans and not full of their own...

Kilbroney has everything you could want from an outdoor experience. Stunning views and location have to take the accolades but accessibility, variety and facilities are all a close second. Located just outside Rostrevor, on Carlingford Lough, Newry, Kilkeel and Warrenpoint are all close towns with major and main feeder roads, making travelling easy. Value for money is second to none as access to the whole site is free. Kilbroney offers park walks and the brilliant Narnia trail for child and adult adventures into the world of CS Lewis. World class mountain bike trails from long Red routes to challenging technical Black routes and two Orange enduro Downhill routes, ensure that all levels of thrill seekers are catered for. For those looking to take in the views by foot there are many miles of trails through the forest and over higher ground. It is possible to walk all day and still not see all the park has to offer. Kilbroney also has a great cafe with spectacular views of the parkland for those that just want to drink in the views. A forest drive lets those who want a less strenuous way to experience the forest and hills explore the area without getting their walking shoes on. No trip to Kilbroney would be complete without a short trek to the Cloughmore Stone. The views will blow you away. Accessible from the Top Car park on the forest drive, a short but steep walk on a well signposted forest lane will lead you to a stunning view of Carkingford Lough and many...

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...