Lecale Way

Distance:

40 miles

Start Point:

J485445

Finish Point:

J376310

Point of interest:

St Patrick's Centre, Downpatrick Steam Railway, Down Cathedral, Down Museum, Gallows Hill, Struell Wells, St Patrick's Monument, sandy beaches, seabirds and seals

Nearest town:

Downpatrick

OS map:

Sheets 21 & 29

Terrain:

Off road paths and quiet roads

Route:

The route starts outside the St Patrick’s Centre in Downpatrick and is decribed in one direction only though it can be walked in either direction.

Climb the steps beside the Centre and once reaching the top take a right turn onto English Street. Head down the street and at the next junction cross the road onto the pedestrianised Scotch Street, passing the Down Arts Centre on the right.

Walk to the top of the street and at the next junction bear right, passing Downpatrick Methodist Church and also Saul Street on your left. Walk until meeting the next junction with Fountain Street. At this point keep straight and continue onto the path leading up to Gallows Hill (it is worthwhile taking a short detour onto Gallows Hill to get some great views out over the countryside around Downpatrick). At the end of the path again keep straight ahead onto the Struell Road until reaching the Knocknashinna Road. Turn left and continue walking until reaching the Ballyhornan Road. Taking care with the traffic, turn left and then almost immediately next right onto a quiet road adjacent to the high wall of the old Downshire Hospital.

Continue along this road for approximately 0.5km. passing the first road on the right (the Struell Wells Road) and walk for another 100metres approximately and take the next road to the right. Walk along this road for approximately 2km until reaching the junction with the Dillon Road. Turn left onto the Dillon Road and continue until meeting the next junction with the Ballynagross Road. Keep left and continue north until reaching Ballyalton hamlet.

Taking care, cross the road and climb over the stile onto the public right of way directly ahead. Follow the path until reaching a junction with anther public right of way. Take the path to the right and continue onto the clachan at Ballystokes. Turn right at the next junction, heading down towards Lough Money. On reaching the next junction at the edge of the Lough keep left and follow the path adjacent to the waters edge until reaching the head of the Lough.

At the next path junction again keep left to go through a farm yard with sheds. At the end of the yard turn left through gates onto anther path which will take you through to another clachan of houses called Roneystown. Keep walking until you meet the St Patrick’s Road.

Cross the road and take the public right of way straight ahead.

Follow the path, eventually coming to a stone stile. Climb the stile taking care as you do so and into an open field. Cross over the middle of the field and you should see another stone stile in the field boundary. Cross over that stile and along the path until coming to the main Strangford Road. Please note: this road can be very busy with fast traffic.

Taking extreme care, turn left from the public right of way onto the road for approximately 150 metres and take the next right into another public right of way. Follow the path until reaching the junction with the Myra Road.

In the winter months this stretch of off-road path can become very muddy. An alternative route is to turn right onto the main Strangford Road for approximately 340 metres and turn left onto the Myra Road. Follow this very minor road until reaching the next junction.

Bear right and follow this minor road, taking a sharp right about half way along. Further along you will pass Myra Castle on the left. At the next junction with the Strangford Road, turn left, taking care with the traffic. Turn left at the next junction onto the Audleystown Road and at the next junction keep left, passing St Tassach’s Church and further along the entrance to the Audleystown Cairn. At the next junction take a left and follow the paths around Audley’s Castle, passing the boat house and onto the back gate of Castle Ward, National Trust property which is open from dawn to dusk, Tel: 028 4488 1204. Please note there may be a charge to enter Castleward.

Instead of going through the gates, turn left and walk along the grass at the side of the water. Pass through an archway in the wall and follow the path alongside the Lough, passing the caravan site until reaching the road again. Turn left onto the road.

At this point on the Lecale Way you can either continue into the loop around Strangford Village or continue along the main route of the Lecale Way at the junction of the Blackcauseway Road.

Strangford Loop-continue along the main road (the Castle Ward Road) for approximately 500metres and take the next left onto a public path. Follow the path for about 300metres and turn left into a small path leading to the shore. Follow the shore line-please note this path is rocky underfoot. Continue inland along the path and head up hill through the Millennium Wood and up to Compass Hill and emerge through the ‘Squeeze Gut’ turning right into Strangford village.

Follow the road through Strangford village, passing the village green and ferry slipway. You can then rejoin the main route by taking the road out of the village head back towards Downpatrick, until reaching the junction with the Blackcauseway Road.

If you wish to follow the main Lecale Way turn into the Blackcauseway Road and follow this road south for about forty-five minutes and then turn left at the next junction and left once more. At the next junction bear left again, passing Kilclief Parish Church and not far from Kilclief Castle. The Castle is open to visitors in the summer months and has stunning views. At the next junction take the road on the right, passing Killard Nature Reserve. The road continues to Ballyhornan, an hour from Kilclief Castle, with its wide beach and views across the Irish Sea.

At the next junction, turn left and follow the road until it ends at a small beach, cross the beach and continue along the Ballyhornan Coastal Path, following the coastline until reaching St Patrick’s Well, one to one and a half hours from Ballyhornan. Take care on this path when it is very windy as the area is exposed, parts of the path are steep and near to the edge of cliffs.

Please note - the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) may close the path between Ballyhornan and St Patricks Well, Ardglass during October each year to facilitate the safe management of the Sheepland Coast.

Once at St Patrick’s Well, take the small path to the right which leads back to the Sheepland Road. Turn left along this quiet road until reaching the junction with the Ardtole Road. Bear right to meet the main Strangford Road. Turn left and follow the road into Ardglass and onto Phennick Cove Marina.

From the Marina, turn left into the village, heading uphill in the direction of Coney Island. Pass Coney Island and turn sharp left over Killough Bridge and into the picturesque village of Killough, about an hour's walk from Ardglass. Once reaching the end of the village keep straight ahead at the junction with the Point Road. This leads to the coastal public right of way which links the old coastguard station and the road leading to the ruins of St John’s Church. Take care on this path when it is very windy as the area is exposed, parts of the path are steep and near to the edge of cliffs.

Once at the end of the coastal path climb over the stile opposite a small cottage and turn right onto a quiet country road passing the ruins of St John’s Church. At the next junction, about forty minutes from Killough, turn left. Eventually it joins the main coast road, passing through Minerstown and Tyrella Beach about an hour and a half from St John’s Church.

Continue past Tyrella Beach and then follow the road inland through the village of Ballykinler. From here, keep on a mainly straight line along the main roads and across the Blackstaff Bridge. Take the next left onto the Ardilea Road and then climb the steps to join the Dundrum Coastal Path, turning right heading towards Dundrum. This follows the old railway line to the National Trust car park at Dundrum, two to two and a half hours from Tyrella.

Continue into Dundrum along almost the full length of the Main Street, passing St Donard’s Church of Ireland on your right hand side. Take the next path on the left (opposite Derinilla Lane) which leads into a small planted area leading to Keel Point at the southern end of Dundrum. Once on Keel Point turn left and this road connects into Murlough National Nature Reserve.

After crossing the Downshire Bridge, the route follows the path on the right until it comes to the next junction just off the main Newcastle Road. At this point turn left, following the waymarker posts through the dunes and onto Newcastle Beach, forty minutes from Dundrum. This is an excellent place to savour the classic view of the Mourne Mountains. Follow the beach south for forty-five minutes to Newcastle, passing the Slieve Donard Hotel. Now walk along the promenade seafront, crossing the white bridge over the Shimna River to finish at the well stocked Tourist Information Centre further along the promenade.

Facilities:

Toilets, accomodation and refreshments are available all the way along the walk including the villages and towns of Downpatrick, Strangford, Ardgalss and Newcastle.

Publication:

Lecale Way

Publication availability:

Downpatrick Tourist Information Centre 028 4461 2233 and Countryside Access & Activities Network on 028 90303930.

Getting to the start by public transport:

Downpatrick is well served by buses from Belfast.
Buses from Downpatrick link Ballyhornan, Strangford and Newcastle. Downpatrick bus station is within 300 metres of the start point.

Getting to the start by car:

Once in Downpatrick follow the road signs for the St Patrick's Centre. There is a free car park and several pay car parks within 300 metres of the start point at the St Patrick's Centre.