Walks and adventure sports in Down
Ulster
Sport Ireland's National Trails Register is a Republic of Ireland dataset and doesn't reach Down. The 34 waymarked walking routes below come from OpenStreetMap instead, which has no border, including Lecale Way and Lecale Way (Ulster Way Section).
Spots worth the trip
Named on our sport and activity guides.
Mourne Mountains
Hillwalking & MountaineeringGranite peaks packed into a small area, stitched together by the Mourne Wall. Slieve Donard at 850m is the highest in Northern Ireland.
Rostrevor (Kilbroney)
Mountain BikingThe most technical trail centre on the island, dropping off the Mournes to Carlingford Lough. Has hosted international enduro racing.
Belfast area
OrienteeringForest parks and urban events run by the Northern Ireland clubs, including sprint racing in city parks.
Strangford Lough
SailingA large, near-enclosed sea lough. The most sheltered sailing water in Ireland, with fierce tides at the Narrows.
Waymarked walking routes in Down
From OpenStreetMap, which covers the whole island. Sport Ireland's register stops at the border.
Lecale Way
66 km · RegionalLecale Way (Ulster Way Section)
66 km · RegionalNewcastle Way
42.5 km · Regional · LoopMourne Way
42 km · RegionalLagan Towpath
19.2 km · RegionalBoundary Trail, Castle Ward
12.8 km · Local · LoopNational Trust
Hoof Trail, Castle Ward
12 km · Local · LoopNational Trust
Boundary Walk, Mount Stewart
9.5 km · Local · LoopNational Trust
Slieve Donard Trail, Mournes
9.1 km · Local · LoopNational Trust
Demense Walk, Mount Stewart
5 km · Local · LoopNational Trust
Green Trail, Mount Stewart
4 km · Local · LoopNational Trust
Blue Trail, Mount Stewart
3.4 km · Local · LoopNational Trust
Cloughmore Trail
2.1 km · Local · LoopWoodland Trail
Local · LoopWhyte Estate
Boundary Trail
Local · LoopWhyte Estate
Portkelly Trail
LoopNational Nature Reserve Trail
LoopBar Hall Bay Trail
LoopUlster Way (Newry Canal section)
NationalTrassey Track
LocalNewry, Mourne and Down District Council
Glen River Trail
LocalNational Trust;Newry, Mourne and Down District Council
Designated Footpath 68
Granite Trail
LocalSt Patrick's Way: The Pilgrim Walk
RegionalThe Bogie Line
LocalNewry, Mourne and Down District Council
Drinneevar Loop
LocalNewry, Mourne and Down District Council
Donard Loop
LocalNewry, Mourne and Down District Council
Ring of Gullion Way - Section 1
RegionalAnnalong Coastal Path
LocalFallows Trail
Local · LoopNewry, Mourne and Down District Council
Connswater Community Greenway
RegionalLough Shannagh
Local · LoopTrassey Track (upper)
Whitewater Trail
Local · LoopThe Woodland Trust
Route data © OpenStreetMap contributors, licensed under ODbL. Snapshot taken 2026-08-03.
Designated bathing waters in Down
We can't show live status for these. DAERA publishes the list of designated bathing waters but no live quality or restriction feed, so there is nothing for us to check against. That is the opposite of an all-clear, so check DAERA's bathing water quality service before swimming at any of them.
- Ballyholmedesignated 1988
- Ballyhornandesignated 2017
- Ballywalterdesignated 2006
- Brompton Baydesignated 2025
- Clougheydesignated 2017
- Cranfielddesignated 1988
- Crawfordsburndesignated 1988
- Donaghadeedesignated 2025
- Groomsportdesignated 1988
- Helen's Baydesignated 1988
- Kilcliefdesignated 2017
- Millisledesignated 1988
- Murloughdesignated 2006
- Newcastledesignated 1988
- Tyrelladesignated 1988
- Warrenpointdesignated 2025
Bathing water list from DAERA, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. County assigned from OpenStreetMap boundaries (ODbL). Snapshot taken 2026-08-04.
Sports in Down, in depth
The sports with named spots, accredited centres or registered trails in the county.
11 clubs and schools in Down
Listed by Irish Sailing and Mountaineering Ireland. Reproduced as each body publishes it, with a link back to the register. Contact details are theirs, not checked by us.
- Website
- ballyholme.com
- Phone
- 028 9127 1467
- [email protected]
- Website
- clyc.info
- Phone
- 004428 4173 8604
- [email protected]
Gilford Climbing Club
Club- Phone
- 07956227806
- Website
- rniyc.org
- Phone
- 0044 28 9042 8041
- [email protected]
- Website
- slyc.co.uk
- Phone
- 028 97541883
- [email protected]
The Feel Good Factor
Club- Website
- face book - the feel good factor
- Phone
- 07576470042
Adventure centres in Down
Established centres operating in Down. None currently carries a published accreditation we can cite.
The full directory →Guides for Down
Common questions
How many waymarked trails are there in Down?
The National Trails Register lists none, because it's a Republic of Ireland dataset that doesn't extend to Down. OpenStreetMap maps 34 named waymarked walking routes there, which is what's listed on this page.
Are there sports clubs in Down?
11 clubs and schools in Down are listed by their national governing body: Irish Sailing and Mountaineering Ireland. They cover 3 sports between them, and each listing links back to the register it came from.
Are there adventure centres in Down?
1 in our directory: East Coast Adventure. None currently carries a published accreditation we can cite, which is a gap in what the governing bodies publish rather than a judgement on the centres.
What adventure sports can you do in Down?
hillwalking & mountaineering, mountain biking, orienteering, sailing, based on the trails registered in the county and the locations named on our sport guides.
Elsewhere in Ulster
Trail data from the Sport Ireland National Trails Register, licensed under CC BY 4.0. Start points from the companion Trailheads dataset. Snapshot taken 2026-08-13. The register records waymarked trails only, so check the trail operator for current conditions and closures.