Walking

The varied landscape of County Down offers walks for people of all abilities. From a stroll through one of the forest parks, to scaling the Mourne Mountains, the well-documented walks take the visitor through fantastic scenery.

The most demanding walk is The Ulster Way, which is a circular route taking in a circuit of Northern Ireland. This requires a good few days and is not for the feint-hearted. The Northern Ireland Tourist Board produces an excellent booklet and large map of this walk

Within half an hour's drive of Seeconnell are also the start points for three of Northern Ireland's annual Walking Festivals, held throughout the summer - the Bridgedale Mourne International Walking Festival (based at Warrenpoint), the Down District Walking Festival (based at Downpatrick), and the Wee Binian Walking Festival (based at Newry). Contact the nearest Tourist Information Centre for more details on dates, times and associated activities.

There are hundreds of other walks, and Banbridge District Council (200 Newry Road, Banbridge BT32 3NB, +44(0)18206 23322) have produced an excellent series of laminated route cards to guide the visitor on short (up to 8 miles) walks in the area of Seeconnell and to the west. There is even one taking in Slieve Croob and the Seeconnell cottages - "The Twelve Cairns".