Castlewellan Forest Park

What You'll Find

Castlewellan Forest Park is HUGE, so there's plenty to keep the whole family entertained!

Set around a beautiful lake with woodland trails, a brilliant adventure playground and the famous Peace Maze, this is definitely somewhere you could spend the whole day with the kids.

One of the main attractions for families is the Peace Maze. Let the wee ones lead the way through the winding hedges as you attempt to find your way to the centre. It's great fun, although don't be surprised if the grown-ups end up just as lost as the kids!

And the adventure playground is another one you won't want to miss!

The play area has a brilliant wooden tower inspired by the park's Moorish Tower, complete with climbing walls, a fireman's pole and a rope bridge leading to a hollow tree stump slide. There's even a Red Kite nest to discover! Plenty to keep little adventurers who love climbing and exploring entertained.

There are also miles of beautiful woodland trails to explore, whether you fancy a gentle family stroll or something a little more adventurous.

The lake sits right at the heart of the park and makes a gorgeous backdrop for a walk or picnic. There are plenty of grassy areas too, so bring a picnic blanket and make a day of it!

And if your family loves cycling, Castlewellan has some fantastic cycling and mountain bike trails.

Something we LOVE about Castlewellan is that you don't necessarily need to bring all your own equipment to enjoy a little extra adventure!

Life Adventure Centre operates within the forest park and offers outdoor activities and equipment hire, including bikes. It's a brilliant option if you fancy exploring more of the forest on two wheels without having to load the car with everyone's bikes!

There are picnic and barbecue tables near the main car park, and a coffee cart usually operates during the summer months, which is always a bonus for the grown-ups.

Whether you're visiting for a walk and picnic or planning a full day of climbing, cycling and exploring, Castlewellan Forest Park really does have something for lots of different ages.

Wee Ones Will Love...

• ✓Finding their way through the famous Peace Maze
• ✓Climbing the adventure playground's wooden tower, rope bridge and tree stump slide
• ✓Exploring the woodland trails and spotting wildlife
• ✓Walking beside the beautiful lake and enjoying a family picnic
• ✓Bringing their bikes or trying a cycling adventure through the forest

Before You Visit

Castlewellan is a large forest park, so give yourself plenty of time if you're hoping to explore the playground, maze and lake in one visit.

The adventure playground has some challenging climbing equipment, so younger children may need a little help with the higher sections.

There are different walking and cycling trails throughout the park, so it's worth choosing a route that suits your children's ages before setting off.

Life Adventure Centre offers activities and equipment hire separately. Check availability, age requirements and prices directly before travelling.

The coffee cart operates seasonally, so bring drinks and snacks if you're planning to spend the day exploring.

Some woodland trails can become muddy after rain, so sensible shoes or wellies are a good idea.

⭐ Wee Adventurers Top Tips

• ⭐Give yourself plenty of time! Between the Peace Maze, adventure playground and woodland walks, there's much more here than you'll manage in a quick visit.
• ⭐Don't miss the adventure playground. The wooden tower, rope bridge and tree stump slide are brilliant for little climbers!
• ⭐Fancy cycling? Check bike hire and family activities with Life Adventure Centre before you visit. A great option if you don't want to bring your own bikes.
• ⭐Pack a picnic! There are some gorgeous places to stop around the park, especially overlooking the lake.
• ⭐Let the kids lead the way through the Peace Maze. Finding the centre together is half the fun!