Newcastle

Introducing Newcastle

In the last couple of years the Victorian seaside resort of Newcastle (An Caisleán Nua) has undergone a multimillion-pound makeover, and now sports a snazzy new promenade stretching for more than a kilometre along the seafront, complete with modern sculptures and an elegant footbridge over the Shimna River. The facelift makes the most of Newcastle’s superb setting on a 5km strand of golden sand at the foot of the Mourne Mountains, and there are hopes that it will transform the town’s fortunes from fading bucket-and-spade resort to outdoor activities capital and gateway to the proposed Mourne National Park.

One short stretch of main street is still a gauntlet of amusement arcades and fast-food takeaways, which can get a bit raucous on Friday and Saturday nights, but the town is still a good base for exploring Murlough National Nature Reserve and the Mourne Mountains – accessible from here on foot, by car or by public transport – while golfers from around the globe flock to the Royal County Down golf course, voted the ‘best in the world outside the US’ by the magazine Planet Golf in 2007.

Last updated: Jul 22, 2009