Things to do in South Down & The Mourne Mountains
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Silent Valley Reservoir
At the heart of the Mournes is the beautiful Silent Valley Reservoir, where the River Kilkeel was dammed in 1933. There are scenic, waymarked walks around the grounds, a coffee shop and an interesting exhibition on the building of the dam. From the car park, a shuttle bus (adult/child return £1.40/1) will take you another 4km up the valley to the Crom Dam. It runs daily in July and August, weekends only in May, June and September.
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Table Bistro
This stylish cafe-bistro is decked out in identikit Northern Ireland restaurant decor of blonde wood with leather chairs in shades of chocolate and cream. It dishes up big breakfasts (till 11.30am), light lunches (gourmet sandwiches, Caesar salad, pasta carbonara) and delicious dinners from a menu that ranges from steak and chips to prawn and shellfish tagliatelle with cream and white wine sauce.
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Copper
A stalwart of Warrenpoint’s fine-dining scene, Copper is an elegant, white-linen-tablecloth kind of restaurant that combines food sourced from local farms and fish bought from the quayside at Kilkeel with Mediterranean and Asian flavours. There’s a separate vegetarian menu (mains £12.50) with inventive dishes such as sweet-potato pancake with shiitake mushrooms, scallions and black bean sauce.
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Bluelough Mountain & Water Sports Centre
If you fancy a shot at hill walking, rock climbing, canoeing or a range of other outdoor activities, Bluelough Mountain & Water Sports Centre offers one-day, have-a-go sessions for individuals, couples and families (around £60 to £100 per person), as well as Sunday afternoon taster sessions. They also rent canoes for £30/45 per half-day/day.
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Restaurant 23
Set in the Balmoral Hotel on Warrenpoint's waterfront, this innovative restaurant has garnered a Michelin Bib Gourmand and helped turn this corner of County Down into a foodie destination with dishes such as roast scallops with crisp smoked pork and artichoke salad, and sautéed lambs liver with new season asparagus. From Wednesday to Friday there's a three-course set menu for £15.
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Royal County Down Golf Course
Stretching north of town is the Royal County Down Golf Course, whose challenging Championship Links – venue for the 2007 Walker Cup – is full of blind tee shots and monster rough, and is regularly voted one of the world's top 10 golf courses. It's open to visitors on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday.
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Mount Pleasant Pony Trekking & Horse Riding Centre
Sedate outdoor activities are offered by the Mount Pleasant Pony Trekking & Horse Riding Centre, which caters for both experienced riders and beginners, and offers various guided treks into the park. Short rides, beach rides and pony trekking can also be arranged.
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Hotrock
If the weather is wet, you can still go rock climbing at this indoor climbing wall; you can hire rock boots and harness for £3.50. The entrance is on the B180, 2km west of the Tollymore Forest Park exit gate.
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Maud's
Maud's is a bright, modern cafe with picture windows framing a stunning view across the river to the Mournes. It serves breakfast, good coffee, a range of tempting scones and sticky buns, plus salads, crêpes, pizzas and pastas; there's a kids menu, too.
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Brass Monkey
Newry's most popular pub, with Victorian brass, brick and timber decor, serves good bar meals ranging from lasagne and burgers to seafood and steaks. At weekends you can get a full Irish fried breakfast for £5 (9am till noon).
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Café Krem
A friendly, community atmosphere and the best coffee in town make Café Krem stand out from the crowd. There's also wicked hot chocolate, tasty soups, sandwiches, pasta and panini, and a couple of big, soft sofas to sink into.
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Strand Restaurant & Bakery
The Strand has been around since 1930, and dishes up great homemade ice cream and cakes, as well as serving all-day breakfast (£2 to £5), lunch and dinner in its traditional, seaside, chips-with-everything restaurant.
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Mourne Cycle Tours
Provides mountain- and touring-bike hire (from £10/15/80 per half-day/day/week) and can arrange self-guided tours and family cycling weekends, including accommodation.
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Sea Salt
Both delicatessen and bistro, Sea Salt serves everything from a morning cappuccino to a lunchtime seafood platter, with an evening menu that ranges from Spanish tapas to themed menus from around the world.
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Mourne Café
A new venture by the owners of the Mourne Seafood Bar, this informal, family-friendly cafe dishes up a kids menu (mains £5) as well as seafood chowder and beer-battered haddock and chips for mum and dad.
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Surfin' Dirt
A three-hour beginner's session, including board, safety gear and instruction, at this mountain-boarding track costs £17.50. It's off the B180, 3km west of Bryansford village.
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Newry and Mourne Museum
With exhibits on the Newry Canal and local archaeology, culture and folklore, the museum is housed in Bagenal's Castle, the town's oldest surviving building. Recently rediscovered, having been incorporated into more recent buildings, the 16th-century tower house was built for Nicholas Bagenal, grand marshal of the English army in Ireland. The castle also houses the tourist office.
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Tropicana
A family entertainment centre with outdoor heated fun pools, giant water slides and paddling pools for toddlers.
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Soak
If it's too cold for outdoor bathing, you can simmer away in a hot seaweed bath at nearby Soak.
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Lidl Supermarket
Campers can stock up on provisions at the Lidl Supermarket in the red-brick former train station beside the bus station.
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Hill Trekker
Hill Trekker, at the far south end of town, sells hiking, climbing and camping equipment.
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Vanilla
Newcastle-born chef Darren Ireland has introduced a dash of verve and enthusiasm to the local dining scene with this sharply styled bistro, and a menu that shamelessly promotes Irish produce in dishes such as flaky pastry seafood tart with mustard, cheddar and roast onions, and Irish ribeye steak with mushroom and smoked bacon croquettes. Two-course meal for £12.50 Sunday to Thursday.
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Strand Restaurant & Bakery
The Strand has been around since 1930, and dishes up great homemade ice cream and cakes, as well as serving all-day breakfast (£2 to £5), lunch and dinner in its traditional, seaside, chips-with-everything restaurant.
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Rock Pool
At the south end of the seafront, this outdoor seawater swimming pool dates from the 1930s.
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Murlough National Nature Reserve
Footpaths and boardwalks meander among the grassy dunes, with great views back towards the Mournes.
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