SKL's Walking Blog

Newcastle Way – 2

Bryansford to Newcastle – 4th November 2025

Today stayed much drier than I was expecting, which was nice. Started at Tollymore Forest in Bryansford, circumnavigated the forest then down into Newcastle and along to the hotel to join up with the bit I did in May from there to Dundrum.

The start in Tullymore – actually the exit.
Down the hill. I never like loosing height first thing.
The colours are outstanding. Though I never knew that the Scots Pines turned orange in the Autumn.
A nice forest path and the glorious autumnal trees.
Along the Shimna river for a time which I will meet again down in Newcastle.
Some bits are now a wasteland of cut trunks. The smell of the pine is overpowering.
I waited £5 at the ready but no one showed.
Can’t see very much more than yesterday.
A memorial. I do wonder if it will get buried under a pile of stones set down by passing walkers and achieve a sort of monument status.
Newcastle and in the distance the red brick Slieve Donard at the finish.
The mountain itself remains elusive.
The swans and ducks at the boating lakes.
The Shimna River emptying into the sea.

I quite enjoyed today, despite having a bit of a moment in the middle of the night when I nearly packed up and went home. So uncomfortable and driven by something, I stuck it out in the end and did today on very little sleep. Still.