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EuropeUnited KingdomNorthern Ireland

Castlewellan

Northern Ireland, United Kingdom · Europe

About Castlewellan

Castlewellan is worth a stop: 10 minutes from Newcastle, 5km from Tollymore Forest Park.

Castlewellan is a town located in Northern Ireland, United Kingdom. With a population of 2,499, it is an important destination in Europe.

On a road trip, Castlewellan sits in United Kingdom, where you drive on the left. It's in the Europe/London time zone. Below you'll find where to stay, things to do nearby, and everything you need to add Castlewellan to your route.

About Castlewellan

Castlewellan (from Irish Caisleán Uidhilín, meaning 'Hugelin's castle') is a small town in County Down, in the south-east of Northern Ireland close to the Irish Sea. It is beside Castlewellan Lake and Slievenaslat mountain, 11 miles (18 km) southwest of Downpatrick. It lies between the Mourne Mountains and Slieve

Read more Croob. It had a population of 2,822 people in the 2021 census. Castlewellan has a wide main street which runs through two main squares lined with chestnut trees. The town was designed by a French architect for the Annesley family. The Annesley family did not always own the land as they bought it from the Maginess family, then owners of what is now Castlewellan Christian Conference Centre and Castlewellan Forest Park. Castlewellan is unique within Ireland due to its tree-lined squares both in the old town (upper square) and new town (lower square) as well as its very wide main street. The old market house in the upper square was built in 1764 and now houses the public library.

Read more on Wikipedia

Where to Stay in Castlewellan

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Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best things to do in Castlewellan?

Castlewellan offers many attractions including tourist sites, museums, parks, and local restaurants. Explore famous landmarks, scenic roads, and natural wonders on our interactive map and plan your visit.

How do I plan a road trip to Castlewellan?

Plan your road trip to Castlewellan with Plan Your Road Trips! Add Castlewellan as a destination, and we'll help you find the best route and discover more amazing places along the way.

Where is Castlewellan located?

Castlewellan is located in Northern Ireland, United Kingdom, Europe. The coordinates are 54.2569 latitude, -5.9445 longitude.

What is the population of Castlewellan?

Castlewellan has a population of approximately 2,499 people, making it a town in United Kingdom.

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Quick Information

Population
2,499
Continent
Europe
Country
United Kingdom
Region
Northern Ireland
Timezone
Europe/London
Coordinates
54.2569, -5.9445

Emergency & Services

Essential numbers in United Kingdom

Police
999
Ambulance
999
Fire
999
Non-emergency police
101
Driving side
left

112 also works. NHS non-emergency medical advice: 111. National Highways breakdown assistance on motorways: 0300 123 5000.

Full driving guide for United Kingdom

Tags

EuropeUnited KingdomNorthern IrelandTown

Worth the detour from Castlewellan

8 notable places within an hour's drive.

national park

Tollymore Forest Park

Northern Ireland's first state forest park at the foot of the Mourne Mountains, with Gothic arches, ancient trees and Game of Thrones filming locations.

5 km · about 10 min drive

scenic viewpoint

Mourne Mountains

Granite mountain range that inspired C.S. Lewis's Narnia, with the Mourne Wall traversing 15 peaks and sweeping views to the Irish Sea.

12 km · about 20 min drive

historic highway

Dundrod Circuit

A 11.9km loop of Northern Irish country lanes still used for the Ulster Grand Prix motorcycle races, with jumps, stone walls and hedges inches from the racing line. Open public roads the rest of the year.

37 km · about 45 min drive

museum

Titanic Belfast

World-leading visitor attraction in a striking angular building on the exact spot where RMS Titanic was designed, built and launched in 1912.

39 km · about 45 min drive

historic highway

Craigantlet Hillclimb

A hillclimb on public roads in the hills above Belfast, running since 1946 and closed to traffic only on event days. The narrow climb gives long views over Belfast Lough.

41 km · about 50 min drive

museum

Ulster Transport Museum

Major transport museum at Cultra near Belfast, home to a gull-winged DeLorean DMC-12 built just miles away, Irish-built cars, locomotives and a renowned Titanic exhibition.

45 km · about 50 min drive

castle

Carrickfergus Castle

One of the best-preserved Norman castles in Ireland, guarding Belfast Lough for over 800 years from its commanding waterfront position.

52 km · about 60 min drive

scenic viewpoint

The Gobbins

A dramatic Edwardian cliff-path of bridges and tunnels clinging to the basalt cliffs of Islandmagee.

60 km · about 70 min drive

Driving roads near Castlewellan

  • Right hereMourne MountainsGranite mountain range that inspired C.S. Lewis's Narnia, with the Mourne Wall traversing 15 peaks and sweeping views to the Irish Sea.
  • 37 kmDundrod CircuitA 11.9km loop of Northern Irish country lanes still used for the Ulster Grand Prix motorcycle races, with jumps, stone walls and hedges inches from the racing line. Open public roads the rest of the year.
  • 41 kmCraigantlet HillclimbA hillclimb on public roads in the hills above Belfast, running since 1946 and closed to traffic only on event days. The narrow climb gives long views over Belfast Lough.
  • 60 kmThe GobbinsA dramatic Edwardian cliff-path of bridges and tunnels clinging to the basalt cliffs of Islandmagee.

Driving in United Kingdom

Drives on
the left
Petrol
~€1.73/litre
Motorway tolls
None

When to drive here

April to October

Nearby Destinations

Other places to explore near Castlewellan.

Newcastle

🇬🇧 United Kingdom

6 km awayPop. 7,444

Dundrum

🇬🇧 United Kingdom

6 km awayPop. 1,090

Rathfriland

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14 km awayPop. 2,063

Ballynahinch

🇬🇧 United Kingdom

16 km awayPop. 5,701

Annalong

🇬🇧 United Kingdom

17 km awayPop. 1,760

Downpatrick

🇬🇧 United Kingdom

17 km awayPop. 10,507

Crossgar

🇬🇧 United Kingdom

20 km awayPop. 1,667

Annahilt

🇬🇧 United Kingdom

20 km awayPop. 1,170

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Data sources:GeoNames (CC BY 4.0)•Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA)•Mapbox•Photography: George Lawrence