Blog

The Castlewellan Historic Heritage Team are delighted to announce that ten members of our team are trained White Badge Guides. Accredited through the Northern Ireland Tour Guide Association both staff and volunteers undertook the training from January and graduated on 1 July 2024.

On Friday 7 June 2024 the CEO of Tourism Ireland, Alice Mansergh visited the beautiful Mourne Gullion Strangford Geopark. This visit served as a strategic initiative to strengthen relationships with key partners in the tourism industry and explore collaborative opportunities.

Golf has experienced a remarkable surge in popularity in recent years, attracting enthusiasts from around the globe. With our world-class courses set against breathtaking landscapes, our region has become a premier destination for golfers seeking both challenging play and stunning scenery and we are delighted to welcome The Amgen Irish Open here in Newcastle at the Royal County Down Golf Course in September 2024.

The Mourne Mountains and Ring of Gullion area has lots of picturesque and fun filled destinations for you to have a BBQ. Every year we enjoy the outdoors by celebrating National BBQ Week which runs from 3 - 9 June 2024. We encourage everybody to pick their favourite destination for a day outdoors and enjoy a meal with their loved ones.

Here we have some suggestions of places for you to get out and fire up those grills!

Tourism Northern Ireland has celebrated completing its 12-week Destination Sustainability Training Programme with fifteen organisations across Northern Ireland, including two from our region, Life Adventure Centre and East Coast Adventure Centre,  who have taken important steps towards becoming more sustainable.

Mourne Gullion Strangford is one giant adventure park and for teens who like to get out and about, it is a great place to challenge yourself. The demand for outdoor pursuits has really taken off over the last few years and this part of the world has responded with an unbelievable array of exciting pursuits and activities. So whether you want to abseil down a mountain, cycle the face of a hill or paddle the rapids of a river, this area has it all.

The destination is thrilled to announce the launch of a range of new outdoor activity and adventure experiences promising unforgettable moments for nature enthusiasts, soft adventurers and thrill- seekers alike in the Mourne Gullion Strangford Region.

Come and try out our 15 new outdoor activity and adventure experiences, promising unforgettable moments for nature enthusiasts, soft adventurers and thrill-seekers alike at the Mourne Gullion Strangford Outdoor Spring Festival on Saturday 20 April 2024.

The historic paddle steamer Waverley is set to return to Warrenpoint this May, following the success of the inaugural public cruise sailing from Warrenpoint last year.

This year, due to demand there will be two sailings from Warrenpoint. 

The saying “every day brings something different” was very true last week, as we teamed up with Newry, Mourne & Down District Council for a familiarisation trip to explore some of our local attractions and experiences.

There are so many things to see and do in Mourne Gullion Strangford, that it was hard narrowing it down to just ten. We have complied a list of reasons to visit this unique and picturesque area and if it doesn't persuade you to visit Mourne, Gullion, Strangford this year, I don't know what will!

The Good Craic Guide to the Mournes is a free booklet sharing loads of hidden gems in the Mourne area.  As an Australian who has made the Mournes my home I love sharing the wonderful places and people that I've discovered here.