Tollymore Forest Park

Tollymore was laid out in the eighteenth century by the Hamilton family, later Earls of Clanbrassil, as a designed landscape along the Shimna river, and much of that work survives: sixteen bridges over the river, the earliest from 1726, a Gothic gate arch, a hermitage built into a rock above the water, and a series of stone follies and gate piers topped with cones, which are the estate's signature and appear throughout. In 1955 it became the first state forest park in Northern Ireland. The Shimna runs through a wooded gorge with pools and rapids, crossed by stepping stones in places. The park sits directly under the northern Mournes with Slieve Donard behind, and there are long views up into the mountains. Filming for Game of Thrones used the woodland extensively, which brought a large increase in visitors.

The landscape

• The stone cones - the estate's distinctive gate and folly finials throughout.
• The Shimna bridges - eighteenth-century stone crossings over a wooded river.
• The hermitage - a small stone structure built into rock above the water.
• The Mourne backdrop - Slieve Donard rising directly behind the park.

When to go

April to October for the river walks; autumn colour along the Shimna is the strongest season. The park is open year-round and the car park is charged. Summer weekends and holidays fill it early.

Before you go

Parking is charged per car and the car park closes when full, with queues on fine weekends. Paths are muddy and the river walk has steps and roots. The Shimna floods and closes stepping stone crossings.

Nearby

Newcastle and the Mourne Mountains lie south; Castlewellan Forest Park is a short drive.

Key facts