Granite Trail (Bogie Line & Drinneevar Loop)

Covering a relatively short distance from coast to open moorland, the Granite Trail offers the opportunity to see artifacts from the once thriving granite industry of Mourne. Differing natural habitats can be enjoyed as you walk through coniferous forest and mature woodland beside mountain streams and rivers.

County

Down

Distance

3 miles

OS Map

Sheet 29

Nearest Town

Newcastle

Route Shape

Circular

Route Type

Forest, Woodland

Terrain

Steep inclines, forest tracks

Grid Reference (Start)

J381296

Grid Reference (End)

J381296

Point of Interest

Harbour and Town, Natural Habitat

Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty

Mournes

Route Description

There are 3 component parts to this trail, providing the walker with a range of possible options or combinations.

Bogie Line
Drinneevar Loop
Donard Loop

Starting from NEWCASTLE HARBOUR (Bogie Line & Drinneevar Loop)

Walk up to the main Newcastle – Kilkeel road (beside the Harbour Inn). Cross the road with care and continue up Bogie Hill and up onto King Street. A “Granite Trail” sign marks the direction to the start of the old BOGIE LINE, a cleared strip of forest on a 1 in 3 incline up towards Millstone Quarry.

At the top of Donard Wood, cross the stile to access the DRINNEEVAR LOOP.

Follow the narrow path to your left hand side which takes you to a 2^nd stile over a dry stone wall. Cross the stile and continue along the path which leads upwards into the hillside. You will then descend briefly before taking the linear path to your right hand side, which leads up to Drinneevar Quarry (accessed through a gateway in the wall). Here you can see remnants of the Granite Industry, including stones that have been cut using the plug and feathers technique. Retrace your steps back along the linear route until you come to a 3^rd stile which takes you back onto a forest road. Follow the road until you reach a fork in the road. Take the left hand road and continue until you reach the BOGIE LINE. Turn right to descend onto Bogie Hill and the main A2 road.

NB – the trail on the open mountainside is very narrow and is not waymarked, in order to minimise visual disruption.

WARNING - The trail includes quarries with loose spoil, old workings and unprotected drops. It is recommended that visitors keep to the trail.

Getting to the Start (by Public Transport)

Translink - journeyplanner.translink.co.uk

Getting to the Start (by Car)

There is a car park available at Newcastle Harbour, South Promenade, Newcastle. This is on the main A2 road from Newcastle to Kilkeel. Regular buses are available to Newcastle from Belfast and Newry. The Granite Trail commences opposite Newcastle Harbour.