Gorse Hill Farm

The 3 camping pods, all with stunning views towards the mountains & close proximity to amenity block (added by manager 05 May 2017)

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In the Mourne mountains with easy access to the Trassey Track
Close to Newcastle, the coast and Tullymore Forest Park
Well-equipped kitchen and communal barn with woodburning stove

If you've never visited or stayed among the Mourne mountains in N Ireland's Co Down, you've been mightily missing out. With Northern Ireland's highest peak (Slieve Donard, but you knew that), the mountains are a designated Area of Natural Beauty – and did you know they inspired one Mr Lewis to write The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe and that they've been one of the many viewsome backdrops for Game of Thrones? Go: they're fab. After a long day's happy hiking and wildlife watching, rest up back at Gorse Hill Farm, a popular Mournes site ten minutes from seaside town Newcastle and with easy access to the Trassey Track, one of the best spots among the Mournes for hiking and mountain biking. N Ireland's first state forest Tollymore Forest Park is only five minutes' drive away. The farm specialises in catering for youth groups like the Duke of Edinburgh awards, but is also a handy base for mountain stays for all ages. Camping is on grass tent pitches and guests have access to a well-equipped shared kitchen with a gas hob, an electric oven, a microwave, a kettle, a toaster and a fridge. Toilets are also available, along with two showers. And another big bonus after a long day hiking or mountain biking? Gorse Hill also has a big communal barn comfortably fitting up to 55 people and equipped with a woodburning stove, for long cosy evenings socialising around the fire. The stove is free for all guests to use: just bring your own logs if you want to fire it up.

Site type

Open all year

Languages spoken

English

Features

No dogs allowed

Campfires allowed

Leisure on site

Bar or club house

Cycle hire

Evening entertainment

Fishing

Fitness centre

Games room

Indoor swimming pool

Kids' club

On-site restaurant/cafe

Outdoor swimming pool

Play area

TV room

Take away

Tennis

Watersports

Amenities on site

Bath available

Car parking by pitch/unit

Composting toilet

Disabled facilities

Dog park

Drying room

Food shop

Free wifi

Ice pack freezing

Internet access

Launderette

Parent & baby washroom

Pick-up from public transport

Portable toilet

Pub toilets

Public telephone

Shower available

Toilet block

Washing-up area

Wifi

Groups welcome

D. of E. welcome

Family friendly

Motorcycle friendly

Single-sex groups welcome

Student groups welcome

Rules

Barbecue provided

Barbecues allowed

Campfires allowed

Commercial vehicles allowed

Dogs allowed

No dogs allowed

Themes

Budget/backpacker

Lake and/or mountain

Peaceful

Remote location

Spectacular scenery

Walkers' paradise

Wildlife haven

Utilities

Charging facilities

Chemical disposal

Electric car charging point(s)

Gas cylinders available

Recycling available

Renewable energy

Nearby amenities

Bar nearby

Dog walk nearby

Public transport nearby

Type

Farm

Small (11-25 pitches)

Nearby leisure

Climbing nearby

Cycle hire nearby

Cycling nearby

Fishing nearby

Golf nearby

Horse riding nearby

Indoor pool nearby

Mountain biking nearby

Outdoor pool nearby

Restaurant nearby

Location

Gorse Hill Farm

37 Slievenaman Road

Bryansford

Newcastle

Co. Down

Northern Ireland

BT33 0QD

Directions

Timezone

Europe/London GMT (GMT+00:00)

GPS

54.20841°N
-6.00948°W

Please note: All distances on this page are calculated "as the crow flies" - please check actual distance depending on your mode of travel using the Get directions button above.

Local attractions

This is a topping spot for outdoor days, hiking or biking around the mountains or meandering to the local dams like Fofanny Dam two minutes away and the Spelga Dam within five minutes' drive. Tollymore Forest Park and the Tollymore National Outdoor Centre are also close by, and if you just must have more foresty walks or bike rides, both Castlewellan Forest Park and the Silent Valley are ten minutes by car. The small seaside town of Newcastle is also ten minutes' drive away from the farm, at the foot of Slieve Donard. Head here for shops, a sandy beach, the famed Royal County Down Golf Club (one the faves of Tiger Wood) and, between Newcastle and Dundrum, the National Trust-managed sand dunes and beach of the Murlough Nature Reserve.

Water quality at nearby bathing waters

Name	Distance	Type	2020	2019	2018	2017
Newcastle	5 mi	Sea	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Murlough Co. Down	6.5 mi	Sea	Excellent	Excellent	Excellent	Excellent
Tyrella	11.2 mi	Sea	Excellent	Excellent	Excellent	Excellent
Cranfield (Cranfield Bay)	12.6 mi	Sea	Excellent	Excellent	Excellent	Excellent
Shelling Hill/Templetown	16.7 mi	Sea	Excellent	Excellent	Excellent	Excellent

Data source: European Environment Agency

Must see

Castle Ward 19.9 mi

Grand Opera House 26.6 mi

Harland And Wolff Shipyard 26.9 mi

Belfast City Hall 27 mi

National Trust

Derrymore House 15 mi

Rowallane Garden 18 mi

Castle Ward 20.7 mi

The Crown Bar 26.9 mi

Ardress House 28.7 mi

Cycle routes

Find local routes on the National Cycle Network - over 12,000 miles of cycling routes.

Other

CARLINGFORD LOUGH ISLANDS (CURRENT BOUNDARY FROM 15/02/1996) 13 mi

STRANGFORD BAY & SANDY ISLAND (CURRENT BOUNDARY FROM 09/09/1994) 21.2 mi

PORTMORE LOUGH (CURRENT BOUNDARY FROM 19/08/2002) 26.4 mi

Please note: All distances on this page are calculated "as the crow flies" - please check actual distance depending on your mode of travel using the Get directions button above.

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Does Gorse Hill Farm have a swimming pool? No View all features
Is Gorse Hill Farm dog friendly? No View all features
What attractions are near Gorse Hill Farm? This is a topping spot for outdoor days, hiking or biking around the mountains or meandering to the local dams like Fofanny Dam two minutes away and the Spelga Dam within five … Read more