Castlewellan Forest Park

What it’s like

A maze that takes about 40 minutes to crack, a woodland playpark, and miles of trails and bike tracks around a lake and Victorian castle.

The Peace Maze is the thing you'll hear about first, over three kilometres of paths that take most people around 40 minutes to solve. It's a proper wander rather than a quick dash, so it suits kids who can handle a bit of getting lost before the satisfaction of getting out. Animal Wood playpark is the other big draw, with badger, squirrel and spider-themed structures for the younger ones, and a wooden tower next to it with a climbing wall, fireman's pole and a rope bridge leading to a slide for the ones who want a proper scramble.

Beyond the two headline bits there's a lot of park to soak up. Walking trails give you the panoramic views, there are 27km of mountain bike trails if anyone's brought wheels, and the lake is there for paddleboarding, though swimming in it isn't allowed unless it's part of an organised event. Castlewellan Castle sits in the grounds too, a Victorian building that's worth a look on the way round.

Food is simple: a coffee cart in the main car park, an ice-cream van in summer, and picnic areas dotted about if you'd rather bring your own (barbecuing is fine there, but nowhere else in the park). A new café is due to open in 2026, so for now it's more bring-your-own than sit-down. Parking charges apply for vehicles, which stings a little given how much of the park is free once you're in, but arriving on foot or by bike costs nothing.

Dogs are welcome on the walking trails but they're not allowed in the playpark or the Peace Maze, and they need to be on a lead in the caravan park, so plan your route around that if you've got one with you. The park's only shut on Christmas Day, and opening hours stretch right out to 9pm in the summer months, which gives you plenty of daylight for a long visit.

Facilities

Need to know

Best for

4 to 11, with the maze and climbing tower the main draws

Parking

Charges apply for vehicle parking

Food

Coffee cart in main car park. Ice-cream van in summer months

Picnics

Designated picnic areas where barbecuing is allowed

Dogs

Welcome but must be kept under control

• A new café is expected to open in summer 2026; for now food is a coffee cart and a summer ice-cream van
• Swimming in the lake isn't allowed unless it's part of an organised event
• Dogs must be on a lead in the caravan park and are kept out of the playpark and maze entirely
• Parking is charged but walking or cycling in is free

Plan your visit

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