Newcastle (population 7500) is a seaside resort town in County Down, Northern Ireland on the coast of the Irish Sea. It can get very busy and congested in the summer, but the promenade along the sea front is modern and well designed. The beach is not very sandy in places, but the beach at Murlough, just along the coast, is very good. There are plenty of pubs and cafes, as well as amusement arcades.

Elevated view of Newcastle

Get in

By Car

From Belfast head south on the A24 until you reach the village of Clough. From there, continue south along the A2.

From Dublin take the M1 to Newry, take the B8 (signs for Hilltown) then continue along the A25 towards Castlewellan. When you reach Castlewellan, take the A50 to Newcastle.

The town can be very congested with traffic at holiday periods and during the summer months. There are car parks behind the main street.

By Bus

There are no train services to Newcastle so the best way to get there is by bus. Ulsterbus runs a service from Belfast Europa Bus Centre to Newcastle Bus Station every 30-60 minutes and takes around 1 hour to 1 hour 15 minutes.

Buses run from Dublin city centre and Dublin airport hourly and take around 3 to 3 and a half hours. Services are run by Bus Eireann and Ulsterbus

There are also regular services to nearby towns such as Castlewellan, Ardglass and Downpatrick. The bus station is 2 minutes walk from the town centre.

By Air

The most convenient airport to Newcastle is Belfast City Airport, around 1 hour's drive away. Belfast International Airport is around 1 hour 20 minute's drive away and Dublin Airport is around 2 hours away by car.

Get around

The town is small enough to walk around easily.

See

• 1 Newcastle Harbour. At the south end of the town and an easy walk from the town centre. Facilities for toilets, waste disposal and tie-up for boats. 

The Mourne Mountains, particularly Slieve Donard (at 850-metre (2,790 ft), the highest peak in Northern Ireland), overlook the town and are easily accessible through Donard Park and at Bloody Bridge (on the road towards Kilkeel).

• 2 Murlough Nature Reserve. National Trust managed sand dune system (updated Dec 2016)

Do

Golf

• 1 Royal County Down Golf Club, Golf Links Road, Newcastle, ☏ +44 28 4372-3314, fax: +44 28 4372-6281, golf@royalcountydown.org. World famous links golf course. Close by the Slieve Donard Hotel. 

Mountain Biking

There are a variety of tracks in nearby the forest parks of Tollymore and Castlewellan (which has a newly completed course), as well as the Mourne Mountains which are easily accessible from Donard Park.

Rock Climbing

Newcastle is a ideal base for exploring the rock climbing and mountaineering opportunities in the Mourne Mountains

Buy

Newcastle has many different shops and stores

Eat

In Town

Newcastle has a range of restaurants, cafés and fast food outlets, particularly along the main street. Most pubs also serve food.

• 1 Cafe Creme, 139 Main Street, Newcastle, ☏ +44 28 4372-6589. Great little cafe. So good it's always busy. 

Close to town

There are other eating places close to the town, including:

• 2 The Maghera Inn, Maghera Village (2 Miles north of Newcastle), ☏ +44 28 4372-2236. Food, drink, music! Welcoming atmosphere. 

Drink

There is a wide range of pubs, most of which also serve food. A number also have entertainment and music sessions.

• 1 Quinn's Bar, 62-64 Main Street, Newcastle, ☏ +44 28 4372-6400. Drink, food and music 

Sleep

There is a range of accommodation including hotels, guest houses, bed and breakfasts and caravan sites.

• 1 Slieve Donard Hotel, Downs Road, Newcastle, ☏ +44 28 4372-1066, fax: +44 28 4372-4830. The pre-eminent hotel in Newcastle and one of the best in Northern Ireland. Includes a spa and conference centre. Close by the Royal County Down Golf Club. 
• 2 Burrendale Hotel, 51 Castlewellan Road, Newcastle, ☏ +44 28 4372-2599, fax: +44 28 4372-2328. Good 4-star hotel with 68 bedrooms and spa and conference facilities. Some distance from the town centre on the road towards Castlewellan. 
• 3 Avoca Hotel, 93-97 Central Promenade, Newcastle, ☏ +44 28 4372253. Family run 16-bedroom licensed hotel. Walking groups and ramblers can get special discounts. 

Go next

• Downpatrick is to the north.
• Newry is to the west.
• The Mountains of Mourne are located south of the town.