Dundrum Tour

This leisurely walk introduces the main attractions within Dundrum village itself.  The first section of the walk up to Dundrum Castle involves quite a steep route that is partly along a rough track. For those who are slightly less mobile or pusing heavy prams this can be avoided by simply continuing along the main street without turning up McMinn's Lane and then picking up the rest of the walk when it rejoins the main street by the Maggie Murray pub.  This option gives an a completely flat route over good terrain.

The starting point for this walk is the car park opposite Sacred Heart Church at the north end of Dundrum Village.  If you're coming from the Belfast direction the car park will be on the right hand side immediately as you enter Dundrum Village.  There is a picnic area immediately next to the car park that affords views across the inner bay. 

From the car park cross the road using the traffic island outside the church and turn left before taking the first turning on the right, signed McMinn's Lane.  At the top of the small hill the road turns off to the left but there is a laneway straight ahead that continues to climb slightly.  Follow the laneway until it comes to another road and turn right.  You should now see Dundrum Castle immediately ahead of you.  Walk up to the castle and either explore at your leisure or return for a full visit at a later time.  Return back down the same road, taking in the great views that are offered from here.  Continue along the road until you reach the junction and then turn right. 

Walk along this road until you reach a further junction, at which point turn left to head back down to the Main Street.  When you reach Main Street turn right and continue through the village with the Maggie Murray pub immediately on your right.  Continue past the church until you reach a side road immediately before a cleared development site.  Cross over Main Road using the traffic island and you'll see the entry to the National Trust site just ahead of you.  The National Trust path takes you to the water's edge and leads you to Keel Point where you turn left and continue along the water's edge.

When you reach the end of the row of houses there is a small car park on the right and a grassy area with a picnic table and a bench.  This opens up further views across the water all the way to the Mourne Mountains.  Retrace the route up Keel Point and the footpath along the water's edge until you return to Main Street, where you turn right and head back into the village.  Continue along Main Street until you pass the Quay View restaurant and a row of houses on your right.  Take the unmade road that turns off to the right just before the garage and then follow it to the left as it goes behind the garage.  You should have good views back over the water again at this point.

Follow the track towards the development of apartments and it will eventually join up with a footpath that runs around the apartments.  Follow this narrow path and it will open to a wider area on the water front that offers some of the best views around.  Continue on the path along the water's edge until you come to a small parking area where you cross to the road and turn right to head back to Main Street.  Turn right on Main Street and this will take you back to the car park where you started.