WHYTE’S DEMESNE, LOUGHBRICKLAND, CO DOWN

DATE: 25 OCTOBER 2019

SHORT WALK – 3 miles. The walk in the demesne is 2.5 miles and the bus stop is a quarter mile from the start of the walk. The walk will take c1.25 hours.

DATE: 25 OCTOBER 2019

LEADER: Robert McDowell, Telephone No 028 93373084 (land line)

07711 706022 (mobile)

MEETING POINT/TIME: Meet at 11.00 am at the Gate Lodge at the entrance to Whyte’s Demesne on Scarva Street, Loughbrickland.

PUBLIC TRANSPORT:

Outward Journey:

Train – Dep W’head 8.45 am, dep C’fergus 8.54 am, arr Gt Victoria Street 9.30

Bus – Dep Europa Bus Centre 9.45 am (Newry bus), arr Loughbrickland 10.38

Return Journey:

Bus – Dep Loughbrickland 1.35 pm, arr Europa Bus Centre 2.33 pm.

Train – Dep Gt Victoria St 2.45 pm, arr C’fergus 3.20 pm, arr Whitehead 3.31

BY CAR:

Outward Journey:

Loughbrickland is 26 miles from Belfast City Centre. Take the M5/M2 motorway southbound and then take the Westlink and M1. Come off the M1 at Junction 7 (Lisburn/Sprucefield). Follow the A1 dual carriageway signposted Hillsborough/Newry. Pass the sign for Banbridge A26/The Boulevard (shopping outlet). Get into the right hand lane and take the next turnoff to the right signposted “Loughbrickland”. On entering the village, turn right into Scarva Street and drive about a quarter mile and the entrance into the demesne is on your right. Park in Scarva Street near the gatelodge at the demesne entrance.

Return Journey:

Take the Old Newry Road to the right of Loughbrickland Gate Lodge. After 0.75 miles turn right and at the T junction turn left, rejoining the A1 – be careful as this is the A1 dual carriageway and traffic travels very fast.

THE WALK:

This is a roughly circular walk of 2.5 miles which will take approximately 1.25 hours. The path is mostly level with 1 or 2 short inclines and several short flights of shallow steps with handrails. The path is mostly stoned but may be muddy in parts. The path takes you through mixed woodland and along the edge of farm land and you will pass 2 ring forts.

LUNCH

We will have a pub lunch in The Seven Stars Pub/Restaurant in Loughbrickland. There is a toilet in the Spar shop beside the Solo petrol station at the bottom of Scarva Street, but no toilets in the demesne itself.