Blog

There’s something very special in the air in Mourne, Gullion and Strangford now that the summer sun is ebbing away. You can feel the crisp autumn breeze, curl up at the crackling log fire and watch the bristling leaves, floating delicately towards the ground.  All this inspires us to immerse ourselves in the great outdoors and wide open spaces.

Get ready for an unforgettable Halloween experience in the enchanting Mourne Mountains & Ring of Gullion.

Killeavy Castle Is Named Hotel of the Year  

The four star, Killeavy Castle Estate, nestled in the heart of County Armagh has been named AA Hotel of the Year Northern Ireland at the prestigious AA Hospitality Awards 2023. 

Think it is time to book a much-needed short break? Enjoy a staycation in the Ring of Gullion, it may be the perfect destination for your romantic getaway. The Mourne Mountains & Ring of Gullion is packed with places just perfect for quality time together. 

Autumn is approaching and it is the greatest season to get outdoors, the nights are getting darker, the chill and mist is in the air and the foliage is changing from green to gold, amber and russet. So, put on your cosy sweaters, go outside and enjoy the satisfying crunch of the fallen leaves beneath your feet!  

If you're travelling to the Eats and Beats Food and Drink festival this September, the seaside town of Newcastle, located at the foot of the Mourne Mountains, is a great base to explore the area. Whether you’re just here for the day or you decide to stay longer there is plenty to see and do in and around Newcastle for every kind of visitor.

We believe that dogs deserve to enjoy their holidays too, so to celebrate National Dog Day, we’ve featured six of our dog-friendly places to stay.

Join us for a giant weekend of music and food at the Eats & Beats festival in Newcastle, County Down on Saturday 2 and Sunday 3 September.

The Strangford Lough area is very picturesque and offers lots for families to do and see. Strangford is a small village at the mouth of Strangford Lough, which is the UK’s largest sea lough. The 10 minute ferry links the villages of Strangford and Portaferry and is an exciting experience for young and old as you take in the stunning scenery of this Marine Nature Reserve and try to spot seals, seabirds and jellyfish as the tide rushes past.

Fionn Rocks the Lough for the Return of Wake the Giant

Fionn mac Cumhaill, the towering centrepiece of the eagerly anticipated Wake the Giant festival, will make a spectacular return to Warrenpoint again this year.  Taking place on 19 and 20 August, the legendary giant Fionn will rise from the depths of Carlingford Lough to overlook a weekend of music and storytelling amidst a bustling festival atmosphere.

Ignite your summer adventures and discover Mourne Gullion Strangford UNESCO Global Geopark alongside 57 other unique UNESCO sites in the UK and crown dependencies thanks to a newly illustrated map, now available to download for free from the UK National Commission for UNESCO.

Isn’t it great to get home after a hard day’s work and switch on the telly to lose yourself in a great series or movie?  Well, how about a series or movie which is based in the beautiful area of Mourne, Gullion and Strangford?  It is a well-known fact that the series Game of Thrones® has used many locations in our area such as Tollymore Forest Park, Castle Ward and Inch Abbey, however, there are a few more places to be added to the list so kick your shoes off and relax while we flick through some of our programmes that have been based in and around our wonderful area of outstanding beauty.