An hour's drive from Belfast, Castlewellan Forest Park packs a surprising amount into one corner of County Down: lakes, woodland trails, a walled garden, camping pitches and a hedge maze big enough to get properly lost in.
The headline act is the Peace Maze, planted in 2000 with around 6,000 yew trees as a symbol of Northern Ireland's peaceful future. Its paths run nearly two miles long, and the Belfast Telegraph calls it the largest permanent hedge maze in Europe. The routes are wide enough for two people to walk side by side, and once you reach the centre you leave via a bridge. The old victory bell has sadly been stolen, so bragging rights will have to do. Right next door you'll find the Animal Wood nature playground and the start of a circular lakeside walk.
Entry to the park itself is free, with only a small parking charge — part of what makes Northern Ireland such good value. The 19th-century Castlewellan Castle sits lakeside in the park grounds, and its walled garden and arboretum are worth an unhurried wander.
If you want to stay overnight, the on-site Castlewellan Caravan Park has around 40 grass tent pitches and a similar number with electric hookups, plus a quieter 'Back to Nature' area in Drumbuck Wood for those going without power. Campers consistently praise the space and the atmosphere, and trails lead straight out of the site into the forest.
There's plenty to fill a weekend. The one-mile Annesley Garden Walk links the walled garden and arboretum, while the 2.7-mile Slievenaslat Walk is the park's toughest route, climbing a foothill for sweeping views over the Mourne Mountains. Mountain bikers get everything from an easy lakeside loop to hilly routes, with bike hire on site. On the water, you can canoe or kayak Castlewellan Lake, and anglers can fish for brown and rainbow trout with a permit bought online.
For travellers based in Belfast without a car-focused itinerary elsewhere, this is an easy, low-cost day trip or overnighter — especially for families who want a mix of playground, maze and lake in one place. On the way back to the city, St. George's Market is a solid stop for street food.
