Tollymore Forest Park: the Shimna River trail

From the main car park, go down the Azalea Walk through the trees to the Shimna and follow the river upstream on its north bank, past the Hermitage above the gorge, then the stepping stones. Keep upstream to Parnell's Bridge and cross there. The path then heads up to the Spinkwee River and follows it downstream past its cascades and Altavaddy Bridge to the Meeting of the Waters. Carry on east through conifers on the south side of the Shimna, cross the Old Bridge and climb back to the car park. The loop goes anticlockwise.

It is 5.2 km round with 106 m of ascent; allow about 1½ hours. The grade is Easy: forest tracks and riverside paths with a few short climbs.

Tollymore is a Forest Service forest park, open to walkers. Roots and wet rock make the riverside paths slippery, and the Shimna rises fast after rain: keep off the stepping stones when it is high. The park opens at 10am and closes at sunset, and it may close for short spells in snow or strong wind.

Cars pay £5 a day to enter the park (2026/27); walkers and cyclists go in free. The Mourne Rambler bus calls at Bryansford in July and August, and the Castle Gates stop by the Bryansford gate is about 500 m from the car park.

Route drawn by Global Adventurer along OpenStreetMap paths (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL), with figures worked out from it. Check the forecast and the ground on the day: paths change.