DOWNPATRICK TO ARDGLASS GREENWAY
“Mountains of Mourne Greenway”
Built in the 1890s with a view to both freight servicing for the fishing industry in Ardglass and to take passengers to and from Downpatrick and beyond on the Belfast and County Down Railway network, this former railway could be repurposed into a modern day traffic-free travel route for locals and visitors.
ROUTE DETAILS
| Length | 13 kilometres |
| Estimate | £2 million |
| Location | 2026 to 2040 |
| Type | Former railway |
| Title | Belfast and County Down Railway |
| Border area | No |
| Councils | Newry, Mourne and Down DIstrict Council |
Article: Mountains of Mourne Greenway (October 2014)
“The first flourish of railway development in Ireland 150 years ago helped to establish towns like Newcastle into prime seaside tourist locations. While Bangor and Portrush still benefit from active railway links, Newcastle lost its rail connection in the 1950s.
The time is right to build a greenway sweeping all the way from Belfast to the Mourne Mountains – a signature tourism project which will promote the best we have to offer to the world, and drive significant economic redevelopment in this part of the country.”
IMAGES
PROGRESS UPDATES
Idea stage
Feasibility
Construction
Completed
June 2016: NMDDC applies to Stage 1 of the DfI Small Grants Programme for Greenways competition
November 2016: NMDDC secures DfI £8,000 grant funding for a feasibility study
August 2017: “Downpatrick to Ardglass greenway” misses cut at DfI Small Grants Programme stage 3
RESOURCES ELSEWHERE
Downpatrick, Killough and Ardglass Railway (Wikipedia)
Downpatrick & Ardglass Railway Company (Philatelic Compendium)
Ardglass Railway Station, Robert J.E. Simpson (YouTube)
Exercise Explore Enjoy: A Strategic Plan for Greenways (Department for Infrastructure) PDF 2.8MB
Strategic Plan for Greenways Base Report (AECOM, Sustrans, DfI) PDF 15.7MB
GREENWAY PROJECTS WHICH INTERSECT
Extending the Comber Greenway route by 55km through Ballygowan, Saintfield, Crossgar, Ballynahinch and Downpatrick to the Mournes.
GET INVOLVED
Successful greenway projects are driven by the passion of local people. If you have an update to share, a story to tell about the history of the route or future of the Downpatrick to Ardglass Greenway, or if you want to submit a picture or video to this page, please get in contact.