Days Out NI
Greenway & cycle trail Strangford

Lecale Way

A free 47-mile coastal walking trail with one easy traffic-free stretch families love.

6 photos
Open accessRide it any time — best in daylight
FreeNo ticket needed
StrangfordGreenway & cycle trail
Get directionsOfficial website
47 milesDistance
A half-day for a short coastal section; the full route is a 4-day walkHow long
FreeCost
GravelSurface
Bikes bestBest for

Lecale Way — A free 47-mile coastal walking trail with one easy traffic-free stretch families love.

  • Distance: Around 47 miles / 75km end to end — most families walk a single section.
  • Surface: Mixed: country roads, gravel tracks, grassy footpaths, beach and a stretch of old railway line.
  • Gradient: Hilly overall — rated very strenuous with steep climbs; the Dundrum Coastal Path section is flat.
  • Traffic-free: Partly. Some sections are traffic-free, but others run on quiet roads and a length of the A2 coast road.
  • Bike hire: None on the route.
  • Buggy / scooter: Not the full trail. The flat Dundrum Coastal Path railway section is pram-friendly.
Plan your visit

The full trail: long, scenic and strenuous

The Lecale Way runs roughly 47 miles (about 75km) from the St Patrick Centre in Downpatrick to Newcastle Tourist Information by the Shimna River. It links Strangford village, the Castle Ward estate, Ardglass, Killough, Dundrum and the edge of Murlough before reaching the Mournes. Surfaces change constantly: country roads, gravel tracks, grassy footpaths, sandy beach and a stretch of dismantled railway along Dundrum Inner Bay. It is rated very strenuous with sustained climbs, rough uneven ground and some road walking, including a length of the A2 where walkers have flagged sharing the road with traffic. Waymarking can be patchy in places, so carry the WalkNI route notes or a map.

Free 47 miles / 75km Coastal Pick a section One flat traffic-free stretch Beaches & harbours
Good to know before you go:

Greenways and coastal trails across NI host seasonal sportives, family cycle days, guided heritage walks and ranger events through the year — check listings for dates near you.

Before you set off

What to bring

  • 🚲Bikes (or hire on the day)Check whether you bring your own or can hire at the start.
  • 🪖Helmets for everyoneEspecially the kids — a comfy helmet makes the whole spin better.
  • 💧Water and snacksNot every route has a café on it, so pack a little something.
  • 🧥A light layerYou warm up cycling but cool down at stops — easy to peel on and off.
Good to know

Everything before you go

Cost
Free (Castle Ward estate charges a separate National Trust entry)
Start / parking
St Patrick Centre, Downpatrick — free car park within 300m; or start from Strangford, Ardglass, Killough, Dundrum or Newcastle
Distance
Around 47 miles / 75km end to end — most families walk a single section
Surface
Mixed: country roads, gravel tracks, grassy footpaths, beach and a stretch of old railway line
Gradient
Hilly overall — rated very strenuous with steep climbs; the Dundrum Coastal Path section is flat
Traffic-free?
Partly. Some sections are traffic-free, but others run on quiet roads and a length of the A2 coast road
Bike hire
None on the route
Buggy / scooter friendly
Not the full trail. The flat Dundrum Coastal Path railway section is pram-friendly
Toilets / food
Toilets, cafes and refreshments in Downpatrick, Strangford, Ardglass, Killough and Newcastle
How long to allow
A half-day for a short coastal section; the full route is a 4-day walk
Address
St Patrick Centre, 53A Market Street, Downpatrick BT30 6LZ (Downpatrick start); finishes at Newcastle Tourist Information, Co. Down
Questions

Before you go

Is it free?
Free (Castle Ward estate charges a separate National Trust entry)
How long is the route?
Around 47 miles / 75km end to end — most families walk a single section
Is it traffic-free?
Partly. Some sections are traffic-free, but others run on quiet roads and a length of the A2 coast road
Can I hire a bike?
None on the route
Is it buggy and scooter friendly?
Not the full trail. The flat Dundrum Coastal Path railway section is pram-friendly
Getting there

Lecale Way starts at St Patrick Centre, Downpatrick — free car park within 300m; or start from Strangford, Ardglass, Killough, Dundrum or Newcastle. Tap below for directions to the start.

Directions on Google MapsOfficial website See it on our map
Nearby

Make more of the day

More days out around StrangfordSee what else is close by More greenways & trails across NITraffic-free routes to walk and cycle
The story

About this trail

The Lecale Way is part of the wider Ulster Way network and explores the historic Lecale region of County Down — St Patrick's heartland, where the saint is said to be buried at Down Cathedral in Downpatrick.

The route links a string of coastal landmarks: the Norman tower houses around Strangford, the National Trust estate at Castle Ward, the working harbour at Ardglass and the old fishing village of Killough. Near Dundrum it picks up the line of a dismantled railway along the inner bay, giving walkers a flat, sheltered stretch before the trail meets the Mournes at Newcastle.

Newry, Mourne and Down District Council, working with Outdoor Recreation NI, commissioned upgrade and maintenance work on the trail from 2023 to improve surfaces and signage along the way.