Lying at the Southern entrance to the Mournes, the picturesque village of Rostrevor is best described as the “the sweetest little watering hole to be found in the three Kingdoms and one of the most beautiful spots in the whole of Ireland.” In 1612 Sir Edward Trevor married Rose Ussher, daughter of the Archbishop of Armagh and it is said that he named the village after his new young bride.

Situated at the foot of Rostrevor Forest, Kilbroney Park, a scenic 97 acre woodland park, offers vast areas of open space, riverside walks, football pitches, tennis courts, barbecue, picnic and play areas. Rostrevor Forest offers a further 1700-hectare space of excellent hiking trails and breathtaking views.

Follow the Forest Drive by foot, car, or bike; to find Cloc Mor, the ‘Big Stone’, a huge syenite boulder perched high on a hilltop 1000 feet above the village. According to legend, Finn Mc Cuil threw this rock from the Cooley Mountains at a Scottish adversary standing on Slieve Ban, after which Finn fell dead, onto the Cooley Moutains.  The outline of his body is clearly visible from Rostrevor. The views from Cloc Mor are well worth the journey!
At the edge of the village on the road to Warrenpoint stands Ross's Monument, a towering structure built in 1826 to commemorate the military exploits of local man Major General Robert Ross in Europe and the American War of Independence. In particular it celebrates his victory over the American forces at Bladensburg in 1814 and his entry into Washington on the same day. He is reputed to have burnt down the White House. Ross was fatally wounded at the Battle of Baltimore a short time later. Gerard Fay, a Rostrevor architect, travelled to Bladensburg to do some research on the incident, and to his surprise found a monument built over there, dedicated to the two soldiers that shot Major General Robert Ross!

Nearby Kilbroney graveyard on the Hilltown Road is especially interesting. Here may be seen the ruins of the church of St. Bronagh dating from the 15th century. Close at hand stands a huge pre-Norman granite cross.. Here too is the grave of Giant Murphy, a local man who was reputed to have been over 8ft. in height. He travelled the world displaying his enormous frame and came back to die and be buried in Rostrevor. The graveyard is also the site of the recovery of an ancient St. Brigid's Bell, lost for centuries and probably connected with the ancient church of St. Bronagh.

A strange story attaches to the bell. It is a genuine example of the earliest Christian bells known in Ireland and was the gift of Fergus, a young chieftain. The bell had been hung in the fork of a young oak tree near the convent. The convent was subsequently destroyed but the bell remained hidden. For several centuries it was heard to toll through the valley on certain nights and this was explained by many stories of banshees and leprechuans. Then it became silent.
In 1888 a giant oak fell in Kilbroney churchyard and when it was cut up the bell was found in the hollow trunk. It has been restored and is in use as an altar bell in Rostrevor Catholic Church. Some antiquarians declare its value to be priceless.

Warrenpoint was once a fashionable seaside resort of the Victorians. The town was centred around a harbour, which came to prominence in the early 19th as an out port for Newry. Here stands a plaque to commemorate the thousands of emigrants who passed through this port in search of a new beginning. This is a busy resort town popular for entertainment, good food and festivals. The Municipal Park and promenade provide a relaxing ambience and the surrounding area has many places worth exploring.

Kilkeel is situated in the heart of the Kingdom of Mourne and has a thriving fishing industry, fresh fish is available all year round from the Nautilus Centre. The town has a sports centre and swimming pool on the Esplande, Kilkeel 18 hole golf club, nearby the well known Silent Valley is just 3 miles from Kilkeel.

Hilltown 'Gateway to the Mournes' was originally known as Eight Mile Bridge, is built on the River Bann. The Marquis of Downshire named the town Hilltown in 1765. In 1835 Hilltown had a total of 21 houses of which 12 were pubs. The smuggling of Brandy and spirits from the coast along 'The Brandy Pad' had become a local pastime and Hilltown was the favourite distribution point.

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Eileen and Liam Baxter
Lecale Cottages,
Rostrevor, Co. Down
Tel: +44 (0) 28 41738727

E-mail: Rostrevorhols@aol.com