Deer's Meadow - Grid Ref.: J720 253
Deer's Meadow looking down to Spelga Dam
Follow your preferred route to Banbridge and then Rathfriland. On entering Rathfriland, turn left onto Main Street (A25) and continue to follow A25, turning right on to Downpatrick Street, passing Graham's Ice Cream and the bus station; there are facilities in the car park to the right of and to the rear of the bus station. On leaving Rathfriland, turn right onto the Hilltown Road. Follow this road to the T junction in front of the former church in Hilltown where you should turn left on to the Castlewellan Road (B8). Shortly after leaving Hilltown, turn right onto Kilkeel Road (B27) and follow this until you come to the Spelga Dam. Continue on the B27 past the dam up to the T junction and turn right on to the Moyad Road heading towards Kilkeel. After just over a mile (1850 yards to be exact) you will come to the road (cul-de-sac) leading down to Deer's Meadow and Spelga Dam - stop and park before reaching the water's edge!
There are facilities at Hilltown - to the left of the church as you enter the village and there are more at Spelga Dam car park but the latter are often shut when we arrive so it's best not to rely on them.
Journey time to Deer's Meadow is usually around one hour from Jethro Centre, allowing for a comfort stop along the way.