Meelmore Lodge - BT33 0QB
and Happy Valley car park
OPTION 1 - Drive via Banbridge to Rathfriland and turn left at crossroads at top of hill, then turn right at end of this road, passing the bus station on your right and exit the town on the A25 (Castlewellan Road). Don't take the Hilltown Road! After approximately 5.6 miles you will come to the small settlemnent of Kilcoo where, with a graveyard on your left, the road forks. Take a slight right (more like straight ahead) on to the Tullyree Road. After 2½ miles turn sharp right onto Bryansford Road/B180 and after 288 metres turn left onto Trassey Road.
After about half a mile Trassey Road turns sharp left and crosses an old stone bridge (Clonachullion Bridge) before turning right again. Trassey Car Park is less than 400 metre further along on your left behind a low stone wall. It is free but has no facilities and is not thought to be very secure. The entrance to Tollymore Park is immediately above the Trassey car park while the entrance to Trassey Track is approximately 100 metres further along Trassey Road.
Meelmore Lodge
Meelmore Lodge
Meelmore Lodge is 1 Km further along Trassey Road on your left hand side. It has a more secure car park but there is currently a charge of £4 per car. Meelmore Lodge has toilets and, most importantly, a tea room.
Happy Valley
Happy Valley car park, Trassey Road
Happy Valley car park is 1.7Km further along Trassey Road i.e. west of Meelmore Lodge and also on your left hand side - it has a small informal parking and picnic area.
OPTIONS
Option 2 - As for option one but after Kilcoo drive about 1.3 miles along Tullyree Road and then turn right again down a very narrow road - Macleans Close. At the end of this road turn left on to the Bryansford Road and follow this for ¾ mile until the road doubles back very sharply on your right hand side. Turn right into this road, Trassey Road - there is a sign to Meelmore Lodge at the end of the road Thereafter as second paragraph above.
Option 3 - Drive via Banbridge to Castlewellan. Entering Castlewellan, at the first roundabout, beside Eurospar supermarket, turn left i.e. take the first exit onto Dublin Road, heading towards town centre. At the next roundabout, take the second exit (right turn) onto Newcastle Road/A50. After two miles turn right onto Ballyhafry Road/B180. Continue to follow the B180 for 2.9 miles, passing through Bryansford and past the Tollymore Mountain Centre. Then turn left onto Trassey Road. Thereafter as second paragraph above.
Option 3 - Drive from Spelga Dam past Ott car park on Slievenaman Road and entrance to Fofanny Dam (on your right about one mile past Ott Track). Continue on Slievenaman Road for a further ¼ mile to the crossroads and turn right into Trassey Road. Happy Valley car park is on your right after about 300 metres.