Charming Northern Ireland stay near the Mourne Mountains

Hillyard House Hotel, County Down

Classic Double room
Castlewellan Lake
Castlewellan Castle
Castlewellan Peace Maze
Legananney Dolmen
Classic Double room
Castlewellan Lake
up to -38% today

Property details

Discover the scenic beauty of County Down from an award-winning boutique hotel with a charming restaurant and bar, just a 10-minute drive from the beach - includes breakfast and a bottle of prosecco
  • Scenic setting: Near the lake-scattered landscape of the beautiful Mourne Mountains, the town of Castlewellan welcomes you. Stay at Hillyard House Hotel, a cosy and inviting abode just a short drive from Murlough Beach and walking distance from Castlewellan Forest Park. Here you’ll find an elegant, laid-back space where you can kick back with your favourite drink or a local craft beer from the friendly bar after exploring your breathtaking surroundings.

  • Hearty eats: The rustic, contemporary menu at the hotel restaurant highlights local produce, giving you a real taste of Ireland. Simple yet sophisticated dishes showcase their top-quality ingredients; you can expect everything from perfectly-aged cuts of beef (aged in the restaurant’s very own Himalayan salt chamber) to delicious desserts prepared in-house. Of course, it’s all accompanied by an impressive selection of fine wines to really round out your meal.

  • Cosy accommodation: The hotel boasts a clutch of 20 guest rooms, all kitted out in a contemporary style with a sleek colour palette of greys and vibrant accent tones. You can expect modern furnishings, unique design and walls adorned with local photography, as well as plenty of mod cons - like a LOR coffee machine and a flat-screen TV - to make your stay extra comfortable.

How to get there

The hotel is located in Castlewellan, about 10 minutes off the A2. From Belfast International Airport it’s roughly an hour’s drive to the hotel, or an hour and a half to two hours from Dublin Airport.

Entry requirements


The passport, visa and health requirements at the time of booking can be viewed on the Foreign and Commonwealth Office website for UK citizens, and on the Department of Foreign Affairs website for IE citizens. It is your responsibility to ensure that you and all members of your party are in possession of all necessary travel and health documents, and in compliance with any other immigration/entry requirements before you travel, including whether your passport must be machine readable or which visas/waivers may be required for entry, such as ESTA for USA travel and/or ETIAS for EU travel. Please also be sure to check the validity of your passport and allow up to 10 weeks for passport renewals.

  • Scenic setting: Near the lake-scattered landscape of the beautiful Mourne Mountains, the town of Castlewellan welcomes you. Stay at Hillyard House Hotel, a cosy and inviting abode just a short drive from Murlough Beach and walking distance from Castlewellan Forest Park. Here you’ll find an elegant, laid-back space where you can kick back with your favourite drink or a local craft beer from the friendly bar after exploring your breathtaking surroundings.

  • Hearty eats: The rustic, contemporary menu at the hotel restaurant highlights local produce, giving you a real taste of Ireland. Simple yet sophisticated dishes showcase their top-quality ingredients; you can expect everything from perfectly-aged cuts of beef (aged in the restaurant’s very own Himalayan salt chamber) to delicious desserts prepared in-house. Of course, it’s all accompanied by an impressive selection of fine wines to really round out your meal.

  • Cosy accommodation: The hotel boasts a clutch of 20 guest rooms, all kitted out in a contemporary style with a sleek colour palette of greys and vibrant accent tones. You can expect modern furnishings, unique design and walls adorned with local photography, as well as plenty of mod cons - like a LOR coffee machine and a flat-screen TV - to make your stay extra comfortable.

How to get there

The hotel is located in Castlewellan, about 10 minutes off the A2. From Belfast International Airport it’s roughly an hour’s drive to the hotel, or an hour and a half to two hours from Dublin Airport.

Entry requirements


The passport, visa and health requirements at the time of booking can be viewed on the Foreign and Commonwealth Office website for UK citizens, and on the Department of Foreign Affairs website for IE citizens. It is your responsibility to ensure that you and all members of your party are in possession of all necessary travel and health documents, and in compliance with any other immigration/entry requirements before you travel, including whether your passport must be machine readable or which visas/waivers may be required for entry, such as ESTA for USA travel and/or ETIAS for EU travel. Please also be sure to check the validity of your passport and allow up to 10 weeks for passport renewals.

Location and what's nearby

static map

Hillyard House Hotel, 3-5 Castle Ave, Castlewellan BT31 9DX

You’re perfectly placed to discover the scenic beauty of County Down from Castlewellan, which sits within an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Just a 25-minute walk from the hotel is the Castlewellan Forest Park, a 450-hectare park with a sprawling lake and its own Victorian castle. There are endless walking trails to discover, as well as 27 kilometres of mountain bike trails for those who prefer exploring on two wheels. For more challenging hikes, delve even deeper into the stunning Mourne Mountains - a breathtaking landscape that inspired The Chronicles of Narnia and was used as a filming location for Game of Thrones. If coastal walking is more your thing - or simply stretching out and relaxing on the shore - then head down to Murlough Beach, a stunning sand-and-pebble stretch that runs five miles along the Irish Sea coast with the dunes and distant mountains in the background.