Days Out NI
Adventure & activity Kilkeel

Silent Valley Mountain Park

A £5-a-car gateway into the Mournes with flat trails, a cafe and big mountain views.

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Book aheadNo booking needed, turn up and pay at the…
£5Per person
KilkeelAdventure & activity
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A couple of hoursHow long
£5Cost
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Silent Valley Mountain Park — A £5-a-car gateway into the Mournes with flat trails, a cafe and big mountain views.

  • What you do: Reservoir and mountain walking trails with a visitor centre, cafe and exhibitions.
  • Difficulty: Your choice: a 2.4km Heritage loop (easy-ish, some steeper bits) up to the 10km flat-tarmac Ben Crom dam walk. The 3.4km Mountain Trail is the steepest.
  • Age / height: None, all ages welcome. Younger kids suit the flat Heritage Trail.
  • Booking: No booking needed, turn up and pay at the gate.
  • Come ready: Walking shoes or boots, waterproof, warm layers, water and snacks. A phone for the AR story trail.
  • Weather: Exposed mountain site, weather changes fast. Barbecue and open-fire bans during dry, high wildfire-risk spells.
Plan your visit

Pick your walk, from buggy-friendly to a proper trek

Three main trails start from the car park. The Heritage Trail is a 2.4km circular route with historic landmarks and sculptures along the way; it's graded easy-ish but does have some steeper sections, and it's still the best bet with younger kids. The Mountain Trail is 3.4km and the hardest of the three, with steep climbs through woodland and Mourne upland for views of the Mourne Wall. The longest is the Ben Crom Dam walk, around 10km there and back; despite the distance it's actually graded one of the easiest because it follows a flat tarmac road deep into the mountains (suitable for prams and wheelchairs). You can turn back whenever you like, so even the long route works as a shorter stroll. Check current trail info before you go.

£5 per car No booking needed All ages Big mountain views Cafe on site Weather-dependent
Good to know before you go:

Adventure centres and trails run seasonal guided sessions, family events and holiday activities; Silent Valley itself hosts occasional events at the park. Check listings for current dates.

Before you set off

What to bring

  • 👟Clothes you can trashOld kit and trainers you do not mind getting muddy or wet.
  • 🎒A full change & a towelEspecially for anything on the water — you will be glad of dry clothes after.
  • 💧Water and a snackYou will have earned it once the adventure is done.
  • 🎫Your bookingAlmost everything here needs booking ahead — have the confirmation ready.
Good to know

Everything before you go

Cost
Free to walk; parking £5 per car, £1.60 per adult or 60p per child on foot, £2.50 motorbike, £13 minibus, £35 coach. Contactless at the gate.
Booking
No booking needed, turn up and pay at the gate.
Activity
Reservoir and mountain walking trails with a visitor centre, cafe and exhibitions.
Difficulty
Your choice: a 2.4km Heritage loop (easy-ish, some steeper bits) up to the 10km flat-tarmac Ben Crom dam walk. The 3.4km Mountain Trail is the steepest.
Age / height limits
None, all ages welcome. Younger kids suit the flat Heritage Trail.
Best for
Families wanting Mourne scenery without a hard climb, plus keen walkers who want the longer trek.
What to wear / bring
Walking shoes or boots, waterproof, warm layers, water and snacks. A phone for the AR story trail.
Safety / weather
Exposed mountain site, weather changes fast. Barbecue and open-fire bans during dry, high wildfire-risk spells.
Parking
Single large car park, around 120 spaces, first come first served, one-way system in.
How long to allow
A couple of hours for a short visit, most of a day for the Ben Crom walk.
Address
Silent Valley Mountain Park, Head Road, Kilkeel, Co. Down, BT34 4HU
Questions

Before you go

Do I need to book?
No booking needed, turn up and pay at the gate.
How much is it?
Free to walk; parking £5 per car, £1.60 per adult or 60p per child on foot, £2.50 motorbike, £13 minibus, £35 coach. Contactless at the gate.
Is there an age or height limit?
None, all ages welcome. Younger kids suit the flat Heritage Trail.
What should we wear or bring?
Walking shoes or boots, waterproof, warm layers, water and snacks. A phone for the AR story trail.
What if the weather is bad?
Exposed mountain site, weather changes fast. Barbecue and open-fire bans during dry, high wildfire-risk spells.
Getting there

Silent Valley Mountain Park is at Silent Valley Mountain Park, Head Road, Kilkeel, Co. Down, BT34 4HU. Single large car park, around 120 spaces, first come first served, one-way system in. Tap below for directions.

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Nearby

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The story

About this place

Silent Valley reservoir was built between 1922 and 1932 to supply water to most of County Down and a large part of Belfast. The job took over 1,000 workers and a small community grew up on site during construction. The reservoir still supplies water today and is managed by NI Water.

Wrapping the catchment is the Mourne Wall, a dry-stone wall more than 35km long that crosses 15 summits. It was built by hand between 1904 and 1922 to mark and protect the water-gathering grounds, and walking alongside parts of it is one of the highlights here.

The park's visitor facilities sit in two colonial-style bungalows overlooking the parkland, now home to the information centre, education centre and exhibitions about the valley and its water.