Settle In
Make the hotel home for a few days, with 180 rooms and suites and views stretching across the Irish Sea to the Mourne Mountains. Preferential room rates are available for group bookings on enquiry.
Groups
GroupExperiences
On the Newcastle coast, where the Mourne Mountains sweep down to the sea, Slieve Donard has been hosting groups since 1898. Five flexible event spaces accommodating 10 to 800 guests, two restaurants, a spa, and a dedicated events team to handle the programme from arrival to last round.
SampleItineraries
Make more of your time in County Down, where championship golf, mountain trails, coastal scenery and centuries of history are all within easy reach. From Royal County Down and the Mournes to historic estates and days spent outdoors, our curated itineraries make it easy to experience more of this remarkable corner of Northern Ireland.
INTRODUCTION TO NEWCASTLE
Get Golfing
Some of Ireland's finest links courses surround Newcastle, with Royal County Down next door and Ardglass Golf Club — home of the world's oldest clubhouse — a 30-minute drive away.
Rambling in the Mournes
Local guides offer walks for every level, from a gentle introduction to the forests and fells to a full mountain adventure, including a summit of Slieve Donard, Northern Ireland's highest peak.
Scenery by Sea
Mourne Sea Tours runs boat trips from Newcastle Harbour, offering views of the mountains from the water that can't be captured on land.
HISTORY & CULTURE
Down Cathedral
Where Saint Patrick's remains are buried, with magnificent stained glass windows, box pews, and one of the finest pipe organs in the British Isles.
Hillsborough Castle & Gardens
Northern Ireland's royal residence, with castle tours, award-winning gardens, and a restaurant on site.
Castle Ward
An 18th-century National Trust property overlooking Strangford Lough, with 332 hectares of landscaped gardens, a fortified tower house, and a working corn mill — and a farmyard that Game of Thrones fans will recognise.
OUTDOOR PURSUITS
Trails and Ales Tour
An electric bike ride through the foothills of the Mournes, taking in Castlewellan Forest Park and the Annesley Estate, finishing at Whitewater Brewery for local craft beers and food.
Castlewellan Forest Park
One of the most significant tree and shrub collections in Europe, with paddleboarding, canoeing, and kayaking available on Castlewellan Lake.
Murlough National Nature Reserve
The golden stretch of beach that runs from Newcastle through the dunes, with wildlife and ponies along the way.
Ready to Start Planning?
Contact the Events team to discuss availability, group rates, and a bespoke itinerary.