Outdoor adventure plan is mooted for Delamont park

Outdoor adventure plan is mooted for Delamont park

30 July 2025

A NEW outdoor adventure experience could take centre stage at Delamont Country Park on the shores of Strangford Lough.

The thrill activity proposal has secured the backing of local councillors and the idea — which could feature a link between a proposed viewing area and new water-based activities at the shoreline — is to be examined as part of a market research exercise.

New of the outdoor adventure, which would appeal to families, comes shortly after it was revealed that Delamont is in line for a multi-million pound investment to develop it as a landmark tourist attraction.

Already attracting tens of thousands of visitors annually, up to £5m is to be invested in three key projects at the 200-acre park near Killyleagh.

Plans have been drawn up for a new visitor centre and what is being described as a “stand out” viewing area looking over the internationally acclaimed waterway, with work expected to start soon on business cases for both.

There are also plans for an enhanced trail network across the park outside Killyleagh and a new interpretation plan to develop the visitor experience.

Councillors are keen to make the most of Delamont’s untapped tourism potential and to complement existing attractions including the hugely popular miniature railway, with calls to enhance the park’s outdoor adventure potential.

Several years ago, consultants were appointed to help transform the park over a 10-year period which resulted in the publication of the “Window to Strangford Lough” masterplan.

Council officials say Delamont is “of significant tourism value” and its future development is something they want to get right.

Discussions about the future of the park have already been held with representatives from the Education Authority which runs a very successful outdoor education at Delamont which recently underwent a major upgrade.

The addition of a new outdoor adventure experience at the country park has been proposed by Rowallane councillor Callum Bowsie and secured across-the-board political support at this month’s meeting of Newry, Mourne and Down Council.

He highlighted the need to recognise Delamont’s “untapped tourism potential” and the need to invest in what he described as “innovative new experiences, particularly for the secondary school age”.

Cllr Bowsie called for market research to be conducted into the potential of Delamont being home to a major new outdoor adventure that utilises its scenic drumlins and shoreline, making the park a landmark tourist attraction for the north of the district.

He said the Rowallane end of the district has been “completely off the council’s radar” when it comes to tourism and recreation and it was time for the DEA to get a slice of the cake.

“Rowallane is only eight miles from Belfast city centre and what is our council doing to attract day visitors to this district, those who want to experience rural Ulster, but don’t wish to travel to South Down?

“Rowallane sits on one of the most beautiful and accessible parts of Strangford Lough, which is a key pillar of the council’s Mourne Gullion Strangford UNESCO Global Geopark. Where better to showcase Strangford than Delamont, the council’s only country park right on a shoreline.”

Cllr Bowsie said it was “telling” the Delamont masterplan took a step forward last month — seven years after it was initially published — after his motion demanding investment into the country park was proposed.

“There hasn’t been a single spade in the ground at Delamont since the masterplan announcement in 2018 and it has now reappeared, though still lacking basic details. There are plans for a new viewpoint but we still don’t know what this will actually entail or where in the park it will be,” he said.

“The Castlewellan treetop walk was first proposed seven months ago and is already at the same consultancy procurement stage as the Delamont masterplan. If that doesn’t demonstrate the lack of priority Rowallane receives in this council, I don’t know what does.”

He continued: “We simply can’t rely on a viewpoint experience alone as we would be competing with Audley’s Castle, Scrabo Tower and Portaferry Windmill, all of which have panoramic views of Strangford Lough too.

“I presented a motion that I believe complements this existing masterplan. Not only does it give the seven year plans a nudge forward, but it can fill a significant gap I think which remains — an outdoor adventure experience, particularly for the secondary school age.”

Cllr Bowsie added: “We have the play park and miniature railway for kids and a viewpoint and information centre in the pipeline for adults, but nothing to entice teenagers. 

“The lack of activities for young people is a district-wide problem and a lost opportunity to enhance council facilities and I’m glad all parties recognise this and have agreed for market research to be conducted into the potential for Delamont being home to a major new outdoor adventure experience that will make it attractive to families of all ages, residents and tourists alike.”