Meelmore Lodge
County Down
A hillwalkers' campsite and bunkhouse deep in the Mourne Mountains
About Meelmore Lodge
Meelmore Lodge sits in the heart of the Mourne Mountains near Bryansford, a short drive from Newcastle, directly below Slieve Meelmore and the pass known as the Hare's Gap. It is better known as a hillwalkers' bunkhouse than a conventional campsite, but it runs a seasonal campsite through the summer months alongside its ensuite and dormitory rooms, aimed at people heading straight up into the high Mournes rather than down to the beach.
The site's own Hare's Gap Bistro provides food on site, useful given the remote, mountain-ringed setting, and a self-catering kitchen and CCTV-monitored car park round out the practical facilities. A separate self-catering cottage, known locally as The Wee House, is also available for those wanting more privacy than the bunkhouse or campsite offer.
What Meelmore Lodge trades away in beach access it makes up for in position: the Trassey Track and the Mourne Wall are a short walk from the gate, making it the natural choice for anyone planning to spend their trip on the mountains rather than the sand. Newcastle's shops, restaurants and seafront are a short drive away for evenings off the hill.