Cairn Wood Forest

Discover a beautiful stretch of mixed woodland with five well-marked trails that are perfect for exploring with your dog. Each route leads you through quiet forest paths and up to viewpoints where you can pause, take a breather, and enjoy impressive scenery. On a clear day, you’ll see right across the Ballysallagh reservoirs, over Belfast Lough, and even as far as Scotland.

As you climb through the trees to around 200m, there are lovely glimpses southeast towards Newtownards and Strangford Lough. The woodland was once part of the Clandeboye Estate and remains an important conservation area, known for its rich tree mix and its striking presence in the North Down landscape. You’ll walk beneath tall beech trees, with oak, birch, alder, rowan, holly and the occasional Scots pine dotted throughout.

Open patches are covered with grass, rushes and bramble, and the higher spots open into heathland with plenty of bilberry. The forest is full of wildlife, so keep your eyes peeled, small songbirds flit through the branches, common raptors often circle overhead, and red squirrels are regulars, especially near the nearby hill fort.

If you enjoy a bit of structure on your walks, Cairn Wood also offers accessible orienteering routes including easy 1km and 2km virtual trails, ideal for families, casual walkers and anyone with an energetic dog in tow.