Belfast to the Mourne Mountains: A Practical Car Hire Driving Route

The drive from Belfast to the Mourne Mountains is one of the easiest day trips you can make in a hire car. Once you are clear of the suburbs the road opens into farmland and small market towns, with the granite peaks of County Down gradually filling the horizon. There are two sensible ways to go: a direct inland road, or a longer run around the coast. Both are signposted from Belfast and need little preparation beyond a full tank and a quick read of your hire agreement.

Getting clear of Belfast first

Whichever route you pick, the priority is leaving the city cleanly rather than threading through residential streets. From the centre, follow signs for Carryduff and Ballynahinch, which puts you on the A24 heading south. If you collected your car at the airport, follow signs for Belfast and then for Carryduff, joining the same road south of the city. Traffic is usually heaviest during the morning school run and the evening commute, so setting off outside those windows makes the first few miles far more relaxed.

The inland route through County Down

The A24 runs through Carryduff and on to Ballynahinch, a straightforward road with roundabouts and a few bends but nothing demanding. Beyond Ballynahinch the landscape changes quickly: stone walls, hill farms and wide views of the mountains ahead. Continue on the signed road towards Newcastle, where the Mournes meet the sea. This is the route most drivers choose when they want the shortest sensible line to the mountains, and it is easy to follow in poor weather or after dark.

The coast road alternative

For a more scenic run, leave Belfast on the A20 for Newtownards and continue through Comber and Downpatrick before turning towards Newcastle. This takes longer and involves more towns, junctions and traffic, but it suits anyone who prefers coastal views and fancies breaking the journey. It is also useful if you want to stop for a walk or a meal on the way rather than driving straight through.

Parking, lanes and mountain driving

Newcastle has several town-centre car parks, and charges usually apply during busy periods. Car parks serving forest parks and country parks in the Mournes are smaller and fill quickly at weekends and in summer, so arriving early helps.

• Use passing places on single-track roads rather than stopping in gateways or on verges.
• Expect livestock, walkers and cyclists around blind bends.
• Select a low gear for steep descents instead of riding the brakes.
• Close gates behind you where signs ask, and avoid blocking entrances.

Mountain roads are slower than the map suggests, and wind and low cloud can make exposed sections uncomfortable in a small car. Allow more time than you think you need for the return leg, and check whether your agreement requires the tank refilling before you hand the keys back, so you are not hunting for a filling station at the last minute.