Gosford Forest Park

Start your adventure and have a great day out any time of year.  With some 240 acres of diverse woodland and open parkland set in gentle rolling drumlin countryside, Gosford Forest Park is an adventure paradise for outdoor enthusiasts of all ages. With so diverse an environment this fabulous natural playground is perfect for gentle walks, challenging trails and treks, cycling as well as wildlife spotting and adventure sports.

The park highlights include a magnificent herd of red deer and seeing them up close, even if it isn’t your first time, will still catch your breath! The excitement continues with the park’s new 3km woodland outdoor play area featuring five unique superstructures, an adventure for all your little giants!

Enjoy the 16km of multi-use trails for walking, running, cycling and horse-riding. ‘All Out Trekking’ provides an inclusive opportunity for people of all abilities (age 12+) to access the forest’s walking and mountain biking trails using an off road, battery powered vehicle.

Although not open to the public, the mock Norman Gosford Castle, one of the largest in Ireland, is an impressive sight. It was built by the Second Earl of Gosford in the early 1800s and featured in HBO’s ‘Game of Thrones’.

Aside from the wide-ranging activities, keep your eyes peeled for the woodland animals, birds and insects that live here; red squirrels, woodpeckers, herd of deer and butterflies to name a few. Gosford Castle itself still remains and is now a private residence which once featured in Game of Thrones.

Gosford Forest Park Walking Trails - Follow the colour coded trail waymarked discs on the wooden posts located throughout the park.

Deer Park Trail - The route is clearly signed from the car park and around the trail. Starting beside the mountain bike trailhead arch, this trail leads past the Red Deer enclosure returning to the car park through oak and Norway spruce plantations. This is a circular route of 1.2 miles

Castle Trail - The route is clearly signed from the car park and around the trail. Starting and finishing at the walk trailhead arch, this trail takes in the Arboretum and southern end of the Walled Garden before reaching the boundary of the privately owned Gosford Castle. From here, the trail returns on shared forest road. This is a circular route of 1.8 miles.

Boundary Trail - The route is clearly signed from the car park and around the trail. Starting at the walk trailhead arch, the trail follows shared forest road, over the Drumlack River and in to mixed woodland. From here, the trail continues around the perimeter of the park. After the second river crossing point, the trail returns to the car park through oak and Norway spruce plantations alongside the Red Deer enclosure and events field. This is a circular route of 3.4 miles.

Gosford Forest Park is accessible – for full details of their accessibility features, see Gosford Forest Park | AccessAble

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Opening times

The park is open as follows, 365 days per year, see website for opening times.

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Getting to the start by car

Gosford Forest Park is situated on the main Armagh – Newry Road. It is 1 mile approx. to Markethill.

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Price from £

A parking charge is payable on arrival at Gosford Forest Park, please visit the website for details