European Adventure 2025 | Newcastle Northern Ireland | GCP by Nicole

The next day, we embarked on a new adventure – our first trip to Newcastle! We didn’t make it into the charming town itself, but it’s supposed to be absolutely wonderful, right on the beautiful Irish Sea.

Our first stop was Silent Valley Reservoir, which our friends hadn’t visited in ages. It was a lovely and easy (and flat!) hike. We took in the stunning views of the Mourne Mountains and strolled along the water reservoir. Since we were planning to climb the mountain next, we didn’t want to spend too much time there. We even fed some adorable ducks and had a picnic lunch.

Next, we headed to the majestic Mourne Mountains! The area where we started was so picturesque and we walked right next to a charming riding stable. Before we knew it, we were already ascending the mountain. The views were truly breathtaking, and we were the only people on the trail the entire time.  We experienced some wild weather changes during our hike – from sunny weather to thick clouds, mist, and back to sun again. Living where we do, we’re definitely used to crazy weather, haha!

We came across so many cows, some more curious than others, and there were so many adorable baby cows. Caleigh was determined to pet one, but she only managed to get a boop on the nose. It’s fascinating how the farmers own hundreds of acres of land, and their herds of cows and sheep just roam freely.

After our hike, we headed home for a delicious home-cooked meal. Then, we headed to an indoor water park for some fun and relaxation. The kids absolutely loved it! Ireland was still in school for the first three days we were there, so the kids had the evenings to hang out together and we wanted to make sure they got plenty of time in together.

Finally, we packed up one last time and headed to the stunning Antrim Coast.