Leitrim Presbyterian Church

The grey stone walls of Leitrim Presbyterian Church stand quietly on the edge of Castlewellan, unremarkable at first glance but worth stopping for if you're passing through. It's a proper working church with a straightforward interior - whitewashed walls, wooden pews, that particular smell of old hymn books and floor polish that takes you straight back to childhood services. Nothing ornate or showy about it.

The church itself won't eat up your afternoon. Twenty minutes inside, maybe another ten if you're the type to read every inscription on the gravestones outside. What makes it worth a detour is the graveyard. Walk around the back and you'll find yourself among weathered headstones dating back centuries, with views towards the Mourne Mountains rising up in the distance. It's genuinely peaceful - the kind of place that resets your head after too long in a car.

This appeals most to people with an interest in local history or church architecture, though families won't feel out of place. The churchyard is open enough that kids can run about safely between the graves without causing chaos.

If you're camping at Pine Tree Hollow Glamping just down the road, or Slieve Croob Camping a touch further on, Leitrim slots in nicely as a quiet morning activity before heading into Castlewellan itself or pushing on towards the mountains. Admission appears to be free - it's still an active parish church, so knock before wandering in during off-hours out of respect.