The Silent Valley

The Silent Valley Reservoir was built to gather water from the Mourne Mountains and is the main water supply source for most of County Down and a large part of Belfast.

Ringed by mountains, 'The Valley', located within the Mourne Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, has become an important visitor attraction in Northern Ireland. It attracts around 50,000 visitors per year most of whom come to enjoy the peace and solitude of this mountain area with its unique landscapes and varied wildlife.

Northern Ireland Water has provided a number of visitor facilities at the valley including a restaurant, information centre, conference centre and craft shop - all housed in two old colonial style bungalows and enjoying delightful views over the parkland.

Hours
The reservoir grounds are open daily from 10:00 until 18:30 (Summer) and 10:00 until 16:00 (October to April).

How to Get There
Vehicle access is possible only through the main gates located on Head Road. A charge is payable at the entrance, currently £4.50 per car. Drivers are required to obey the one-way traffic system which leads to a single large car-park at the south end of the reservoir grounds. From here further access is on foot or by shuttle bus.

Annual Pass
If you visit Silent Valley on a regular basis you may benefit from a Silent Valley Annual Pass. The current price is £20 for a car pass and £50 for a minibus pass (up to 16 passengers) which will allow entry during normal opening hours for one year. Apply by completing and returning the attached application form.

 
A new visitor centre with the latest in multimedia experiences will open in April 2007.