The Silent Valley Nature Trail

The site of the old railway line that linked Annalong with the Silent Valley reservoir is now home to a new nature trail and was officially opened on 10 April 2006.

The former railway line was constructed in the 1920’s to enable supplies and materials to be transported to the dam during its construction and also to ‘Watertown’, the settlement for the workers on the project. At its peak Watertown had close to 700 inhabitants, a cinema, boxing club, hospital and even its own policeman called Constable Lawless!

The town and railway disappeared many years ago but wildlife in the area has flourished. The new trail stretches for a kilometre and a half and will allow visitors to the park to get closer to wildlife and wild flowers. It includes a new picnic area close to the Kilkeel River and there are excellent places for bird watching all along the route. The nature trail has been designed to be as accessible as possible and there are numerous information boards to tell the story of Silent Valley and the surrounding area.