About Knockshee
A small retreat in the Mourne Mountains, built on the belief that a place should feel like it's always been here.
The name Knockshee comes from the Irish Cnoc Sí, meaning “Hill of the Fairies.”
For generations, the hill overlooking Carlingford Lough has been woven into local folklore,
where it was believed that the sí — the mystical fairy folk of Irish legend — gathered among the slopes and ancient landscape.
Behind the Name
Gaeilge Cnoc Sí
Knockshee
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Rising gently above the countryside on the outskirts of Rostrevor, Knockshee forms part of the wider Mourne Mountains Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, a region shaped by ancient granite peaks, glacial valleys and coastal vistas that stretch across the lough towards the Cooley Mountains.
The area surrounding the hill has long been part of the story of South Down. Historic recordsfrom the mid-19th century show small family farms and stone-walled fields scattered acrossits slopes, while ancient monuments such as the Kilfeaghan Dolmen, a Neolithic portal tombover 4,500 years old, sit quietly at the foot of the mountain — a reminder that people havebeen drawn to this landscape for thousands of years.
Local tales also speak of a more colourful past. During the Napoleonic era, quiet countrylanes nearby were said to have been used as smuggling routes for French brandy comingashore on the shores of Carlingford Lough, while the surrounding hills hid the fires of illicit poitín distillers working in secret among the valleys.
Living Legacy
Today's Knockshee
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Today, Knockshee remains a place where history, folklore and landscape meet. Standing at 347 metres, the hill looks out across one of the most spectacular coastal panoramas in
Ireland — a view that continues to captivate those who visit.
At Knockshee Lodges, this remarkable setting forms the backdrop to every stay, allowing
guests to experience the beauty, stories and quiet magic of this special place.
