Meelmore Lodge is a family run business,

established in 2001 by local Farmer and Land Owner Dessie Patterson.  

 

The original farmhouse on site was being used as a self-catering holiday house, looked after by Dessie’s wife June.

 

The site had its own private access onto the mountains, which made the holiday house very popular with hillwalkers.  The family then decided to build a secure carpark with toilets and showers, and a small coffee shop in the grounds surrounding the holiday house. This was when the site became known as Meelmore Lodge.

 

In 2007, the holiday house was extended and renovated into a Hostel,

providing 28 beds between dormitories and private ensuite rooms.

 

A small campsite was opened to the rear of the property, which was primarily used by Duke of Edinburgh groups but then started to accept families.

 

In 2016, the site received funding from Down District Council and the Tourist Board to develop the site further by building a new amenity block, overflow carpark and expand the coffee shop into a bistro offering a larger variety of food and a larger eating area.

 

After the redevelopment, June and Dessie’s daughter Sandra came on board to help to look after the running of the Business.

 

Today, Meelmore Lodge is a hub of activity every weekend, with hillwalker’s parking in our CCTV monitored carpark and using our private lane to access the higher Mournes.

 

They can then return from their walk to avail of the toilets and showers and replenish themselves in our bistro.  

 

The Bistro and the Hostel have become very popular for private group bookings, and the Campsite remains open every Spring and Summer for Families and Organised Youth Groups.