Castlewellan Forest park’s ‘Peace Maze’ was commissioned in 1998 and in 2000 and 2001 over 4000 school children and 1000 people attended community planting days to plant the maze’s 6000 yew trees.
The design for the maze was conceived by Beverley Lear of Lear Associates who used the best idea’s from thousands of children’s designs that were submitted at the time.
The maze is one of Northern Irelands fastest growing tourist attractions, with over 240,000 visits between the opening date in September 2001 and June 2004.
The whole maze covers nearly 3 acres and has 2.18 miles of pathway.
Until 2007 the Peace Maze was the largest permanent hedge maze in the world and held the guinness world record. The current record holder is the ‘Pineapple Garden Maze’ in Hawaii with 2.46 miles of pathway.
Upon solving the maze there is a bell to ring at the centre. This bell is considered to be one of the most frequently rung bells in Ireland, with over half a million rings every year.