Out & About

Carlingford. A medieval town on the lough.

Walks from the door, mountains in your viewfinder, two AA Rosettes in the kitchen — and a tree length from the medieval gate.

At a glance

Twelve acres of walls. Two airports an hour away.

Carlingford is one of those places that’s quietly bigger than it looks. A medieval town wedged between Slieve Foy mountain and Carlingford Lough, founded by Vikings and fought over by Normans, now a tidy walking village with a working harbour, a Greenway along the water, and the kind of countryside that makes guests stay an extra night.

Walks from the door

Five minutes’ walk gets you a long way.

Borrow a pair of our wellies. The mountain, the seashore, the Greenway and a quiet old farming township are all within a short walk or drive.

Past the harbour

Carlingford Greenway

6 km to Omeath · 17 km to Newry

Tarmac path along the lough — wide enough for prams, bikes and wheelchairs. Cafés at The Marina, Greer’s Quay and Omeath. Continues 20 miles to Portadown via a disused canal once you’re past Newry.

At low tide

The seashore

4 minutes walk · low tide

The best walk we know, and hardly anyone does it. Wellies on, walk to the far shore, then out through the rock pools to the water’s edge. Smell the seaweed, watch the Mournes rise across the lough. Be back before the tide is.

From the back

Slieve Foy

≈ 2 hours up · 589 m

The mountain behind us. Two hours from a paddle in the lough to the summit, on marked trails. Views across the Mournes, Slieve Gullion and back down to Carlingford. Guided walks: Clodagh at Anam Tours, +353 86 387 3964.

5 min drive

Ballagan Shore

≈ 50 min loop

Single-track road through old Whitestown to the open shore — panoramic Irish Sea, Hallbowline lighthouse, Mournes and Slieve Foy. Park where the road splits and walk the loop anticlockwise. Great with prams.

Picturesque golf

Greenore Golf Course. Three kilometres from the door.

Right out of our drive, left at the T-junction, second left past the course — Greenore is one of the best rounds you’ll have. Sea and mountain views; tees from the old railway embankment overlooking Carlingford Lough, the Mournes and Slieve Foy. Open to non-members; book ahead at greenoregolfclub.com. The clubhouse is open for a pint and lunch — for golfers and non-golfers alike.

Curated list — 9 courses within 1 hour →

Further afield

Within an hour or two, some serious history.

Add a day to the trip and you can see two UNESCO World Heritage sites, a 12th-century castle, and the best Celtic high crosses in Ireland.

35 min drive

The Mournes

Across the lough. Stunning walks and serious hikes, with marked trails up Slieve Donard and the rest of the range. A whole day’s outing.

≈ 2¼ hours

Giant’s Causeway

UNESCO World Heritage. The scenic route via the Antrim Coast Road (off the M2 north of Belfast onto the A43) is worth the extra time. Visitor centre, café, loos.

45 min drive

Newgrange & Knowth

5,000-year-old burial sites — UNESCO World Heritage. Book ahead. Junction 9 off the M1. Visitor centre, café, loos.

Two longer reads.

Read

History of Carlingford

Vikings, Normans, King John’s Castle, Taaffe’s Castle, the Tholsel — eight hundred years of strategic Lough-side town in a longer read.

Eat

Where to eat within 20 minutes

Our 2 AA Rosette restaurant, plus the cafés, pubs and restaurants of Carlingford and beyond — Paul’s local recommendations.

See the list →

Make a long weekend of it

Stay longer. See more.

Most guests arrive planning two nights and book a third. Ask Paul on the phone for tailored recommendations — bring kids, dogs, walking boots, golf clubs, or just an appetite.

Book a Room

+353 (0)42 937 3682

About the area