Ring of Gullion Way

Start Point:

J084257

Finish Point:

J074295

Distance:

36 miles

Terrain:

Tarmac, off road tracks, forests

Point of interest:

Archaeological monuments, mountain views, scenic countryside

Nearest town:

Newry City

Getting to the start:

Start in The Quays Shopping Centre overflow car park in Newry.

OS map:

Sheets 28 &29

Route:

From the Quays Shopping Centre in Newry City centre, walk along the Fathom Line beside the Newry Ship Canal in the direction of Newry centre. After a few minutes turn left across a bridge and walk along Bridge Street and the Dublin Road for thirty minutes to Cloghogue Church, which is on the left hand side. Turn left onto Flagstaff Road and continue for five or ten minutes to an offset crossroads.

Turn right onto Brogies Road and then left along a track to the old A1. Proceed along this road for a short distance and then turn left onto Upper Fathom Road and continue along it for thirty minutes, climbing gently. Turn left onto a track for five minutes and then turn right onto Flagstaff Road for fifteen minutes to reach the Flagstaff Viewpoint and amenity area.

From the Flagstaff amenity area, turn right onto the Ferryhill road and continue to the Neolithic court tomb at Clontygora. Take a left turn here and follow narrow roads up onto the lower flanks of Anglesey Mountain, before descending steeply back to the Ferryhill Road. Turn left and follow the road west for a few minutes, crossing the border into County Louth and the Republic of Ireland, and then turn left onto a narrow tarred road that climbs steeply towards Black Mountain and Ravensdale Forest.

Approximately two hours from Clontygora, waymarkers lead off to the right into Ravensdale Forest. Continue down through the forest to Marble Bridge car park after forty minutes.

At the car park, turn right and follow a country road north for forty-five minutes. Turn right on the old A1 and left again at a roundabout just before the Carrickdale Hotel. Continue, crossing the border back into Northern Ireland and County Armagh. After a few minutes you enter the village of Jonesborough.

Walk through the village and follow the Kilnasaggart Road for approximately thirty minutes. A short detour can be made here to visit the Kilnasaggart Pillar Stone. After crossing the Dublin-Belfast railway line a further short detour can be made to visit Moyry Castle. Turn right onto the Carrickbroad Road for twenty minutes and then left onto Carewamean Road. Follow this lane up and over the shoulder of Slievenabolea to reach a right turn onto a forest track after twenty minutes.

Follow forest tracks to a right turn onto Tievecrom Road. Turn left until the Captains Road. Turn right again onto Carrickastickan Road. After a short distance waymarkers lead left along 'Woods Lane' and a footpath to Urney graveyard. Use a footbridge to cross the Kilcurry River and turn right, following a footpath north into the village of Forkhill, approximately three hours from Jonesborough.

From Forkhill, follow the Longfield Road (B134) north for twenty minutes and turn right onto minor roads leading to the rear entrance of Slieve Gullion Forest Park. Forest tracks now lead uphill onto a section of the forest scenic drive. Turn right and follow the drive uphill for fifteen minutes. Cross to the upper section of the forest scenic drive using a marked track. From here suitably equipped and experienced walkers can turn left along the drive to visit the summit of Slieve Gullion using mountain paths.**

Meanwhile the Ring of Gullion Way turns right on the upper forest scenic drive and descends to the Slieve Gullion Courtyard Centre. The route leaves the forest park at the exit to Wood Road and continues north for thirty minutes to Killevy Old Churches and St Moninna 's Holy Well.

From Killevy follow minor roads for forty-five minutes to the entrance of Camlough Forest. Use the pedestrian gates and follow the old forest drive for forty to fifty minutes to the Carrivekeeny Road. Turn left and continue for ten minutes to a right turn onto Lime Kiln Road and walk downhill for seven hundred metres to the A25 Newry-Camlough road. Turn left for a short distance and then cross the road to end the waymarked way route at 18th century Derrymore House, which is owned by the National Trust.

Continue past the house and turn right along a lane to reach the Derrymore Road. Turn right and walk along this road for a few minutes and then turn left. After a few hundred metres turn right onto Millvale Road and then left onto a path following the line of the disused Bessbrook to Newry tramline. The path goes under Craigmore Viaduct, Ireland's highest railway bridge, and then right onto Craigmore Road . Follow this road for ten minutes and then turn left onto the A1 road. Proceed carefully past the Fiveways Roundabout and then walk along the A27 for ten or fifteen minutes before turning right to join the Newry Canal Way at Carbane Industrial Estate.

** Slieve Gullion Summit
More adventurous or energetic walkers may wish to vary the route by traversing the summit of Slieve Gullion, despite the fact that it is not part of the waymarked way. Begin by following a mountain path, marked by orange and white posts, to the south summit of Slieve Gullion. The route then passes Calliagh Berras Lough and the north summit, where a marked path is picked up once again. This mountain path descends to the Ballard Road and Killevy Old Churches.

The cairn on the 573m high south summit is the site of the highest Neolithic passage grave in Ireland dating back to between 4000 and 2500BC. On the north summit is a multiple cist cairn dating to the bronze Age (2500-1500 BC.)

Facilities:

Refreshments, shops, car parks and toilets at the start in Newry and in Jonesborough, Forkhill, Slieve Gullion Forest Park and Camlough.

Accessible toilet facilities:

Yes

Accessible terrain:

Tarmac roads and off road paths, uneven and rough in places

Publication:

An Illustrated Guide to Walking the Ring of Gullion Way

Publication availability:

Newry Tourist Information Centre 028 3026 8877 or Countryside Access and Acrivities Network 028 9030 3930 or Contact RoSA 028 3086 8183

Accessibility information:

Start in The Quays Shopping Centre overflow car park in Newry.