The Dundrum Coastal Path runs along a 2.5 Km stretch of the disused railway line on the western shore of Dundrum Inner Bay. The path forms part of the Lecale Way and is popular with walkers and birdwatchers alike. The path itself is of considerable nature conservation interest with a variety of semi-natural habitats along its length including herb-rich grassland, marginal scrub and scrub-woodland, marshy tall herb stands, brackish pools, and a narrow fringe of saltmarsh.
A
Down walk
posted on 08/02/23 by Walk NI. Last update : 21/02/23
Description
Start : The trail begins in the small National Trust car park accessed by turning right off the main A2 a few hundred metres North of Dundrum village. (Nearby postcode BT33 0SA). Car park next to the Dundrum GAC, Dundrum, Newcastle.
(S/E) Walk at the North corner of the small National Trust car park and continue along the trail following the way markers as necessary with the water on your right-hand and the A2 on your left.
(1) Carry on this path following the old railway line and opposite Ardilea Bridge an artificial embankment carries the track across the Inner Bay. The trail ends 400 meters beyond the Ardilea Bridge.
(2) From there, walkers can retrace their steps back to the car park in Dundrum. (S/E)
Waypoints
- S/E : km 0 - alt. 2 m - National Trust car park
- 1 : km 1.59 - alt. 0 m - Ardilea Bridge
- 2 : km 1.96 - alt. 9 m - Go back to the bridge
- S/E : km 3.91 - alt. 2 m - National Trust car park
Useful Information
Start : The trail begins in the small National Trust car park accessed by turning right off the main A2 a few hundred metres North of Dundrum village. (Nearby postcode BT33 0SA). Car park next to the Dundrum GAC, Dundrum, Newcastle.
Parking : Small National Trust car park accessed by turning right off the main A2 a few hundred metres North of Dundrum village. (Nearby postcode BT33 0SA)
Terrain : Grassland
Public Transport : Translink
Facilities : Carpark, bike racks, picnic table and holiday cottage.
Dog Policy : Dogs must be kept on leads
Find more information and walk ideas at Walk NI here.
Always stay careful and alert while following a route. Visorando and the author of this walk cannot be held responsible in the event of an accident during this route.
During the walk or to do/see around
Looking east at high tide across the waters of Dundrum inner Bay and at low tide across its estuarine sands and muds, the Dundrum Coastal Path offers vistas of exceptional beauty. The gentle shelving shoreline of Dundrum Inner Bay merges with the shingle, sandy spit and dunes of Murlough. Across the bay lie the fertile plains of Lecale, while behind the village on the summit of a rocky hill, stands one of Northern Ireland’s most evocative medieval ruins; Dundrum Castle. To the south of the Coastal path is Widow’s Row, a small group of cottages built by public subscription to house the wives and children of the Dundrum fishermen who lost their lives in the fishing disaster of 1843.
Dundrum Inner Bay is of very high interest for both its marine life and is part of the Murlough Special Area of Conservation. It regularly holds significant numbers of wildfowl and waders throughout the winter. The birds come to the estuary because of the relatively mild climate and abundance of food found on the mudflats. Green Island, a small low-lying island in Dundrum Inner Bay, is one of the major high tide roosts within the Inner Bay. Species include oystercatcher, lapwing, redshank and curlew, and during the winter small numbers of black-tailed godwit, turnstone and grey plover are present.
