Forkill to Slieve Gullion Courtyard Centre - Ring of Gullion Way

Start : B134 Road, Post Office (Bus stop nbr: 004248), Forkhill, Newry (BT35 9SG)

(S) At the junction with the B134, turn left and follow the road North for 1.7 Km.

(1) Turn right (North-East) here onto a lane signed as Cloghinny Road.

(2) After 420 m or so, take left (North-West-North) onto Forest Lane and 930 further along, take a right turn that brings you to the gateway at the boundary of Slieve Gullion Forest Park.

(3) Just before the gate, turn right (North-West) onto a footpath and begin to climb the forested hillside in a series of wide switchbacks. Part way up the slope, cross a stile and continue ahead on a muddy track past open farmland. The track eventually brings you to the tarmac of the forest drive.

(4) Head right here for 600 m.

(5) Now turn left along a track and climb for 200 m or so to the upper driveway.

(6) Turn right (South-East) and follow the upper driveway around the southern slopes of Slieve Gullion. The road descends steadily, with open terrain allowing expansive views over the ring dyke. After 2 Km you come to a short, gravel link track on the right.

(7) Follow this South-East for 35 m to reach the lower driveway.

(8) Turn left (North-North-East) here and descend for 700m, passing through stands of mature beech trees.

(9) After 400 m, now watch out for a sign indicating a left turn (North-East) across a bank, followed by a right turn onto a gravel footpath. This winds down through pleasant deciduous woodland to reach the car park beside the Courtyard Slieve Guillion Visitor Centre. (E)

Start : B134 Road, Post Office (Bus stop nbr: 004248), Forkhill, Newry (BT35 9SG)

Arrival : Car Park, Slieve Gullion, Newry (BT35 8LN)

Parking : Car Park, Slieve Gullion, Newry (BT35 8LN)

Terrain : Tarmac, off road tracks, forests

Public Transport : Translink

Facilities : Refreshments, shops, car parks and toilets in Forkill and Slieve Gullion Forest Park (Synge & Byrne Slieve Gullion).

Dog Policy : Dogs must be kept under close control

Note : If you wish, you can do several parts of this trek at once. Pay attention to the information given in each part like the duration and the elevation to avoid unpleasant surprises.

Find more information and walk ideas at Walk NI here.

Did You Know?
On Slieve Gullion’s summit plateau lies Calliagh Berra’s Lough. The pool is named after a woman famed in local folklore for bewitching the giant Finn McCool. She tricked him into diving into the lough, and when he surfaced his hair had turned completely white. Legend has it that the same fate will befall any person who swims in the waters today.