Slieve Gullion Courtyard Centre to Newry - Ring of Gullion Way

Start : Slieve Guillion Visitor Centre Car Park, Slieve Gullion, Newry (BT35 8LN)

(S) From the Courtyard Centre, descend along the exit driveway to reach a country road (Wood Road).

(1) Turn right (East) here and walk for 410 m or so.

(2) Turn left (North) at the next crossroads with Bllintemple Road. Follow this road for roughly 2.5 Km, enjoying good views ahead to Camlough Mountain.

(3) At the Y-junction, turn right (North-East) opposite Killevy Old Church and begin to descend. After 950 m, take the third road on the left (North) (or 200 m past the road junction with C217).

(4) Climb steadily along this narrow lane for 1.1 Km.

(5) Turn right (East) at a T-junction with Tamnaghbane Road. Continue for 1.1 Km along this road to reach the metal entry gate for Camlough Forest on your left.

(6) Turn left here and from the southern entrance to Camlough Forest, follow the old forest drive on the right into the trees and begin to zig-zag up the mountain. Where the slopes are open near the top of the mountain, there are fine views over Newry and the ring dyke.

(7) Descend the northern slopes, then continue ahead along a narrow lane for a little bit less than 3 Km. There is now a good view over the numerous stone arches of the Craigmore Viaduct, your final goal of the route.

(8) Turn left (West) at a T-junction with Carrivekeeney Road.

(9) Then after 730 m, turn right (North-East) down Limekiln Road. This brings you to the A25 road on the outskirts of Newry after 1.1 Km.

(10) Turn left (West), then quickly right (North) to enter the grounds of Derrymore House, an eighteenth century, cottage-style house and demesne now owned by the National Trust.

Head along the driveway towards the yellow, thatched cottage. Where the road turns left, continue ahead along a track. Pass between grassy pastures, then through the beautiful planted woodland of the estate grounds.

(11) Now join Derrymore Road (B112) and turn right (East). Please note there is a diversion in place until further notice, between the Derrymore Road and Millvale Road – walkers should continue along the Derrymore Road after exiting the grounds of Derrymore House, until meeting Millvale Park on the left.

(12) After 180 m along B112, turn left to follow Millvale Park to its end.

(13)As you reach Millvale Road (B133), turn right (South-East) along it.

(14) Turn left after 240 m or so then right straight away onto a cycleway and footpath. This continues alongside Bessbrook River, soon passing beneath the towering Craigmore Viaduct.

(15) Now turn right onto a lane, which brings you to the main A27 road. On the way go pass Newry Bypass (A1).

(16) Turn right (South-West) here, taking great care because traffic travels very quickly along the highway.

(17) After 600 m, turn right (North-West) along Derrybeg Lane to cross Newbury Bypass (A1) again and reach Newry train station, the official end point of the route. (E)

Start : Slieve Guillion Visitor Centre Car Park, Slieve Gullion, Newry (BT35 8LN)

Arrival : Newry train station, Camlough Rd, null (BT35 6JS)

Parking : Car Park, Slieve Gullion, Newry (BT35 8LN). Or even so at the train station Camlough Rd, null BT35 6JS

Terrain : Tarmac, off road tracks, forests

Public Transport : Translink

Facilities : Refreshments, shops, car parks and toilets in Newry and Camlough.

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?
Killevy Old Church is located on the site of a former convent, founded by St Monnina in the 5th century. At the time this was one of the most important monastic sites in Ireland. The adjacent holy well is situated at the top of a boreen beside the church, and can be visited in a 1km detour from the route.
Craigmore Viaduct is a piece of Northern Irish engineering history. It was completed in 1852 to allow trains on the Dublin-Belfast line to span the Camlough River valley. It is around 400m long, and boasts 18 separate arches. The tallest arch is 38m high, making this the highest viaduct in Ireland.