Explore · Carlingford, Ireland
A mountain, a sea lough and a medieval village between them.
Carlingford is squeezed between the Cooley Mountains and the lough, with Slieve Foye behind it and the Mourne Mountains across the water in Northern Ireland. It is a walking, sailing and eating village — old, small, and busy in the best way — and it sits inside some of the oldest storytelling landscape in Ireland.
The outlook
Water and mountains in one frame: the lough changing colour with the weather, the Mournes going blue in the distance, and the lights of Greenore and Warrenpoint after dark.
On the water
Carlingford Lough kayaking
In the villageSheltered paddling straight off the shore, with seals and the Mournes ahead of you.
Sailing and the Greenore ferry
5–15 minutesThe sailing club runs off the lough; the Carlingford–Greencastle ferry crosses to the Mourne side in fifteen minutes.
Oysters
The lough's oysters are the reason for the village's festival every August. Eat them within sight of where they grew.
Walking and mountains
Slieve Foye
From the villageThe village's own mountain — a steep but short climb for the full sweep of lough, sea and Mournes.
The Táin Way
A forty-kilometre loop through the Cooley Peninsula following the route of Ireland's oldest epic, the Táin Bó Cúailnge. Walk it in sections.
Carlingford Greenway
A flat, traffic-free path along the old railway line to Omeath — good for bikes and for children.
Slieve Gullion and the Ring of Gullion
40 minutesAn ancient volcanic ring dyke with a Neolithic passage tomb on the summit, half an hour inland.
History and myth
King John's Castle
In the villageNorman, thirteenth century, standing over the harbour entrance and recently reopened to visitors.
The Mint and Taaffe's Castle
In the villageTwo more medieval buildings still in the middle of the village — Carlingford's street plan barely changed.
Proleek Dolmen
20 minutesA portal tomb with an enormous balanced capstone, five thousand years old, in the fields near Ballymascanlan.
Cúchulainn country
The Cooley hills are the setting for the cattle raid of Cooley — the landscape is the story.
Across the border
Northern Ireland is fifteen minutes away and worth several days.
The Mourne Mountains
40 minutesSlieve Donard, the Mourne Wall and Tollymore Forest Park — walking on a bigger scale.
Newcastle and Murlough
50 minutesA long sandy beach backed by dunes with the mountains falling straight into the sea.
Belfast
1 hourAn easy day out for the Titanic Quarter, the museums and dinner.
Where to eat and drink
Everything below is a walk from the cottage, and the lough's oysters and chowder are the reason to be here.
Kingfisher Bistro
In the villageThe village's small modern bistro, European cooking with local seafood. Evenings only most days; book.
The Bay Tree
In the villageA long-standing restaurant on the main street, strong on fish and Cooley lamb.
PJ O'Hare's
In the villageThe old bar for award-winning chowder, fish and chips and oysters, with music at weekends.
Carlingford Arms
In the villageHearty pub cooking and a fire, the easy default on a wet evening.
Schooners, McKevitt's
In the villageBar and restaurant on the square — a reliable table when everywhere else is full.
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