Church Street in Dundalk, your starting point for exploring the region

Walks & fresh air

Town base. Wild days.

Pick up a picnic in Dundalk, lace up and head for the hills. Routes, maps and GPX files to help plan a day in the Cooleys, Ravensdale or Slieve Gullion.

Beyond Dundalk · outside the BID

All these trails are outside Dundalk town and the Business Improvement District. Slieve Gullion is across the border in Northern Ireland. Make Dundalk your base, then explore the wider area.

Pick up essentials in town Stay in Dundalk

Find your pace

From forest loops to mountain days.

Choose by distance and terrain. Published grades come from the operator; map tracks are separately attributed below.

A woodland trail at Ravensdale Forest Park

Outside BID · Ravensdale

Moderate

Ravensdale Loop

1.3 kmShort woodland walk

A short forest loop with old bridges and woodland character. A good option when you want fresh air without a full mountain day.

Route: Loop · red waymarkers
Start: Marble Bridge forest car park, Ravensdale

Before you walk · access & route notes

Coillte reports the main walking trails open, with some minor paths still restricted after storm damage. Follow the signs on site.

Check operator updates ↗

GPX ↓

GPX: OpenStreetMap / Waymarked Trails ↗Mapped track: 1.34 km. Operator distance: 1.3 km.

Coillte route guide ↗Photo: Visit Louth

Slieve Foye above Carlingford and the Cooley Peninsula

Outside BID · Cooleys

Moderate

Commons Loop

3.2 km1 hr 15 min

A shorter way into the Cooley foothills, with a climb above Carlingford and views across the lough. Expect uneven ground and hills.

Route: Loop · green waymarkers
Ascent: 250 m
Start: Carlingford Tourist Office, Harbour car park

Before you walk · access & route notes

Dogs are not permitted on this trail. Check the operator's current access information before setting out.

Check operator updates ↗

GPX ↓

GPX: OpenStreetMap / Waymarked Trails ↗Mapped track: 3.46 km. Operator distance: 3.2 km.

Sport Ireland route guide ↗Photo: Fáilte Ireland / Visit Louth

Outside BID · Cooleys

Strenuous

Slieve Foye Loop

9.8 km2 hr 30 min

Climb through forest and open mountainside above Carlingford. Steep and sometimes wet or boggy sections make this a walk for prepared hikers.

Route: Loop · blue waymarkers
Ascent: 270 m
Start: Carlingford Tourist Office, Harbour car park

Before you walk · access & route notes

Sport Ireland reports significant storm damage and diversions. The community GPX is shorter than the published 9.8 km route and may not show those diversions. Follow local signs. No dogs.

Check operator updates ↗

GPX ↓

GPX: OpenStreetMap / Waymarked Trails ↗Mapped track: 8.48 km. Operator distance: 9.8 km.

Sport Ireland route guide ↗Photo: Fáilte Ireland / Visit Louth

Outside BID · Cooleys

Moderate

Táin Way

40.3 km2 days

A two-day journey through the peninsula's mountain and forest landscape. Plan the stages and transport carefully; substantial sections follow roads.

Route: Long-distance loop
Ascent: 1,025 m
Start: Carlingford, Harbour car park

Before you walk · access & route notes

A multi-day route, despite the moderate grade. Dogs are not permitted. Check current trail access and plan each stage.

Check operator updates ↗

GPX ↓

GPX: OpenStreetMap / Waymarked Trails ↗Mapped track: 40.15 km. Operator distance: 40.3 km.

Sport Ireland route guide ↗Photo: Fáilte Ireland / Visit Louth

Slieve Gullion summit cairn and the surrounding landscape

Outside BID · Slieve Gullion

Mountain walk

Slieve Gullion summit

5.8 kmRecorded walk: about 3 hr

A recorded summit route from the upper car park in County Armagh, Northern Ireland. This community track is a shorter alternative to the official 15.3 km mountain loop; it does not start at the Courtyard.

Route: Recorded out-and-back · July 2023
Start: Upper mountain car park, Slieve Gullion Forest Park

Before you walk · access & route notes

This is an older community recording, not an official or recently surveyed route. The summit passage chamber is closed for maintenance. Confirm forest-drive access and current paths with the park before using it.

Check operator updates ↗

GPX ↓

GPX: Adam's Walk · recorded 7 July 2023 ↗

Visit Mourne Gullion Strangford route guide ↗

The official mountain loop is 15.3 km. The linked 2023 GPX covers the shorter summit walk shown here.

Photo: Gareth Wray / Visit Mourne Gullion Strangford

A little planning goes a long way.

Download a map for offline use, check the weather and operator notices, and choose a route for your experience. GPX lines are planning aids and may not reflect diversions or closures. Follow local signage.

Useful to know

These are curated snapshots, checked 17 October 2026, rather than live trail-condition reports. Community tracks are credited to their source. OpenStreetMap data is available under the ODbL licence.

Find your Dundalk.

Town base. Wild days.