About The Carlingford Lough Greenway
Greenway Blog
To keep our page tidy and, we hope, easy to navigate, we are presenting all the new news about the Carlingford Lough Greenway in the form of Blogs which will be published when something of significance happens to or on the greenway.
All about The Carlingford Lough Greenway
The opening of the final section of The Carlingford Lough Greenway on 10th July 2025 completed the greenway between Carlingford and Newry.
Fulfilment of the vision of a cross-border greenway between Carlingford, Co. Louth and Newry, Co. Down, has been some considerable time in the making..
The first section, opened in 2014, runs from Carlingford Marina (where OnYerBike is based) to the neighbouring village of Omeath, around 6.5 km away. The section follows the course of the track bed of the old Dundalk, Newry & Greenore Railway which closed on 31st December 1951.
The second section, opened in 2018, runs from Victoria Lock to Albert Basin, Newry, on the tow path embankment between the Newry Ship Canal and the Newry River, a distance of just under 6km
In June 2024, a new extension from Omeath to the border of the Republic of Ireland & Northern Ireland opened. Meandering along the shore of Carlingford Lough, passing the entrance to the Newry River at Narrow Water, through Ferry Woods and finishing at Cornamucklagh, this extended the greenway that starts at Carlingford Marina to around 10 km. At the same time, a looped route up the Marina hill, across to Back Lane and around Carlingford was signposted, with some changes to the road layout at the junction with the main road.
Additionally, between September and December 2024, the greenway from Carlingford Marina to Omeath was completely resurfaced with tarmac. This smooth surface made this 6.5 km section of the greenway accessible to a much wider range of people. For instance, Louth Disability Cycling Club, a group of volunteers dedicated to enabling people with disabilities to enjoy cycling experiences with special equipment, started to run occasional daytime events on the greenway. Young children on scooters and bikes with stabilisers can now enjoy the greenway, as well as roller skaters, in-line skaters, recumbent cyclists, etc - indeed everyone and anyone.
July 2025 saw the connection between the border and Victoria Lock completed. Travelling largely on a magnificent boardwalk above the Newry River, and with the exception of a short section just outside Omeath that uses the traffic-calmed R173, The Carlingford Lough Greenway is now 19km of off-road, safe cycling, walking and running for all the family to enjoy
The vision of a cross-border Greenway that links Carlingford to Newry was delivered by Louth County Council working in collaboration with Newry, Mourne and Down District Council and East Border Region Ltd with significant EU funding.
At some stage hopefully, there will be a cycling route through Newry that will join Albert Basin with the start of the Newry Canal Way at WIN Business Park to the north of Newry. The Newry Canal Way is a 32km walking and cycling route running from Newry to Portadown, running along the restored towpath of the former Newry Canal. It is largely flat with a great surface, running through villages such as Poyntzpass and Scarva before reaching Portadown. From there, 'The Black Paths' take you through Craigavon to Lough Neigh.
Cyclists can now enjoy a decent spin of around 126km from Carlingford Marina to Lough Neagh - and a very nice day out.
Carlingford Marina to Omeath
The views are magnificent as you walk, cycle or jog along this section of The Carlingford Lough Greenway. The track is almost flat - a couple of minor inclines but nothing very dramatic. It was of course the track bed of the Dundalk, Newry & Greenore railway with this particular section being built in 1876.
As you leave Carlingford Marina, you are very soon running parallel with the shoreline. To your right, you can gaze across the Lough to the majestic Mourne Mountains or to your left, the beautiful slopes of Slieve Foye. There are many places to stop along the way - you should do, you must do. Go down to the shore, find a nice patch of grass, have a picnic, enjoy the views and the time with your loved ones.
Everywhere along the way there are amazing things to see. There are many relics of the old railway - the level crossing piers, bridges, railway buildings. You will find a photo section below but for any enthusiast of 'industrial archeology ', this is a fabulous treat.
The fauna and flora are all around you. Carlingford Lough is a haven for a wide variety of birds and all along the Greenway you will see sheep, lambs, horses, cows, butterflies, and many other types of creatures enjoying the peace and tranquility of the Lough.
When you reach Omeath, you deserve a treat. There are cafes, take-aways, pubs with restaurants, shops and even a famous chip shop - Mena's Chipper - on Omeath Pier. You can read about the facilities further below but for a walker or cyclist, there are more than enough facilities, including public toilets. Avail of a drink or snack in any of the local pubs and cafes, there are toilet facilities there too.
Victoria Lock to Newry
On 4th May 2018, the 5.7km stretch of The Carlingford Lough Greenway opened connecting Newry to Victoria Lock
The Greenway starts at the Dublin Road Bridge in Newry, travels through the Albert Basin site and then along 'Middlebank' until it reaches Victoria Lock where there is a wonderful recreation area and lots of Newry Ship Canal heritage. The locks still function but ships passing from Carlingford Lough onto the Newry Ship Canal are something of a rarity. There is a threat to the possibility of tall ships even being able to may the historic voyage if the proposed 'relief road bridge' doesn't allow tall ships, such as Volharding, to make the voyage.
Now it's fair to say that right now, the part of the Greenway that joins the Dublin Road entrance to the start of Middlebank is not exactly picturesque but it's less than 1km. IF the Newry City Park ever gets the go ahead, it is going to be absolutely amazing !
As the Greenway reaches Middlebank, it is absolutely fantastic ! On one side is the Newry River and on the other, the Newry Ship Canal. The Newry Ship Canal was opened in 1769 and connected Newry with Carlingford Lough, allowing ocean going ships to reach the Irish Sea. In 1884, when the upper reaches of Carlingford Lough and the lower reaches of the Newry River were dredged, ships of up to 5,000 tons were able to reach Newry.
As you walk, jog or cycle along Middlebank, it is literally like being in another world, tree lined with herons and other seabirds in the river, swans & ducks on the canal, a huge array of wild birds in the trees. Heaven on Earth !
Portadown to Newry - 'Newry Canal Way'
The towpath of the now derelict Lough Neagh to Newry canal has been converted into an amazing 32 km Greenway that starts in Portadown and finishes in Newry City. It is part of a grand plan for a 1000km network of Greenways in Northern Ireland.
The Greenway is shared use - walkers, cyclists and joggers share the path which is nice and wide in most parts. It starts at Bann Bridge in Portadown and ends at Town Hall in Newry.The route follows the towpath on the western bank of the Newry Canal.
I have ridden this Greenway a few times and I can tell you that it is absolutely fantastic - smooth, flat tarmac surface virtually all of the way with amazing country views. Portadown and Newry are sizable towns with plenty of places to eat & drinks. There are lovely villages with facilities along the way - Tandragee, Scarva, Poyntzpass & Jerretspass all offer options. Not wishing to favour anywhere in particular but Hollie Berrie at the Tea Rooms at Scarva takes some beating if you have just reached that point where a Flat White and a massive slice of some delicious cake is just what the Doctor ordered. We cyclists need to 'Carb-Load' - it goes with the Lycra. It's just an excuse really - to eat cake, not to wear Lycra !
As you leave Portadown, there is a short tree-lined stretch where the roots of the trees have turned the pathway into a mini Pump-Track but aside from that, it's smooth sailing all the way.
From Carlingford to Portadown, 'The Great Eastern Greenway' has EVERYTHING you could possibly want - Sea views, Mountain Views, Cityscapes, lush green Countryside, rolling Hills, Canal Heritage, Railway Heritage, City Heritage, Ships, Shops, Cafes, Bistros Pubs, Toilets, Parking, the list goes on and on. It is, without question, a world class leisure facility that attracts walkers, joggers and cyclists from all around the World.
Carlingford Extension
In June 2024, Louth County Council mapped out a 2.65km route, starting at the trailhead at Carlingford Marina, that loops through the medieval village of Carlingford.
According to the council website, the route involves: -
- a shared use vehicle and cycle facility along Back Lane, Dundalk Street, Church Road and Newry Street and a segregated cycle lane from Back Lane along the land side of the R173 to the entrance of Carlingford Marina
- a new pedestrian asphalt footpath along the R173 and associated kerbing and fencing from King John’s Bridge to the Carlingford Marina access junction
- new traffic calming measures and road crossings along the R173 including road cushions, traffic calming gateway , anti-skid surfacing, road markings and signage
Carlingford is an amazing Medieval Town steeped in history with a rich array of places to Eat & Drink, lots of Things to Do, a wide range of Shops & Services. Visit Discover Carlingford to find out more.
Omeath to Victoria Lock
In July 2025, the completion of the boardwalk on top of the Newry River connected Omeath with Victoria Lock.
A year earlier, the extension from Omeath to the border had been completed - but there was a final piece of the jigsaw needed to finish the cross border Carlingford Lough Greenway from Carlingford Marina to Newry.
A magnificent feat of engineering, two boardwalk sections, each around 1/2 kilometre long, were built alongside and above the main road. With stunning views along the Newry River, and of the Mourne Mountains and Slieve Foye, and with historic sights to see such as the Narrow Water Keep, this section of the greenway is truly spectacular.
Well, it all is !
On leaving Omeath, the surface is a fine compacted gravel, ideal for walking, jogging or cycling. After a few kilometres, you come to the construction site of the Narrow Water Bridge where you can see the Newry River Range Leading Lights, Narrow Water Keep and Narrow Water Castle on the hillside opposite. Then through Ferry Woods, out at Cornamucklagh and shorting after, along the first of the two boardwalks. The greenway then travels across Rough Island before reaching a second boardwalk that takes you all the way to Victoria Lock at the end of the Newry Ship Canal
Welcome
This site is sponsored OnYerBike Carlingford, a fun, friendly Bike Hire business on the Carlingford Lough Greenway.
This site isn't about our bikes, it's about the Greenway and all that it offers. You can of course rent bikes from us for all the family. Just visit our website for bookings or call +353 (0) 87 992 1559