Attractions and Places To See around Carnacally - Top 14

De An Bealach Glas (The Greenway) is a stunning, traffic-free greenway that connects Newry to the monumental Victoria Lock. This 6-kilometre-long 'green route' takes you along the tidal river Clanrye and the sea canal, with the impressive peaks of the Mourne Mountains to your left and Cooley Mountains to your right.

Once you leave the city of Newry behind, you cycle towards tranquility on An Bealach Glas, also known as the Carlingford Lough Greenway. This flat, smoothly asphalted path follows the banks of the canal and offers spectacular views of the river's mudflats along the way, where you can spot numerous wading birds and sometimes even a stray seal. The route is a true sensory experience: the salty sea air blows towards you while the mountains seem to get closer and closer. The absolute endpoint of this section is the historic Victoria Lock, an impressive lock complex from 1850 that marks the transition from the canal to the open waters of Carlingford Lough. It is the perfect place to get some fresh air and enjoy the maritime dynamics before continuing your journey to the coast.

Between the rustling trees along the Newry Canal Towpath, you'll encounter the tranquil ruin of a lock keeper's cottage. Once, this was the proud and bustling heart of the waterway, where the lock keeper stood ready day and night to operate the heavy wooden canal gates for passing barges. Today, only the robust stone walls remain, slowly being reclaimed by nature.

Quiet canal section south of Poyntzpass, where the towpath runs tightly along the narrow water. The bank is lightly overgrown with low trees and hedges, giving the stretch an intimate, green impression. The water is mostly still, forming a straight line through the open agricultural landscape. An even, traffic-free segment ideal for quiet miles on the towpath.

The Newry Canal Towpath is a 32-kilometer-long, almost entirely traffic-free green corridor connecting the towns of Portadown and Newry. It follows the towpath of the oldest canal in the British Isles, opened in 1742 to transport coal from County Tyrone to the sea. The Newry Canal Towpath offers an unparalleled cycling experience through the tranquil heart of County Armagh and County Down. This historic route, part of the National Cycle Network Route 9, takes you along a flat and largely asphalted path past fourteen monumental locks and characteristic lock-keeper's cottages. As you follow the waterway, you'll traverse a varied landscape of dense forests and open meadows, passing through welcoming villages like Scarva and Poyntzpass along the way. The path is a haven for wildlife; keep an eye out for kingfishers, swans, and otters that inhabit the reed beds. Whether you cycle the full 32 kilometers or explore just a section, the combination of industrial history and natural beauty makes this one of the absolute gems of Irish cycling routes.

On the cycle path between Newry and Portadown, the gentle idyll of Northern Ireland unfolds in all its splendor. The route winds its way past lush green meadows where cows graze peacefully, through a wonderfully quiet landscape. The gentle rise and fall of the fields, the vastness of the sky and the gentle rustling of the wind create a unique atmosphere of relaxation. Here you can let your gaze wander into the distance while the path runs picturesquely between fields and hedges. A perfect place to let your bike roll and unwind.

There is something enchanted about this old, dilapidated stone hut - as if it were whispering stories of times gone by, when the canal was still full of life and the lock keepers worked here day and night. The walls, overgrown with greenery and moss, show how nature is slowly reclaiming its place. The building itself is only a ruin, but that is precisely what makes it somehow interesting. The mixture of broken brickwork and wild growth has something melancholic about it that fits perfectly into the tranquility of the surroundings. Right next to it there is a small rest area with a bench - ideal for stopping for a moment and taking in the atmosphere.

The Carlingford Lough Greenway has a special atmosphere as you walk along this section of Newry. With the Newry Ship Canal to your left and the Newry River to your right, you're in the middle of two worlds. The calm waters of the canal reflect the sky, making the surroundings seem almost like a backdrop, while the riverbank on the other side is lush with greenery and wild flowers. The narrow path takes you past flowering gorse and you can smell the scent of the vegetation in the air. It's a route that has its charms in every season, whether it's clear skies or when grey clouds hang low and make the water seem almost mystical. The Greenway is perfect for a leisurely stroll or a leisurely bike ride, enjoying being close to nature - an ideal place to clear your head.