Tourism \ Activities \ Walking \ Warrenpoint & Rostrevor

Warrenpoint & Rostrevor

Warrenpoint and Rostrevor are small coastal resorts on the fringe of the mountains of Mourne, set in pleasant farming countryside. Donaghaguy reservoir is just outside Warrenpoint. It is frequented by waterfowl, and is delightfully fringed with reedbeds and trees. The little village of Burren sits in the hills above the town and has an interesting heritage centre in its old National School. Burren was the boyhood home of the early 20th century worker's leader, Jim Larkin. You can walk along country roads over low hills, enjoying lovely views, then switch to a series of little known field paths and tracks to reach Rostrevor. A walk along the coast of Carlingford Lough leads back to Warrenpoint, though you could also detour inland to see Clonallan Rath.

The walk
The square in Warrenpoint lies between the harbour and the shops, offering a large car park and toilets. Walk straight out of town following the road signposted for Burren. Watch for a right turn onto Burren Road, followed by a left turn, also along Burren Road. This is the old road to the village, passing through the suburbs, and passing a low grassy hill crowned by a standing stone. When you reach a crossroads, turn left to enter a small car park, and keep left to follow a tarmac path around the wooded shore of Donaghaguy Reservoir.

Cross a wooden bridge at one end of the reservoir then walk out onto the road and turn left to continue uphill to Burren. Turn right in the village to pass a shop and post office. The Burren Heritage Centre is ahead, but to leave the village you turn right again up the Ballydesland Road. Views from the top of the road extend around Carlingford Lough, taking in Slieve Martin, Slieve Foye and Slieve Gullion. Follow the road downhill, and turn left at the very bottom. Turn left again along a narrower road, and walk straight through a crossroads. Continue uphill and down to the end of Ballymaconaghy Road, reaching a junction with Moygannon Road.

Walk along a track that leads to a ford on the Moygannon River. Cross the river and later turn left up a broader track. This swings right as it climbs, with hedgerows on either side as it narrows. The path continues through a wooded patch and passes a ruined cottage, then turns left alongside a tall wall. A farm road leads down to a tarmac road. Cross over to continue along another track and path, again between hedgerows, to reach the next road.

Turn right to follow the road to Rostrevor, passing houses at Drumreagh Park. When you reach the end of Greenpark Road you can turn left to reach the square in Rostrevor, or turn right to follow the main road back towards Warrenpoint. The main road reaches the shore of Carlingford Lough and passes an obelisk raised in memory of Major General Robert Ross.

After passing the entrance gate for Moygannon house, turn right along a narrow road that leads to a ford and footbridge. Cross the bridge and cross Moygannon road to follow Rath Road uphill. Just above Rathturret House you can turn left to visit Clonallan Rath, which is a substantial triple-banked rath. Walk back down Rath Road and turn right along Moygannon Road to reach the main road again. Turn right to follow the road back towards Warrenpoint. Walk along the refurbished promenade, passing palm trees and shrubberies, to return to the square in the middle of Warrenpoint. There are plenty of places offering food and drink at the end of the walk.