Slieve Gullion Forest Park

Top choice in Counties Down & Armagh


A 10km scenic drive through this forest park provides picturesque views over the surrounding hills. From the parking and picnic area at the top of the drive, you can hike to the summit of Slieve Gullion (576m), the highest point in County Armagh, topped by two early Bronze Age cairns and a tiny lake (1.5km round-trip). Slieve Gullion is 10km southwest of Newry on the B113 road to Forkhill.

At the main entrance to the forest park there's a fantastic adventure playpark and a magical Giant's Lair children's storybook trail through the forest, with hidden fairy houses, teacups and soup bowls abandoned by giants and other fantastical sights along the way; the trail is inspired by local legends. There's a good cafe in the courtyard by the main car park, and a tourist information point.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Counties Down & Armagh attractions

1. Killeavy Old Churches

1.52 MILES

Surrounded by beech trees, these ruined, conjoined churches, 6km south of Camlough, were constructed on the site of a 5th-century nunnery founded by St…

2. Flagstaff Viewpoint

4.04 MILES

Travelling along the Cooley Peninsula from Carlingford to Newry in Northern Ireland, a quick 3km detour rewards you with sweeping views of Carlingford…

3. Bagenal's Castle

4.98 MILES

Bagenal's Castle, the town's oldest surviving building, houses the Newry & Mourne Museum with exhibits on the Newry Canal and local archaeology, culture…

4. Narrow Water Castle

5.11 MILES

About 2km northwest of Warrenpoint's town centre, you'll see Narrow Water Castle, a fine Elizabethan tower house built in 1568 to command the entrance to…

5. Derrymore House

5.32 MILES

Just south of Bessbrook, and 4km west of Newry, is Derrymore House. The elegant thatched cottage was built in 1776 for Isaac Corry, the Irish MP for Newry…

6. County Museum Dundalk

7.65 MILES

Different floors in this worthwhile museum are dedicated to the town's early history and archaeology, and to the Norman period. One floor deals with the…

7. Courthouse

7.65 MILES

Dundalk's courthouse is a photogenic neo-Gothic building with large Doric pillars. The interior is closed to the public. In the front square is the stone…

8. St Patrick's Cathedral

7.69 MILES

The richly decorated 19th-century St Patrick's Cathedral was modelled on King's College Chapel in Cambridge, England. Hours can vary depending on services…