This circular woodland walk on the lower slopes of Slieve Gullion takes in magnificent views of the Ring of Gullion peaks.

The walk is located within the Ring of Gullion Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), an area of national landscape importance tha centres on the craggy heather-covered hills of a circular ring dyke volcano that erupted more than 50 million years ago.

The Ring of Gullion is the most famous ring dyke in the world, having featured in geological debate and theory over the past 160 years.

Today’s walk explores Hawthorn Hill Forest Nature Reserve and Slieve Gullion Forest Park, utilising trails on the lower slopes of Slieve Gullion.

Directions

From Newry take the Dublin Road until the Cloghoge Roundabout (2km). Travel on the B113 towards Forkhill for approximately 5km past Meigh until the sign for Slieve Gullion Forest Park on the right hand side of the road just before Drumintee.

Follow the drive past the Courtyard Centre to the car park, which is the start and finish of the walk (GR J042196). Bus Service No 43 from Newry passes the Forest Park entrance.

From the car park, follow an uphill path through the woodland, from the top left of the car park adjacent to an information panel. Continue straight uphill through deciduous woodland for about 750m until arriving at a forest track with a log bench on the right hand side of the path.

From this point magnificent views are available of the Ring of Gullion peaks near Forkhill.

Keeping to the right, continue on the path back into the woodland. The path continues for 850m — first uphill, before descending directly to the car park and start point.

The Backdrop

Slieve Gullion, which rises to 573m, is the centrepiece of the volcanic landscape and is a Special Area of Conservation (SAC), which recognises the importance of the geology and the upland heather moorland.

The purples of the heather contrast with the yellow of dwarf gorse and orange of the bracken to create rich mosaics of colours that contrast with the many greens of the agricultural ladder farm landscape.

At the base of the mountains are a network of lowland loughs associated with a diversity of fen, bog and wetland vegetation including bulrush, cotton grass, bilberry and deciduous woodland.

People have lived in the Ring of Gullion for more than 6,000 years. The area is renowned for the wealth of Megalithic and early Christian monuments, including more than large stone tombs. Also close by is the Dorsey, dating back to the Iron Age period. This is a massive earth embankment and rampart that sits astride an ancient routeway to Eamhain Macha, the ancient capital of Ulster.

The Ring of Gullion and Slieve Gullion in particular have rich associations with Irish legends and myths. In one tale, Finn McCool was bewitched by Miluchra on the summit of Slieve Gullion at the Lough of the Calliagh Bhirra. To this day the superstition survives that if you bathe in the lough your hair will turn white.

The walk follows trails through Hawthorn Hill Forest Nature Reserve, which was once part of the Chambre Estate on Slieve Gullion, and is adjacent to the remains of Hawthorn Hill House, which dates from 1815, and the Slieve Gullion Courtyard Centre.

The Centre was originally constructed as farm buildings between 1800 and 1819 and is a listed building of special architectural or historic interest.

Halfway through the walk the woodland opens out on to a Forest Road. From here there are magnificent views of the volcanic Ring of Gullion Ring Dyke including the peaks of Croslieve, Slievebrack and Mullaghbane Mountain.

Further information

For further information on walking or any other outdoor activity, please contact Countryside Access and Activities Network (CAAN), tel: 028 9030 3930 or walkni.com.

CAAN in association with Belfast Telegraph have provided this information. Every care has been taken to ensure accuracy of the information. CAAN and Belfast Telegraph, however, cannot accept responsibility for errors or omissions but where such are brought to our attention, the information for future publications will be amended accordingly.

Walk: Hawthorn Hill, Slieve Gullion.

Area: Slieve Gullion Forest Park in the Ring of Gullion Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, South Armagh.

Nearest big town to start point: Newry City.

Distance: 1 mile (1.6km) Circular.

Time: This walk should take approximately 30 minutes to complete.

Terrain: The undulating woodland trail is entirely off road and can be steep in places.

Access Restrictions: The walk is situated in a working forest environment and may be subject to diversion and closure from time to time. Up-to-date information is available from the Forest Service, tel: 028 4377 2240.

Refreshments & Facilities: Slieve Gullion Forest Park has facilities for visitors including a café and toilets. A picnic area with tables is located at the start and finish of the walk adjacent to the car park. Village shops in Meigh, Drumintee and Forkhill sell supplies for taking on the walk and for having a picnic. Good food can be bought in the restaurant or bar at Murphy’s in Meigh.

Walk Developed By: Forest Service in association with Regeneration of South Armagh (RoSA).

Map: Ordnance Survey 1:500000 map Sheet 29, available in shops or from Land & Property Services Map Shop (lpsni.gov.uk).