The best walks and hikes around Cloghinny

The setting is done with great attention to detail, and it almost feels like a quick picnic in the mountains when you sit down at the rustic tables and look into the distance. The patterned cups and saucers give the place a cozy touch and make the whole thing that little bit more special. The view of the surrounding hills and the relaxed atmosphere invite you to take a short break - perfect for resting your legs and just taking a breather. The coffee house is not only friendly to cyclists, but even offers bike rental for the Ring of Gullion. Handy if you need an extra boost for the next stage! The surroundings are green and spacious, a nice mix of Irish idyll and relaxed hospitality. The owners seem to take the attention to detail seriously, which is reflected in the little things like the decorative elements and the cozy atmosphere.

As soon as you cross the gentle ridge of Slieve Gullion, the North Cairn stretches out before you - a slightly smaller hill than its southern neighbour, but no less impressive. The stones that gather here seem like silent sentinels, witnesses of the distant Bronze Age. Two ancient stone boxes were once found here during excavations, which lay hidden in the depths of history. The North Cairn, with its diameter of around 18 metres, invites you to pause for a moment and enjoy the peace. But it is not just the Cairn that is fascinating. Right next to it lies "Calliagh Beara's Lough", a quiet mountain lake that, according to legend, is the home of the witch Beara. On a clear day, the sky is reflected in the calm waters and you can almost feel the ancient magic of this place coming to life. The road here may be rocky, but the landscape rewards with sweeping views and a touch of mysticism that makes Slieve Gullion something special.

A tough climb but great views from the top!

This lough, located between the northern and southern burial cairns of Slieve Gullion, is the highest in Northern Ireland.

At the heart of the Ring of Gullion AONB, you'll find this beautiful mountain, which represents the highest point in the county with an elevation of 573 meters (1,880 ft). Right next to it there is a burial cairn.

Slieve Gullion, whose name sounds as poetic in English as "Sliabh gCuillinn" in Irish, rises majestically in the "Ó Fiaich Country" in the south of County Armagh in Northern Ireland. At 573 meters high, it not only hides a geological wonder in the form of an extinct volcano, but also the highest Passage Tomb in the British Isles. This passage tomb is particularly mysterious because its entrance is aligned exactly towards the point where the sun sets on the winter solstice. The best place to start your hike is from the Slieve Gullion viewing platform, where there is not only plenty of parking, but also space to stay overnight in a motorhome. From there a clearly marked path, demarcated by a staircase of large rocks, leads to the South Cairn. The transition between the South Cairn and the North Cairn is soft and wet, making the path a true nature experience. However, it should be noted that the descent from the North Cairn back to the viewing platform is rather steep and not always clear. From the summit, hikers are treated to a breathtaking panorama. The view sweeps over the landscape all around and you quickly understand why this area has been classified as an "Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty". The "Slieve Gullion Forest Park" landscape protection area extends over large heath areas on the sunlit mountain slopes. For those who want to experience the full spectrum of this stunning area, there is the 57km long waymarked Ring of Gullion Way. A 13 km long section of this circular hiking trail, the “Slieve Gullion Walk”, leads from the car park at Meigh directly to the summit and back again.

On the picturesque Glendesha Road, off the well-known Carriver Road, a piece of typically Irish paradise opens up to you. You will be surrounded by rolling green hills that stretch on both sides of the road, creating a peaceful backdrop that pleases the eye and soothes the soul. This area is characterized by its characteristic Irish country roads, which wind like silver ribbons through the lush greenery. Hill after hill is lined up one after the other, each of them telling its own story, shaped by wind, weather and time. Every now and then you can discover old stone walls or peacefully grazing flocks of sheep, which complete the picture of an untouched, rural idyll. The wind carries soft songs from the woods, and if you pause you can hear the melodic chirping of crickets and the rustling of leaves. The air is fresh and clear, with hints of earth and the sweet scent of blooming wildflowers. The area invites you to linger, take a deep breath and allow yourself to be captured by the natural beauty and tranquility of this landscape. Every step along Glendesha Road is a pleasure, a discovery and a celebration of the beauty of Irish nature.

As you leave Carriver Road and head down Glendesha Road you will be delighted by some quintessential Irish country lanes and rolling hills on both sides.