Murlough Bay
This walk explores the beautiful Murlough National Nature Reserve near Newcastle in Northern Ireland. The reserve is managed by the National Trust so there's a car park, visitor centre, and a network of well laid out footpaths. The reserve consists of a 6000 year old sand dune system, woodland, heath and a wonderful beach. The views across Dundram Inner Bay towards the Mourne Mountains are also exceptional.
The reserve is great for wildlife watching with a wide variety of wintering wildfowl and waders to look out for on the coast. There's also 720 species of butterflies and moths to look out for around the pretty wildlflowers meadows.
There's lots of good options for extending your walking in the Newcastle area. You could head to Tollymore Forest Park just to the south west of the reserve. The fantastic 1600 acre park contains an arboretum, the Shimna River and two forested hills known as the Drinns. Also nearby are the splendid climbs to Slieve Donard, Slieve Binnian in the Mourne Mountains. Castlewellan Forest Park is also not far away.
Postcode
BT33 0LW - Please note: Postcode may be approximate for some rural locationsPlease click here for more information
Murlough Bay Open Street Map 
- view and print off detailed map
Murlough Bay Open Street Map 
- Mobile GPS Map with Location tracking
Further Information and Other Local Ideas
For more walking ideas in the area see the Northern Ireland Walks page.
Cycle Routes and Walking Routes Nearby
Photos
Murlough Bay. It's a fine view down from the top of the cliffs. Torr Head is just visible beyond Ruebane Point.
Looking along the shore to the promontory where the ruins of Drumnakill Church stand, with the Fair Head Sill forming the deamatic headland in the distance.
From the road down to the shore.
This road leads from the car park to the former fishing station.
White boulders contrast with black rocks on this stretch of foreshore.
The black rocks are part of a basalt lave flow. Some members of the party thought that they are made up of pillow lavas, suggesting that the lava was erupted under water, but others disagreed. In the distance is the Mull of Kintyre.
Much of the low-lying land by Murlough Bay is landslip. The roadside marker in the foreground shows how far the original road has slipped.
