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Cooley Peninsula 5 Day Tour
Hiking holiday with luggage transport
Everything Ireland has to offer is covered on this walking tour of Ireland's east coast. Green hills, coastal walks, ruins and castles to cosy pubs and shops in the medieval fishing village of Carlingford.
The Cooley Peninsula and Carlingford lie on the border in the east of Ireland and Northern Ireland just 40 minutes north of Dublin Airport. This makes this hiking destination ideal to be combined with a city trip to Dublin or Belfast.
Cooley Peninsula 5 Day Tour
Bed and Breakfast and baggage transfers
Our 5-Day program only covers the Cooley peninsula. Starting in Dundalk and final nights in Carlingford Village. Extra days can be booked in Dundalk (ideal for a day trip to Belfast and/or Dublin, or Carlingford)
Itineraries
Day 1
Arrive in Ireland
Arrive at your first accommodation in Dundalk in County Louth. We recommend flying into Dublin or Belfast airports. There is a regular bus service every hour from the airport to Dundalk.
Overnight Dundalk.
Day 2
Ravensdale – Lumpers (Cooley)
Private transfer to the start of the first walk in Ravensdale forest. A steep climb brings you to Black Mountain & Clairmont Cairn from where you have a fantastic view over the Slieve Gullion and Slieve Foye above Carlingford as well as the Mourne mountains to the Northeast. You will continue to the Lumpers Pub where you will be picked up for a transfer back to your B&B.
Overnight Dundalk.
Walk: 12 km / 4 hours / Forest roads and tracks, Heather and Moore (can be wet underfoot) and quiet country roads
Day 3
Lumpers to Carlingford
Transfer to start of the hike at the Lumpers Pub. Today’s walk brings you across the Cooley Peninsula into the central valley before climbing over the crest of Barnavave and Maeve’s Gap to find Carlingford Village and Carlingford Lough at your feet. Overnight in Carlingford where your baggage awaits.
Walk: 16 km / 5 hours / Forest roads and tracks, Heather and Moore (can be wet underfoot) and quiet country roads.
Day 4
Carlingford lough
From your B&B accommodation in Carlingford we give you a variety of walking options to enjoy. These vary in Length and difficulty and all start and end in the historic medieval village with its many shops, restaurants and cosy pubs. Make sure to sample the famous Carlingford Oysters!
Walk: Various lengths and grades.
Day 8
Departure from Carlingford
Unfortunately, this is the end of your holiday and it is time to return home.
What’s included in our Walking holidays?
- Carefully selected family-run and welcoming B&B accommodation.
- Comfortable en-suite bedrooms.*
- A full Irish breakfast to keep your engines running.
- Complimentary luggage transfers.
- Detailed maps and route notes so you never get lost.
- Local advice on places to visit and where to eat.**
- Full pre-departure info to allow you to prepare for your walking holiday.
- Waterproof map case to keep your documents dry.
- Extra night(s) accommodation booked on request.
- Need information on local transport options? We’re happy to assist!
- 24/7 local emergency contact.
What’s not included?
- Your flights
- Travel and baggage insurance
- Lunches / Evening meals
* Unless already booked out in which case we’ll try to secure a private bathroom.
** You will have the opportunity to purchase picnic lunches and evening meals each day. If you are staying in a remote location, the B&B owner will prepare a tasty surprise for you upon request.
Accommodation
During your self-guided walking holiday in Ireland, you will be accommodated in local family-run guesthouses (B&Bs) or small family-run hotels, where you will encounter a friendly welcome and homely comfort. All our accommodation is approved by Bord Failte – the Irish Tourist Board or the Northern Ireland Tourism Board and are at least 3 stars. Rooms are twin, double or triple en-suite and single rooms are also available on request.
Need anything else?
At Walking Holiday Ireland we pride ourselves in providing a unique experience where we look after all the details of your trip. This allows you to completely immerse yourself in the Irish landscape and culture.
Please do not hesitate to contacts us should you have any additional requirements or needs and we will endeavour to provide these to our best ability.
No details found.
We have listed a few essentials that you will have to bring along and when you make your booking we will send you out a full list of essentials.
Comfortable waterproof walking Boots
Waterproof jacket & over trousers
Waterproof map case
Backpack, lined with plastic bag
Gaiters
Walking poles (It may be possible to provide these locally if requested)
Thick socks / hat / gloves
Water bottle & lunch box
Small torch
First aid
Sunscreen / Insect repellent
Compass / GPS device
and for that special moment, your camera
Add a review
Swab– :
As a couple, we enjoyed a beautiful walking holiday this summer organised by Cliff Wayenberg of Walking Holiday Ireland. The six days of walking in the Dundalk area, Carlingford and the Mourne Mountains were a good combination of different types of scenery, from easy walking to steep climbings. Walking distances each day is a bit longer and a bit more difficult, giving it a nice challenge every day. B&B’s located in towns with lots to see and to do in the evening, and all with very enthusiastic hosts, willing to fulfil all wishes. We stayed two nights in each B&B, which gives good opportunity to learn more about a city and the B&B
In summary: Very well organized, well balanced and beautiful holiday!
Swab
Els– :
Dutch group nordic walkers enjoyed the very good organised week in Ireland
With 15 nordic walkers, we arrived at the Ballymascanlon Hotel near Dundalk, a very good Hotel in the middle of a Golf course. The whole week we were transferred in a little bus with a private chauffeur. We walked four times (15 – 20 km), with and without Cliff, in the Cooley and Mourne Mountains in Ireland and North Ireland. One evening we met the real Irish musicians. And we eat in a real Irish steak restaurant, The last day we visit Dublin, where we stayed in the middle of the town, very nice. All was very good organised by Cliff Thanks!
Els
Jan Borst– :
Cooley & the Mournes 8 days…
Our first organised walking holiday and we enjoyed every minute of it. Nice trails with beautiful views and very friendly people. When it was too dangerous, because of the heavy fog, to walk the trail as planned there were a lot of good alternatives.
https://ie.trustpilot.com/users/59a669cb0000ff000ac1d8c4
Tineke Schutte de Rijke– :
I was there with my eldest son. We loved the beautiful hills and coast, the Irish people (very kind and helpful) en de B&B’s we visited were nice and clean. Our hostesses prepared us a delicious breakfast every morning: that gave us the energy for our daily hikes
We had an absolutely wonderful time and cannot wait to get back to Ireland soon!
Many thanks!
Tineke