Moderate 6 Days / 4 Nights Walking

Cooley Peninsula Walking Holiday — 6 Days

More time in Ireland's most storied peninsula

Starting From €755 per person

download PDF brochure

The 5-day Cooley Peninsula tour is wonderful, but sometimes you want more. This 6-day version gives you two full days exploring Carlingford on foot — each with a different looped route — so you can experience the lough shore, the forest trails above the village, and the panoramic ridgeline walks at a genuinely unhurried pace.

You still do the two signature hill stages: Ravensdale Forest to Lumpers, and the spectacular Táin Way descent from Lumpers into Carlingford. But instead of one free day at the end, you have two days of structured looped walking based out of your Carlingford B&B, letting you explore the peninsula from a different angle each morning.

This is a tour for walkers who want to really inhabit a place rather than pass through it. The Cooley Peninsula rewards that approach. Its mythology goes back three thousand years, and the medieval village of Carlingford has been drawing walkers, oyster-lovers, and quiet admirers for centuries.

Highlights

landscape

Two Days in the Cooley Mountains

Two proper hill stages — Ravensdale to Lumpers and the dramatic Táin Way ridgeline to Carlingford — giving you the full measure of the peninsula's mountain character before settling in by the lough.

landscape

Carlingford Looped Walks

Two different looped routes from Carlingford explore the village's wider landscape: lough shore paths, forest trails, and ridge panoramas that change completely depending on direction and weather.

landscape

Medieval Carlingford

Two nights in Carlingford means real time to explore — King John's Castle, the narrow medieval lanes, the waterfront, and some of the freshest oysters in Ireland.

landscape

Walking the Táin Legend

These are the hills where Cúchulainn defended Ulster against the armies of Connacht. The Táin Way follows ancient droving paths through living mythology — the landscape itself tells the story.

Who Is This For?

This tour is ideal for walkers who enjoy a relaxed multi-day pace with time to explore rather than just transit. You should be comfortable walking 12–18 km per day over mixed terrain. The two Cooley hill stages involve significant ascent and some rocky ground — particularly the Ravensdale and Táin Way stages — but the Carlingford looped walks are gentler and entirely manageable. Perfect for first-time self-guided walkers, couples, and anyone who wants the complete Cooley experience without feeling rushed.

Tour Itinerary

Day 1

Arrival in Dundalk

expand_more

Arrive in Dundalk and settle into your first B&B. The town is your gateway to the Cooley Peninsula — connected to Dublin and Belfast by frequent rail and bus services. Take an evening stroll, find a good restaurant, and prepare for the mountains ahead.

Day 2

Ravensdale Forest to Lumpers

expand_more

pin_drop Annaverna → Lumpershiking 14.6 kmlandscape ↑499mlandscape ↓517mschedule 5h 15m

Your first walking day takes you through Ravensdale Forest and up into the Cooley Mountains. The trail climbs through mixed woodland before opening onto wide heather moorland with views over Dundalk Bay. It's a day of building atmosphere — the forest gradually giving way to open ridge, and the first sense of the ancient landscape you're walking into. You return to Dundalk for a second night.

Day 3

Lumpers to Carlingford via the Táin Way

expand_more

pin_drop Lumpers → Carlingfordhiking 13.7 kmlandscape ↑519mlandscape ↓561mschedule 5h

The signature stage of the tour. From Lumpers you climb to the spine of the Cooley Peninsula and follow the Táin Way — the ancient route of the Cattle Raid of Cooley — along the high ridgeline. Crossing Maeve's Gap, the views open in every direction: the Irish Sea to the east, Carlingford Lough glittering below, and the Mournes rising beyond. The descent into medieval Carlingford is unforgettable.

Day 4

Carlingford Looped Walk 1

expand_more

pin_drop Carlingford → Carlingfordhiking 12.9 kmlandscape ↑684mlandscape ↓681mschedule 5h

Your first full day based out of Carlingford. This looped walk explores the lough shore and the lower slopes of Slieve Foye — a completely different perspective on the peninsula from yesterday's high ridge. You'll pass through ancient woodland, along the water's edge, and into corners of Carlingford that most visitors never find. Evenings in Carlingford are for oysters and traditional music.

Day 5

Carlingford Looped Walk 2

expand_more

pin_drop Carlingford → Carlingfordhiking 9.0 kmlandscape ↑348mlandscape ↓344mschedule 3h 15m

A second looped walk from Carlingford, this time climbing higher for the ridge views and forest trails above the village. The Cooley Peninsula looks entirely different from above — the full sweep of the lough, the patchwork of field and forest below, and the Mournes across the water. A final afternoon in Carlingford before departure tomorrow.

Day 6

Departure from Carlingford

expand_more

A last breakfast in Carlingford before heading home. Your pre-departure pack includes public transport options back to Dublin and Belfast. It's worth arriving early at the harbour for a final coffee by the lough before you go.

Accommodation

- Accommodation: 5 nights in en-suite B&B rooms - Breakfast: Full Irish or continental breakfast every morning - Luggage Transfer: Daily door-to-door transfer of your main bag - Navigation: Personalised digital itinerary and route app for your smartphone that keeps you on the trail at all times - Pre-Departure Travel Pack: Sent 3 weeks before you travel - Support: 24/7 emergency support line for the duration of your trip

What's Included

check_circle What's Included

doneAccommodation: 5 nights in en-suite B&B rooms
doneBreakfast: Full Irish or continental breakfast every morning
doneLuggage Transfer: Daily door-to-door transfer of your main bag
doneNavigation: Personalised digital itinerary and route app for your smartphone that keeps you on the trail at all times
donePre-Departure Travel Pack: Sent 3 weeks before you travel
doneSupport: 24/7 emergency support line for the duration of your trip

block Not Included

closeFlights: Travel to Ireland is not included
closeInsurance: You will need travel and walking holiday insurance
closeMeals: Lunches and dinners (we'll happily recommend pubs and restaurants en route)
closePersonal Gear: Hiking equipment and clothing

Best Time to Visit

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

May and June are our top picks. Long evenings, wildflowers on the Cooley foothills and manageable trail traffic make these months hard to beat. June and early July offer the longest daylight hours, which matter for the longer Mourne Ridge days.

September is arguably the finest month of all. Bracken turns gold, the light is sharp and clear, trails are quieter, and accommodation is easier to book.

July and August are the warmest months but the busiest. Slieve Donard sees significant foot traffic, and accommodation needs to be booked well in advance.

The walking season runs from late spring through to late autumn, typically April to October.

Time your visit with a festival. Many trails host walking festivals throughout the season — see our complete 2026 walking festivals calendar to plan around one.

From

€755 per person

Based on 2 sharing

Single room supplement

Walking with others but want your own room

+ €275

Walking solo?

Your own room and luggage transfers, all included

€1,210

Preferred Start Date

calendar_month

Book at least 20 days in advance

Number of Walkers

expand_more

Your total€1,510

2 walkers sharing

Add €275 for each walker who wants their own room.

mail Ask a Question download Download PDF brochure

phone or call +353 42 932 3396

shield No deposit required to enquire

verified Free changes up to 30 days before

support_agent Personal response within 24 hours

verified

Price Match Promise

Found this holiday cheaper? Send us the URL and we'll match the itinerary, services, and price.

Cliff & Louise

Your Personal Hosts

Have a question about this tour? We've walked it dozens of times and love helping you plan your trip.

Chat on WhatsApp

Frequently Asked Questions

What's included in this 6-day tour? expand_more

Here's what your price covers:

Accommodation: 5 nights in en-suite B&B rooms
Breakfast: Full Irish or continental breakfast every morning
Luggage Transfer: Daily door-to-door transfer of your main bag
Navigation: Personalised digital itinerary and route app for your smartphone that keeps you on the trail at all times
Pre-Departure Travel Pack: Sent 3 weeks before you travel
Support: 24/7 emergency support line for the duration of your trip

Not included: Flights, Insurance, Meals, Personal Gear.

Which days can I start? expand_more

Any day you like between 15 April and 15 October. This is a self-guided holiday, so there are no fixed departure dates: you choose the day you arrive and we build the trip around it.

You can book online from three weeks ahead. June to August fills up first, so for summer it pays to book early.

How fit do I need to be? expand_more

This tour is graded Moderate. You walk on 4 days, 9–14.6 km a day. There is some climbing, so you should be comfortable walking day after day. A few months of regular walking, including some hills, is the best preparation. You set your own pace, with route notes and our GPS app to guide you.

How we grade our tours

What happens if I need to cancel? expand_more

We take a 25% deposit to book, and the balance is due six weeks before you start. If you need to cancel:

More than 6 weeks before: you lose the deposit only
4 to 6 weeks before: 50% of the tour cost
2 to 4 weeks before: 80% of the tour cost
Less than 2 weeks before: 100% of the tour cost

We strongly recommend travel insurance that covers cancellation. If we can't find suitable accommodation for your dates, you get a full refund. Full booking terms

Can I walk solo, and is there a single supplement? expand_more

Yes, solo walkers are very welcome and there is no minimum group size. Walking on your own, this tour costs €1,210 instead of €755. That includes a solo supplement of €455 and gives you a room to yourself every night.

Travelling with others but would like your own room? The single-room supplement is €275 per person (5 nights at €55).

Showing 5 of 5 FAQs · View all FAQs