When looking for a holiday rental in Lower Jenkinstown, it is not just the accommodation that matters, but also which excursions you want to shape your stay. The Annaloughan National Loop Walk starts in Jenkinstown; County Louth provides a broader setting for further cultural and natural attractions.

The Annaloughan National Loop Walk: Start and duration

The starting point is at a small pull-in area with a picnic spot beside the main road in Jenkinstown. It is at the junction of the R173 to Dundalk and the R174 to Ravensdale, on the road from Dundalk to Carlingford. Purple arrows and signs mark the loop. Check the current access and trail markings on site.

The Annaloughan National Loop Walk is 8 km long; the stated walking time is 2 hours 30 minutes to 3 hours. This range is a guideline and depends on conditions and your pace. The half-hour difference is relevant when planning your day: treat the walking time as a window rather than a fixed endpoint, and allow extra time for breaks if you plan to take them.

Bay views, woodland and traces of history

The loop traverses the slope along the ridge of Annaloughan Mountain and offers views of Dundalk Bay. On the return, it passes through Rockmarshall Forest, with pine and spruce trees. This means the same hike combines open views of the bay with a wooded section.

The route passes OPW Rochmarshall Court Tomb. There is also a memorial plaque along the Annaloughan National Loop Walk to the crew of an RAF B-24 Liberator Mk. 2 aircraft. The plane crashed in bad weather on 14 March 1942. Alongside its scenery, the court tomb and memorial plaque give the loop historical points of interest.

More local attractions: Magic Hill and the Cooley Mountains

Another attraction in Jenkinstown is Magic Hill, a few kilometres outside Dundalk. There, a car placed in neutral at the bottom rolls uphill again by itself. Unlike the several-hour loop, the focus here is this reported phenomenon.

The Long Woman's Grave, also known as The Cairn of Cauthleen, is nearby. This local landmark is in the Cooley Mountains above the village of Omeath and is associated with a legend about a Spanish noblewoman. Here, the focus shifts from hiking in Jenkinstown to a distinct folklore attraction in the surrounding area.

County Louth: culture and nature on a broader scale

Those exploring County Louth as a broader cultural region will find other distinctive historical sites. Old Mellifont Cistercian Abbey in Tullyallen near Drogheda was Ireland's first Cistercian monastery. The grounds of the Old Mellifont Cistercian Abbey Monastic Site include a two-storey octagonal lavabo. Carlingford Castle was built around 1190, probably by the Norman baron Hugh de Lacy.

Monasterboice, with its round tower and high crosses, is one of the outstanding examples of an early Christian or ‘Celtic’ monastery. The Tall Cross, also known as the West Cross, is 6.5 m high and Ireland’s tallest high cross. Muiredach’s Cross, also known as the South Cross, is 5.5 m high and fully intact. It depicts scenes from the Old and New Testaments, as well as two playful cats at the lower part of the shaft.

County Louth also has places for nature and outdoor activities. Stephenstown Pond Nature Park in Knockattin near Dundalk is a nature park with lakeside walking trails, wooded areas and a wide variety of wildlife. The Carlingford Lough Greenway stretches 20 km from the village of Carlingford in County Louth to Newry City in County Down. It runs mostly away from road traffic along the southern shore of Carlingford Lough and offers a route for walking and cycling. Check current route conditions if you plan to use the Greenway.

Discover more destinations: Termonfeckin, Dundalk, Collon, Dunleer, Stabannan, Drogheda, Bettystown, Tallanstown

For the broader travel guide: County Louth.