Days Out NI
Coastal walk Annalong

Annalong to Glasdrumman Shore

A free, easy shore walk from a working harbour with the Mournes at your back.

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Open accessWalk it any time — best in daylight
FreeNo ticket needed
AnnalongCoastal walk
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2 hoursHow long
1 mile each wayDistance
FreeCost
All agesBest for
WelcomeDogs

Annalong to Glasdrumman Shore — A free, easy shore walk from a working harbour with the Mournes at your back.

  • Distance: Roughly 1 mile each way along the signed path; about 2 miles there and back.
  • How long: Around 1 to 2 hours including the harbour and a stop.
  • Terrain: Coastal path with rocky, uneven shore sections, gravel and grass.
  • Dogs: Welcome under close control near boats, birds and livestock.
  • With kids: No clifftop barriers; rocky shore beside open water, so keep young children close.
  • Parking: Free car park at Corn Mill Quay, Annalong (BT34 4QJ).
Plan your visit

A shore walk with the Mournes at your back

From the Corn Mill Quay car park you drop down past the Cornmill to the harbour, a small rocky cove ringed with fishing boats. Pick up the coastal path and follow the shore south, with the Mourne Mountains filling the sky behind you. The signed route runs about a mile out before the open countryside, so an easy there-and-back is roughly two miles, and you can turn back whenever the children have had enough. Watch the rocky bays for seabirds and the odd seal, and let kids run a polished granite block or two. It is gentle walking, but the surface is real coast: rock, gravel and grass, not a smooth promenade.

Free Free car park Mourne mountain views Harbour & boats Seabirds & seals Rocky shore underfoot
Good to know before you go:

The Mourne coast hosts seasonal guided walks, ranger events and festivals through the year, and the restored Annalong Cornmill opens to visitors over the summer months. Check what is on before you travel.

Before you set off

What to bring

  • 👟Good shoes or bootsShore paths can be rocky, uneven and a little muddy after rain.
  • 🧥A coat or windproofThe coast is breezy — a fresh sea wind is half the fun of it.
  • 💧Water and a snackThere is rarely a shop right on the path, so pack a little something.
  • 🔭Binoculars or a cameraFor the seabirds, the seals and the big views across the water.
Good to know

Everything before you go

Cost
Free
Parking
Free car park at Corn Mill Quay, Annalong (BT34 4QJ)
Distance
Roughly 1 mile each way along the signed path; about 2 miles there and back
How long to allow
Around 1 to 2 hours including the harbour and a stop
Difficulty
Easy and fairly flat, but on real coastal ground
Terrain
Coastal path with rocky, uneven shore sections, gravel and grass
Safety with kids
No clifftop barriers; rocky shore beside open water, so keep young children close
Dogs
Welcome under close control near boats, birds and livestock
Buggy-friendly
Not really - the rocky shore is hard going; a sling or carrier is better
Toilets / food nearby
Toilets at the Marine Park; Caife na Mara cafe and village shops in Annalong
Address
Corn Mill Quay car park, Annalong, Co. Down BT34 4QJ (grid ref J378198)
Questions

Before you go

Is it free?
Free
How far is the walk?
Roughly 1 mile each way along the signed path; about 2 miles there and back
How long should I allow?
Around 1 to 2 hours including the harbour and a stop
Can I bring the dog?
Welcome under close control near boats, birds and livestock
Is it buggy-friendly?
Not really - the rocky shore is hard going; a sling or carrier is better
Getting there

Annalong to Glasdrumman Shore is at Corn Mill Quay car park, Annalong, Co. Down BT34 4QJ (grid ref J378198). Free car park at Corn Mill Quay, Annalong (BT34 4QJ). Tap below for directions.

Directions on Google Maps See it on our map
Nearby

Make more of the day

More days out around AnnalongSee what else is close by More coastal walks across NIBeaches, cliffs, harbours and headlands
The story

About this stretch of coast

Annalong is a peaceful fishing village where the Mourne Mountains meet the Irish Sea. Its harbour, built around a natural rocky cove, is still a working port, landing fresh fish for restaurants across the area and giving the quay its colourful clutter of boats.

Beside the quay stands the Annalong Cornmill, built around 1830 and powered by the Annalong River. Restored as a visitor attraction, it shows the traditional grain-milling that once tied this coast to the farms behind it.

Head south along the shore toward Glasdrumman and you pass the small rocky bays of Arthur's Port and Springwell Port. The Mourne granite underfoot is the same stone quarried across these mountains, and the bays draw curlew, oystercatcher, redshank and herring gulls, with seals showing up on the rocks from time to time.