Days Out NI
Adventure & activity Coalisland

Coalisland Camino

A free community pilgrimage loop you can walk whole or in family-sized chunks.

5 photos
Book aheadNo booking for casual walks. Organised gr…
FreePer person
CoalislandAdventure & activity
Get directionsOfficial website
An hourHow long
FreeCost
Families wantin…Best for
All levelsLevel
NearbyParking

Coalisland Camino — A free community pilgrimage loop you can walk whole or in family-sized chunks.

  • What you do: Looped walking and pilgrimage trail along canal towpath, rural lanes and Lough Neagh shore.
  • Difficulty: Moderate overall; first 19km level, gentle hills in the final 7km. Canal towpath start is easy, then uneven near the third lock.
  • Age / height: None. Suitable for families; choose a shorter section for young children.
  • Booking: No booking for casual walks. Organised group walk days require registration in advance.
  • Come ready: Walking shoes or boots, waterproof, water and snacks. Path is part tarmac, part unsurfaced and muddy after rain.
  • Weather: Open trail, weather-dependent underfoot; unsurfaced stretches get muddy. Sections run beside water and on rural roads, so keep children close.
Plan your visit

A 26.4km loop you can break into family stages

The full Camino is a 26.4km circular route from St Patrick's Hall, graded moderate. The first 7km hug the Coalisland Canal towpath, passing seven locks including a staircase lock at Mac's Bridge, with the River Torrent running alongside. From there it heads out through the lowlands near Lough Neagh, past Maghery Ferry, the Holy River and St Patrick's Church in Clonoe, with a refreshment stop at the Washingbay Centre around the 15km mark. Roughly the first 19km is level, with gentle hills saved for the final 7km. With younger children, the canal towpath out of the Cornmill is the obvious easy section; it is flat to start and becomes uneven near the third lock, so turn back when it suits.

Free to walk No booking for casual walks Flat canal towpath start Walk it in 5-8km sections Lough Neagh and canal views Town-centre car park
Good to know before you go:

Trails like this run seasonal guided sessions, family events and holiday activities; the Coalisland Camino holds organised group Camino days on set dates and you can collect passport stamps along the route. Check listings for the next date.

Before you set off

What to bring

  • 👟Clothes you can trashOld kit and trainers you do not mind getting muddy or wet.
  • 🎒A full change & a towelEspecially for anything on the water — you will be glad of dry clothes after.
  • 💧Water and a snackYou will have earned it once the adventure is done.
  • 🎫Your bookingAlmost everything here needs booking ahead — have the confirmation ready.
Good to know

Everything before you go

Cost
Free to walk independently. Organised group Camino day registration around 30 pounds; the Compostela certificate is free with an Irish Camino Society passport.
Booking
No booking for casual walks. Organised group walk days require registration in advance.
Activity
Looped walking and pilgrimage trail along canal towpath, rural lanes and Lough Neagh shore.
Difficulty
Moderate overall; first 19km level, gentle hills in the final 7km. Canal towpath start is easy, then uneven near the third lock.
Age / height limits
None. Suitable for families; choose a shorter section for young children.
Best for
Families wanting a flat canal walk or a single scenic section, plus serious walkers tackling the full 26.4km loop.
What to wear / bring
Walking shoes or boots, waterproof, water and snacks. Path is part tarmac, part unsurfaced and muddy after rain.
Safety / weather
Open trail, weather-dependent underfoot; unsurfaced stretches get muddy. Sections run beside water and on rural roads, so keep children close.
Parking
Cornmill car park in Coalisland town centre (disabled access) or Moor Road.
How long to allow
An hour or two for a canal section; a full day for the complete 26.4km loop.
Address
St Patrick's Hall, 6 Barrack Street, Coalisland BT71 4LS (canal section starts at the Cornmill, town centre).
Questions

Before you go

Do I need to book?
No booking for casual walks. Organised group walk days require registration in advance.
How much is it?
Free to walk independently. Organised group Camino day registration around 30 pounds; the Compostela certificate is free with an Irish Camino Society passport.
Is there an age or height limit?
None. Suitable for families; choose a shorter section for young children.
What should we wear or bring?
Walking shoes or boots, waterproof, water and snacks. Path is part tarmac, part unsurfaced and muddy after rain.
What if the weather is bad?
Open trail, weather-dependent underfoot; unsurfaced stretches get muddy. Sections run beside water and on rural roads, so keep children close.
Getting there

Coalisland Camino is at St Patrick's Hall, 6 Barrack Street, Coalisland BT71 4LS (canal section starts at the Cornmill, town centre).. Cornmill car park in Coalisland town centre (disabled access) or Moor Road. Tap below for directions.

Directions on Google MapsOfficial website See it on our map
Nearby

Make more of the day

More days out around CoalislandSee what else is close by More adventures & activity days across NIZip lines, water sports, climbing and trails
The story

About this place

The Coalisland Camino was created by Friends 2 Talk, a local mental health and community group whose members had walked the Camino routes in Galicia, Spain, and wanted to bring that reflective experience home to East Tyrone. Backed by The National Lottery Community Fund, the route is now affiliated with the Camino Society Ireland as part of the official Celtic Camino network, so completing it can count toward a Compostela certificate.

The loop begins and ends at St Patrick's Hall, a Coalisland community hub dating to 1888, and threads together the town's industrial and spiritual history: the Coalisland Canal and its locks, Maghery Ferry, the Holy River said to have been blessed by St Brigid, St Patrick's Church in Clonoe and the Fuith na nGall fortress ruins above Lough Neagh.

Rather than a competitive long-distance hike, it is designed as a wellbeing walk that you can do whole or in 5-8km stages, with the group's motto to 'be yourself, find yourself, and enjoy yourself.'