Days Out NI
Coastal walk Killough

Killough to Coney Island Clifftop

A quiet 2-mile shoreline walk from a tree-lined village round the bay to Coney Island.

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Open accessWalk it any time — best in daylight
FreeNo ticket needed
KilloughCoastal walk
Get directions
5 hoursHow long
2 miles there and backDistance
FreeCost
All agesBest for
On leadsDogs

Killough to Coney Island Clifftop — A quiet 2-mile shoreline walk from a tree-lined village round the bay to Coney Island.

  • Distance: Roughly 2 miles there and back.
  • How long: About 1 to 1.5 hours with children.
  • Terrain: Pavement and grass, then a rough rocky trail with several stiles.
  • Dogs: Welcome but must be on a lead at all times.
  • With kids: Steep drops and no barriers on the coastal path; hold hands and keep close to the edge.
  • Parking: Free roadside and harbour parking in Killough village.
Plan your visit

Round the bay to a rabbit-named headland

From Killough harbour the walk runs round the back of the village church and out to the pier, then along the shore toward Coney Island. It's roughly 2 miles out and back. The early part hugs the wide tidal flats of Killough Bay and is flat and open. After a stile the Killough Coastal Path takes over: a rough trail above the rocky shoreline that climbs over several more stiles and rises to skirt deep inlets in the rocks. Look out for the long 1820s quays, St John's Point lighthouse and, on a clear day, the Mourne Mountains across the water to the south.

Free Free parking Bay and sea views Mournes to the south Roughly 2 miles Steep drops in places
Good to know before you go:

The Lecale coast hosts seasonal guided walks, ranger events and village festivals through the year, especially over the warmer months. Check what's on locally 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 roadside and harbour parking in Killough village
Distance
Roughly 2 miles there and back
How long to allow
About 1 to 1.5 hours with children
Difficulty
Easy along the harbour, then rough and exposed on the coastal path
Terrain
Pavement and grass, then a rough rocky trail with several stiles
Safety with kids
Steep drops and no barriers on the coastal path; hold hands and keep close to the edge
Dogs
Welcome but must be on a lead at all times
Buggy-friendly
No, not once past the stile onto the coastal path
Toilets / food nearby
Wheelchair-accessible shop and cafe in Killough village; check opening hours
Address
Start at Killough Harbour, Castle Street, Killough, Co. Down BT30 7QJ
Questions

Before you go

Is it free?
Free
How far is the walk?
Roughly 2 miles there and back
How long should I allow?
About 1 to 1.5 hours with children
Can I bring the dog?
Welcome but must be on a lead at all times
Is it buggy-friendly?
No, not once past the stile onto the coastal path
Getting there

Killough to Coney Island Clifftop is at Start at Killough Harbour, Castle Street, Killough, Co. Down BT30 7QJ. Free roadside and harbour parking in Killough village. Tap below for directions.

Directions on Google Maps See it on our map
Nearby

Make more of the day

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

About this stretch of coast

Killough grew from a small settlement into a busy grain-export port in the late 1700s. Michael Ward of Castle Ward had a straight road driven to the village in 1740, and between 1821 and 1824 his son, the first Lord Bangor, paid engineer Alexander Nimmo to build substantial new quays: a long one of nearly 600 feet on the Killough side and a short one of 100 feet on the Coney Island side. The sycamore avenue along Castle Street that gives the village its leafy look was planted in 1850.

Coney Island sits between Killough and Ardglass and, despite the name, isn't really an island; it's a low peninsula that may once have been cut off by the sea. Its name comes from the old English word 'cony', meaning rabbit, and appears on records as 'Conningsiland' as far back as 1635. A small railway halt served the spot from 1892 until 1950, and you can still pick out where the old trackbed ran.

Killough Bay is a quiet, wildlife-rich inlet with wide tidal flats that draw birds across the seasons. The coast inspired Van Morrison's spoken-word piece 'Coney Island', and nearby St John's Point, with its lighthouse and an early medieval church, holy well and bullaun stone, is well worth adding to your visit.