Days Out NI
Coastal walk Newcastle

Newcastle to Murlough Boardwalk

A flat dune-and-beach walk with the Mournes at your back and the sea in front.

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Open accessWalk it any time — best in daylight
FreeNo ticket needed
NewcastleCoastal walk
Get directions
2 hoursHow long
3 miles each wayDistance
FreeCost
Buggy okBest for
On leadsDogs

Newcastle to Murlough Boardwalk — A flat dune-and-beach walk with the Mournes at your back and the sea in front.

  • Distance: Roughly 3 miles each way from Newcastle; shorter circular boardwalk trails of about 2.5 to 3 miles start from the reserve car park.
  • How long: About 1.5 to 2 hours each way at an easy pace, longer with beach and butterfly stops.
  • Terrain: Smooth promenade, timber boardwalk through dunes, then soft beach sand.
  • Dogs: Welcome on leads and under close control; take extra care in ground-nesting bird season (spring to early summer).
  • With kids: No cliffs or steep drops. Watch the incoming tide and the deeper soft sand on the beach section.
  • Parking: Seafront parking at Newcastle promenade, or the National Trust car park at Keel Point inside the reserve.
Plan your visit

The route: promenade, boardwalk and a four-mile beach

Start at Newcastle promenade, follow the seafront north and cross the bridge into Murlough National Nature Reserve. From there the timber boardwalk threads through ancient dunes and heath, with bell and ling heather, wildflowers and, in summer, clouds of butterflies including the rare marsh fritillary. The reserve sits at the edge of Dundrum Bay, so you get the Mournes one way (Slieve Donard and Slieve Commedagh) and the open sea the other. The boardwalk leads out to a golden beach that runs for around four miles. The full Newcastle-to-Murlough route is roughly 3 miles each way and completely flat, with no cliffs or steep drops to worry about.

Free walk Flat the whole way Mournes views Dune boardwalk Long sandy beach Buggy-friendly boardwalk
Good to know before you go:

Murlough and the wider Mourne coast host seasonal ranger-led walks, wildlife and butterfly events and family activity days through the National Trust, especially over summer and school holidays. Check ahead 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 to walk. Reserve car park is pay-and-display (around 5 pounds off-season, 7 pounds May to August for a car, card only; free for National Trust members and Blue Badge holders).
Parking
Seafront parking at Newcastle promenade, or the National Trust car park at Keel Point inside the reserve.
Distance
Roughly 3 miles each way from Newcastle; shorter circular boardwalk trails of about 2.5 to 3 miles start from the reserve car park.
How long to allow
About 1.5 to 2 hours each way at an easy pace, longer with beach and butterfly stops.
Difficulty
Easy and flat from Newcastle. The reserve's own boardwalk trails are graded moderate with a few short, gentle rises.
Terrain
Smooth promenade, timber boardwalk through dunes, then soft beach sand.
Safety with kids
No cliffs or steep drops. Watch the incoming tide and the deeper soft sand on the beach section.
Dogs
Welcome on leads and under close control; take extra care in ground-nesting bird season (spring to early summer).
Buggy-friendly
Yes on the boardwalk (wheelchair accessible but not all-terrain); the sand sections are not buggy-friendly.
Toilets / food nearby
Seasonal toilets in the reserve (weekends Apr to May, daily Jun to Aug). Plenty of cafes, ice cream and food at the Newcastle promenade end.
Address
Murlough National Nature Reserve, Keel Point, Dundrum, County Down, BT33 0LW. Walk starts from Newcastle promenade.
Questions

Before you go

Is it free?
Free to walk. Reserve car park is pay-and-display (around 5 pounds off-season, 7 pounds May to August for a car, card only; free for National Trust members and Blue Badge holders).
How far is the walk?
Roughly 3 miles each way from Newcastle; shorter circular boardwalk trails of about 2.5 to 3 miles start from the reserve car park.
How long should I allow?
About 1.5 to 2 hours each way at an easy pace, longer with beach and butterfly stops.
Can I bring the dog?
Welcome on leads and under close control; take extra care in ground-nesting bird season (spring to early summer).
Is it buggy-friendly?
Yes on the boardwalk (wheelchair accessible but not all-terrain); the sand sections are not buggy-friendly.
Getting there

Newcastle to Murlough Boardwalk is at Murlough National Nature Reserve, Keel Point, Dundrum, County Down, BT33 0LW. Walk starts from Newcastle promenade.. Seafront parking at Newcastle promenade, or the National Trust car park at Keel Point inside the reserve. Tap below for directions.

Directions on Google Maps See it on our map
Nearby

Make more of the day

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The story

About this stretch of coast

Murlough is a 6,000-year-old sand dune system on the edge of Dundrum Bay, and one of the finest examples of dune heath in Ireland. It became Ireland's first nature reserve in 1967 and has been cared for by the National Trust ever since.

The dunes and heath are alive with wildlife: more than 720 species of butterfly and moth have been recorded here, including the marsh fritillary, a butterfly of European importance. You'll also find heather, wildflowers, rabbits and plenty of birdlife between the dunes and the shore.

Look inland and the Mourne Mountains fill the view, with Slieve Donard and Slieve Commedagh the highest peaks. The medieval ruins of 12th-century Dundrum Castle sit just across the bay, a reminder of how long people have lived along this coast.