Days Out NI
Coastal walk Warrenpoint

Warrenpoint Promenade & Foreshore

A flat seafront stroll along Carlingford Lough the whole family can manage.

5 photos
Open accessWalk it any time — best in daylight
FreeNo ticket needed
WarrenpointCoastal walk
An hourHow long
2 milesDistance
FreeCost
Buggy okBest for
WelcomeDogs

Warrenpoint Promenade & ForeshoreA flat seafront stroll along Carlingford Lough the whole family can manage.

  • Distance: Roughly 2 miles end to end along the promenade; longer if you continue toward Narrow Water.
  • How long: About an hour there and back at an easy pace; longer with a beach or playground stop.
  • Terrain: Level, well-kept promenade path alongside a gently sloping beach.
  • Dogs: Dogs allowed; keep them under control near other walkers and the road.
  • With kids: No cliffs or steep drops. Keep children back from the tidal water and the beach edge.
  • Parking: Free parking nearby, easiest access from the lower end of Queen Street (A2).
Plan your visit

A flat seafront mile (and back) with mountain views

The promenade hugs the shore alongside the beach, looking straight across Carlingford Lough to the Cooley Mountains. It's roughly 2 miles end to end on a level, even surface, so a relaxed there-and-back is about an hour, less if the kids run ahead. There are benches and picnic areas dotted along the way to stop and watch the boats. For a longer outing you can continue toward Narrow Water, where a tower house has guarded the river mouth since the 1500s. Underfoot stays flat throughout, with no climbs, steps or rough patches to slow a buggy.

Free Free parking nearby Carlingford Lough views Flat 2-mile promenade Pram & wheelchair friendly Dogs welcome
Good to know before you go:

Warrenpoint's seafront is a hub for seasonal events through the year, from festivals and family days on the front shore to guided heritage walks up toward Narrow Water. Water sports like kayaking and paddleboarding run on the lough in the warmer months. Check what's on locally before you visit.

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 parking nearby, easiest access from the lower end of Queen Street (A2)
Distance
Roughly 2 miles end to end along the promenade; longer if you continue toward Narrow Water
How long to allow
About an hour there and back at an easy pace; longer with a beach or playground stop
Difficulty
Easy and flat, suitable for all abilities
Terrain
Level, well-kept promenade path alongside a gently sloping beach
Safety with kids
No cliffs or steep drops. Keep children back from the tidal water and the beach edge
Dogs
Dogs allowed; keep them under control near other walkers and the road
Buggy-friendly
Yes, the promenade is flat and even and suits prams and wheelchairs
Toilets / food nearby
Toilets, cafes, ice-cream parlours and shops in the town centre a short walk away
Address
Warrenpoint Promenade / Front Shore, Warrenpoint, Co. Down, BT34 2BY
Questions

Before you go

Is it free?
Free
How far is the walk?
Roughly 2 miles end to end along the promenade; longer if you continue toward Narrow Water
How long should I allow?
About an hour there and back at an easy pace; longer with a beach or playground stop
Can I bring the dog?
Dogs allowed; keep them under control near other walkers and the road
Is it buggy-friendly?
Yes, the promenade is flat and even and suits prams and wheelchairs
Getting there

Warrenpoint Promenade & Foreshore is at Warrenpoint Promenade / Front Shore, Warrenpoint, Co. Down, BT34 2BY. Free parking nearby, easiest access from the lower end of Queen Street (A2). Tap below for directions.

Nearby

Make more of the day

The story

About this stretch of coast

Warrenpoint grew as a 19th-century port town on Carlingford Lough, and its front shore still looks across the water to the Cooley Peninsula in County Louth. The promenade and beach have long been a local gathering place, and the town once had one of Northern Ireland's last sea-fed swimming pools at Warrenpoint Baths.

A short way along the shore, Narrow Water Keep stands where the Newry River meets the lough. The tower house you see today was built around 1568, but the spot has been fortified far longer: Hugh de Lacy, first Earl of Ulster, raised a keep here in 1212 to guard the river approach to Newry. The earlier structure was destroyed during the 1641 Rebellion.

The calm, sheltered waters of Carlingford Lough make this a gentle, scenic stretch, popular for walking, picnics and watching boats and water sports out on the lough.