Although I went to the north at the weekend for apples, by good fortune I decided to stay at Warrenpoint on Carlingford Lough. I wanted to avoid staying anywhere that was familiar to my subconscious from childhood years and so it was with some concern that I discovered that I had to get through Newry to reach my overnight stay. However, I have to say that Newry was just grand and my chosen hotel even better. *

I was even more fortunate to have great weather for Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning despite there being lots of fog around the country.

Omeath from Warrenpoint

Carlingford Lough forms part of the boundary between the North and South and as you pass Omeath on the western shore you notice road signs changing from Km to miles. With Newry at its north west end, the lough is bounded by the Mountains of Mourne to the east and the Cooley mountains to the west.

Being equidistant between Dublin and Belfast it is a popular tourist area and is one of only three glaciated fjords in Ireland. The name apparently derives from the Norse Kerlingfjǫrðr which means ‘narrow sea inlet of the hag’ – strange!

Carlingford Marina

Looking at the mountains of Mourne from Carlingford

King Johns Castle in Carlingford

All photos taken after breakfast!

This is not tripadvisor but I must say a word about the Lough and Quay in Warrenpoint. Not a 5 star hotel but very clean and comfortable with nice rooms and excellent staff. Breakfast is good and the evening meals are exceptional – they have very good kitchen staff. I would recommend it without reservation (well its best to reserve a room of course) unless you want a spa-type, ‘all singing and dancing’ hotel.

carlingford, carlingford lough, cooley mountains, cooley peninsula, king johns castle carlingford, mountains of mourne