Ring Of Gullion Aonb is a national landscape in Northern Ireland, distinguished by its unique geological formation as the world's first geologically mapped ring dyke. This area features a diverse terrain of rolling hills, verdant valleys, woodlands, heath, and bogs, with Slieve Gullion mountain at its core. The varied landscape provides a setting for several sports like hiking, jogging, touring cycling, mountain biking, and more. It forms a central part of the Mourne Gullion Strangford UNESCO Global Geopark.
139
Routes
4.5
(159)
Average rating
2225
People visited

4.6
(14)
90
hikers
13.6km
04:07
450m
450m
Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.3
(4)
5
hikers
13.9km
03:25
480m
480m
Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(1)
8
hikers
13.7km
04:17
520m
520m
Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(1)
3
hikers
4.16km
01:01
150m
140m
Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
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54
runners
10.5km
01:08
130m
130m
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

16
runners
13.6km
01:44
450m
450m
Hard run. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(1)
12
runners
17.6km
02:00
270m
260m
Hard run. Very good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Some sure footedness required.

2
runners
10.9km
01:22
330m
330m
Hard run. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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5.0
(1)
6
riders
28.1km
01:52
460m
460m
Hard bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

1
riders
70.2km
04:50
1,080m
1,080m
Hard bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(10)
93
riders
51.4km
02:55
130m
130m
Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(1)
50
riders
15.6km
01:29
340m
340m
Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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65.9km
05:37
1,280m
1,280m
Hard mountain bike ride. Very good fitness required. Advanced riding skills necessary.

48
riders
46.1km
04:42
1,420m
1,420m
Hard mountain bike ride. Very good fitness required. Suitable for all skill levels.

3.0
(2)
31
riders
20.7km
01:48
400m
400m
Moderate mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Suitable for all skill levels.

29
riders
12.0km
01:11
300m
300m
Moderate mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Suitable for all skill levels.
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86.2km
04:15
1,100m
1,100m
Hard road ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

4.2
(11)
124
riders
58.4km
02:19
190m
190m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

5.0
(5)
42
riders
36.0km
01:49
430m
430m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

23
riders
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.
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16
riders
25.4km
02:04
630m
630m
Hard gravel ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

25
riders
47.4km
02:30
190m
190m
Moderate gravel ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

19
riders
43.2km
02:15
170m
170m
Moderate gravel ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

9
riders
19.2km
01:49
480m
480m
Hard gravel ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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Ring Of Gullion Aonb offers a variety of outdoor activities including Hiking, Jogging, Touring cycling, Mountain biking, Road cycling, and Gravel biking. The area features 84 routes across these sports, with an average rating of 4.48 stars from more than 19,000 visitors.
The Ring Of Gullion Aonb provides numerous hiking routes for various abilities. Popular options include trails within Slieve Gullion Forest Park, the Ring of Gullion Way, and the Poet's Trail. More information on hiking can be found in the Hiking in Ring Of Gullion Aonb guide.
Yes, Ring Of Gullion Aonb offers several family-friendly hiking options. Slieve Gullion Forest Park features an accessible trail suitable for various needs. A dedicated guide for Family-friendly hikes in Ring Of Gullion Aonb is available.
Ring Of Gullion Aonb includes dog-friendly routes. Specific trails and areas may have regulations regarding dogs, such as requiring them to be on a leash. Consult the Dog-friendly hikes in Ring Of Gullion Aonb guide for more details.
Cyclists can find short to medium-length routes on country roads, some extending up to 31 miles (50 km). Slieve Gullion Forest Park also offers cycling routes on its forest roads. Guides for Road Cycling Routes and Traffic-free bike rides are available.
Yes, Ring Of Gullion Aonb offers challenging mountain biking trails, such as the 'Newry, Carnavaddy and Annaloughan Mountain loop.' Other routes, like the 'Carlingford – The Tholsel, Carlingford loop,' provide moderate rides. Off-road cycling is generally not permitted on Slieve Gullion itself. Refer to the MTB Trails in Ring Of Gullion Aonb guide.
The Ring Of Gullion Aonb is known for its unique geological formation as the world's first geologically mapped ring dyke, with Slieve Gullion mountain at its center. Other features include diverse habitats, rolling hills, verdant valleys, and Cam Lough, the largest lake in the area. It is part of the Mourne Gullion Strangford UNESCO Global Geopark.
Trails in Ring Of Gullion Aonb range from easy, leisurely strolls to challenging hikes and mountain biking routes. Options are available for various fitness levels, including accessible trails. The Easy hikes in Ring Of Gullion Aonb guide provides specific routes.
Komoot offers several guides for Ring Of Gullion Aonb, covering various sports and interests. These include guides for Hiking, Running Trails, Family-friendly hikes, and Dog-friendly hikes.
The official website for the Ring Of Gullion Aonb is www.ringofgullion.org. For general inquiries, the AONB and Geopark staff can be contacted at +44 (0)330 137 4898. For touring and accommodation information, contact the Newry Visitor Information Centre at 0330 137 4046.
Ring Of Gullion Aonb is recognized as the first ring dyke in the world to be geologically mapped and is considered the finest example in the British Isles. Its complex rocks have attracted geologists globally, contributing to accepted geological theories. Slieve Gullion mountain lies at the heart of this ancient ring dyke, formed millions of years ago by a volcanic collapse.
The area is rich in history and folklore, with Slieve Gullion known as 'Ireland's mountain of mystery' due to its association with Irish legends and myths. The landscape contains significant archaeological heritage, including ancient stone tombs like the Portal Tombs at Ballykeel and the Passage Tomb on Slieve Gullion's summit.

