Attractions and Places To See around Carrickacullion - Top 7

The Carrigatuke Viewpoint offers you a fantastic view over the vast landscapes of Northern Ireland. From up here, the world seems wide and open, and if the weather is good, you can actually see all six counties. After the climb, I sat down and enjoyed the silence - only the wind blowing over the meadows accompanied me. The view over the rolling hills and green fields is a nice contrast to the hectic everyday life. The route here is not too difficult, but there are a few steeper sections that can make you sweat a bit. But you are rewarded with a really impressive view. There are a few places to rest, and the small stone trigonometer point that sits on the hill is a nice detail that adds a little character to the place. The access roads could be better maintained in some places, but if you are willing to put up with the odd bump, you will not be disappointed. A nice place for a short break on the bike.

Camlough Lake is picturesquely nestled between the rolling hills of Slieve Gullion and the Ring of Gullion. Cycling along the narrow roads on the shore, you immediately feel the tranquility that emanates from the long stretch of water. The lake stretches for more than two kilometers and seems like a narrow, silent crack in the landscape - a peaceful place to take a short break or let your gaze wander over the water. I decided to take a little detour and cycled a little closer to the shore on a path. The water was almost still and reflected the range of hills that rise in the background. It may be a paradise for fishermen, but cyclists also enjoy the special atmosphere. The roads around the lake are not very busy and you can cycle in a relaxed manner without having to constantly pay attention to the traffic. One small criticism: some of the access roads are not well signposted, but if you look around a bit, you'll surely find a good place to get to the shore and enjoy the scenery.

As you walk along the road, the vast landscape of the Ring of Gullion opens up before you. On both sides stretches the Cloverhill Golf Course, nestled in the rolling hills at the foot of Mullaghbane Mountain. The well-kept fairways and greens contrast beautifully with the wild nature around them, and you always have clear views of the green expanses framed by the mountain in the distance. It is an interesting sight how the landscaped lawns of the golf course merge with the surrounding nature. The path leads you further through this peaceful scenery, while the backdrop changes with every bend. Here you feel the peace that the golf course radiates, while the surrounding fields and forests give you the feeling of being deep in nature. A relaxing moment on your hike through this varied landscape.

The Ballykeel Dolmen, also known as the "Witch's Chair", stands alone on the edge of a green river terrace and invites you to take a look back into the past. With its three supporting stones and the imposing capstone, over three metres long, the dolmen looks like a stone sculpture left behind by a long-forgotten culture. The simple but distinctive tripod shape is a testament to the archaic construction that attracted people to this place over 4000 years ago. Excavations around the dolmen have uncovered the remains of a stone mound and Neolithic pottery that tell of the rites and customs of this early community. When you stand among the stones, you feel the mystique of the place - a place that inspires the imagination then and now. Nearby you will find other megalithic structures such as the Portal Tomb of Aughadanove, which together reflect the rich archaeological heritage of the region.

To be able to see the Ballykeel dolmen, you'll need to take a small detour from Mill Road onto Ballykeel Road. Here, you can view the Ballykeel dolmen and cairn, which is dated between 4000 and 2500 BC

This section of Lough Road crosses the Cloverhill Golf Course, which you can catch glimpses of at certain points above the side bushes, with Slieve Gullion in the background.

If we walk along this road in the fields of the Ring of Gullion AONB, we can observe on both sides the Cloverhill Golf Course, which is located at the foot of Mullaghbane Mountain.

This dolmen is a monument that has a tripod shape. At the southern end of a tumulus, its capstone is three meters long. It is dated between 4000 and 2500 BC.