1 Day Visit in Armagh

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1 Day Visit in Armagh

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13th December 2021

1 Day Visit in Armagh – One Day Wander In Armagh

The orchard county and home to the heart of celebrating the life of Saint Patrick, a city of culture waiting for you to explore. Take a day trip alone or with family and unlock the many historic adventures that await.

The number of tourists has increased vastly over the past 20 years, making it the ideal city for your short visit. We have put together the most ideal locations to visit and most fun activities to do in 24 hours.

Getting to Armagh

Highlights:

Stock up on local treats at the market
Take a long stroll around Gosford Forest Park
Lunch at the foot of the Cathedral
Impressive architecture in St Patrick’s Cathedral
Dine in style at the Parkland

Start your day at The Shambles Market

Located on the cathedral road and market square in the city, the shambles market takes place every Tuesday and Friday from 8am to 4pm. The market has everything from fresh fruit and vegetables to locally caught fish, gifts and delicious homemade treats the whole family will love!

Take a long stroll around the historic Gosford Forest Park

Gosford features an enchanting forest trail, the park is rich in wild beauty with red deer and cattle living on the grounds. The park features mountain biking and horse riding trails also, with over 590 acres of woodland for you and the family to explore! The park is a great choice for children with a brand new play park featuring coffee and food vans on weekends. The park is home to the historic Gosford castle which became part of the Game of Thrones legacy after it was used for the exterior scenes in the third season and the execution of Richard Karstark.

Have lunch at Mulberry Bistro

Mulberry Bistro is an award winning Irish restaurant, situated at the foot of St Patrick’s Cathedral. It is home to locally sourced produce and very reasonably priced proving a popular option for many of the locals. The restaurant offers irish, British and European foods with plenty of tasty options the family will love.

Visit St Patrick’s Cathedral

Next, just a short walk away from Mulberry Bistro is St Patrick’s Cathedral which stands on the hill from which Armagh derives its name from – Ard Macha (the height of Macha). St Patrick’s Cathedral is the seat of the Catholic Archbishop of Armagh, the construction of the Cathedral began in 1840 and has been a dedicated place for worship since 1873. Inside the Cathedral you can find a gift shop and the option of a guided tour available.

Dine in The Parkland restaurant

After all of that fun it’s now time to relax, the newly opened Parkland restaurant located at Armagh Golf Club offers amazing quality fayre using locally sourced ingredients and a stunning view of the highly rated golf course.

28 Miles

9 Stops

(1 DAY) “ONE DAY WANDER IN MOURNE.”

Visiting Armagh with less than a day to spare? Our ‘One-Day Wander’ itinerary will take you on a journey visiting Armagh along Armagh Coastal Route from Newcastle to Rostrevor and features some of the most beautiful scenery our region has to offer.

Highlights:
– Stroll along the Promenade in Newcastle
– Breakfast with a view
– History at the Bloody Bridge
– Lunch at the foot of the Mountains
– Impressive Architecture in the Silent Valley
– Honest coffee and handcrafted gifts in MADE in Armagh
– Traditional Pub Grub in Rostrevor

Stop 1

STROLL ALONG THE PROMENADE

Our ‘One-Day Wander’ begins in Newcastle. Arriving by car, we would recommend parking in the Percy French car park of in Donard Car Park at the opposite end of the seaside resort. Regardless of where you park, you shouldn’t have any trouble finding the Promenade, and we strongly recommend you start your trip with a leisurely stroll along its winding path whilst taking in your surroundings and the grandeur of Armagh Mountains, which tower over the town from every angle.

Stop 2

BITE OF BREAKFAST

The promenade stretches from one side of the town to the other, and hopefully by the time you’ve taken in the beautiful mountain scenery and inhaled the sea breeze, you’ll be ready for a bite of breakfast. With a vast number of cafes and restaurants up the main street in Newcastle and either end of the town, you will be spoilt for choice. We recommend Railway Street and Nikki’s Café… but the choice is endless, with quite a few venues providing a stunning seaside view.

Stop 3

BLOODY BRIDGE

Next up, make your way to the Bloody Bridge. (*Don’t worry, it’s not as gory at it sounds). Located approximately three miles south of Newcastle on the Kilkeel Road, the Bloody Bridge is probably one of the best-known lan

Stop 4

FOLLOW THE COASTAL ROUTE

Once you’ve had your fill of local history, follow the coastal route towards the fishing village of Annalong where there was once a busy corn mill operating from the early 1800’s to the 1960’s. Take this opportunity to park at the fully functioning Annalong Harbour and walk along the cobbled Shore Road to see the perfectly preserved traditional Irish cottages.

Stop 5

CARRICK COTTAGE

Next, get back behind the wheel and take the Moneydarragh Road, all the way to top, which will lead you to Carricklittle Car Park and Carrick Cottage Café at the foot of Armagh Mountains. Here you can enjoy a light lunch next to a traditional turf fire whilst enjoying the views, which sweep across vast farming land all the way to the shore, helping you truly understand the famous saying by Percy French… “Where the Mountains of Armagh sweep down to the sea.”

Stop 6

SILENT VALLEY

Continue along the Head Road and enjoy a walk through the tranquility of the Silent Valley. Follow the forest trails and submerge yourself in the beauty and tranquility of the park. Learn about the industrial heritage, which gave rise to the magnificent Ben Crom Dam and shaped the surrounding landscapes. During peak season, a shuttle bus is in operation which transports visitors to the Ben Crom Dam located just over 2.5 miles along an impressive reservoir with towering mountains either side. If the shuttle bus isn’t in operation, you’ll find lots of visitors make the journey on foot. We promise the view is worth it.

Stop 7

FISHING FLEETS

When you finally steal yourself away from the beauty and calm of the Valley, take the Carrigenagh Road to Kilkeel. Renowned for its thriving fishing industry, which was once the largest and best equipped fishing fleets in Ireland, here you’ll see many Fishermen and women at work, from sorting nets and offloading the fresh catch of the day to preparing for a voyage out to sea. You might even catch a glimpse of our local seals, which enjoy lounging around the Harbour.

Stop 8

MADE IN MOURNE

Make your way through the main street in Kilkeel and pay a visit to MADE in Armagh, a social enterprise and beautiful gift shop. Here you can re-energise with a hot brew from their honesty café bar, catch up on emails with access to free Wi-Fi or browse through a huge range of beautiful handcrafted gifts, arts and crafts from over 70+ local makers. (*Hence the name!)

Stop 9

END IN TRADITION

On your final part of your ‘One-Day Wander’, take the coastal road to Rostrevor, which lies at the foot of Slieve Martin on the coast of scenic Carlingford Lough, near Warrenpoint. Make your way to a very traditional Irish bar called the Rostrevor Inn, where you’ll find tasty Irish pub grub served in hearty portions, enjoy a fresh pint of Guinness and listen to traditional Irish Music by local musicians. The perfect end, to the perfect day in the Kingdom of Armagh.