Overview
In September 2009, 200 swimmers spent the best part of a day in Cam Lough setting a Guinness World Record: a 680 km continuous relay in a 90-acre glacial lake five kilometres west of Newry. That gives you the measure of the place – Camlough (Irish: Camloch, ‘crooked lake’) is a working outdoor hub in the Ring of Gullion, not a beauty spot you look at from the road.
The lake is the largest in the Ring of Gullion, set in a valley carved between Slieve Gullion and Camlough Mountain. Its shape looks smooth enough now, but the ‘crooked’ name is older than the late-19th-century embankment that raised its level. The village itself is small, around 1,000 people and thoroughly workaday; the draw is the water and the hills around it. If you only have time for one thing, get down to the lake; if you have the legs for a second, climb Camlough Mountain for the view over it.
History and heritage
Prehistoric monuments and plantation roots
People have been on this ground since the Neolithic. Several portal tombs survive on the slopes of Camlough Mountain, along with the solitary standing stone known as the Hag’s Chair in nearby Lislea and the Ballykeel Dolmen, with its two upright portal stones and massive capstone.
The village sits in the townland of Cross – a name that points to an old crossroads rather than any monument. By 1620 the mountain was recorded as Sliabh na Croise, ‘mountain of the cross’. During the Plantation of Ulster this was O’Hanlon country before a 1,000-acre grant of twelve townlands went to Henry McShane O’Neill, setting the village on its way.
Industrial past and engineering
The Camlough River once powered a run of around nine mills that drove Ulster’s linen and textile trade through the 18th and 19th centuries. The first and largest was Kelly’s Flax and Scutching Mill, set up around the mid-1700s on Keggal Road – nine buildings fed by two mill ponds. The mills are long gone, but stone foundations and the odd water-wheel remnant still line the riverbank.
Dominating the valley is the Craigmore Viaduct, an 18-arch stone bridge built between 1849 and 1852 for the Belfast–Dublin railway. Designed by John Benjamin Macneill, it runs about a quarter of a mile and reaches roughly 126 ft at its tallest arch – a landmark you can see from much of the surrounding countryside.
A more recent piece of local history is easy to miss. In 2022, a set of metal sculptures of cattle, sheep and horses went up in the village to mark the livestock fair that ran here from 1829; old photographs show the streets packed with stock on market day.
What to see and do
Cam Lough and water activities
Cam Lough is a training ground for triathletes and open-water swimmers, and its calm water hosts the Camlough Lake Water Festival each August, from introductory ‘Try-a-Tri’ sessions up to the Ulster 5k and 10k championships. The Crooked Lake Triathlon runs each June. Beyond the events, the lake takes kayaks, paddle-boards and anglers.
Be realistic about facilities, though: this is an open lake with basic provision rather than a managed leisure centre, so come self-sufficient. One curiosity lies just off the shore – a roughly one-kilometre tunnel dug in the 1960s for a pumped-hydro scheme meant to generate over 200 megawatts. The project was shelved as the Troubles took hold, and the entrance is all that is left of it.
Hiking and geology
Camlough Mountain (also called Slieve Girkin) rises to 423 m and has marked trails for a range of abilities. The rock underfoot is granodiorite formed around 400 million years ago as the ancient Iapetus Ocean closed – far older than the 60-million-year-old volcanic rock of neighbouring Slieve Gullion. From the top the view runs over farmland, the lake below, and out toward the Cooley Mountains and Carlingford Lough. A popular loop pairs the ascent with lakeside paths for roughly 9 to 10 km with moderate climb, shifting from paved lane to open hill path.
Ancient sites and river walks
The archaeology is easy to reach. The Ballykeel Dolmen sits at the western foot of Slieve Gullion, and the Hag’s Chair stands alone in a field wrapped in local folklore. For Penal-era history, the Mass rock (Carraig an Aifrinn) at Grant’s Rocks served as an outdoor altar for over 300 years; a special Mass was held there again in 2003.
River walks trace the Camlough River toward the Newry Canal. Short, family-friendly strolls start near the village centre, while longer routes climb toward the mountain past stone bridges, mill ruins and open pasture. You can see the Craigmore Viaduct from several informal footpaths along the valley without going out of your way.
Practical information
- Getting there – Camlough is five kilometres west of Newry, off the A1. Ulsterbus route 338e runs regular connections from Newry Bus Station. Free parking is available near the lake and at trailheads.
- When to visit – Late spring to early autumn gives the mildest weather for swimming and hiking; spring is good for birdwatching and autumn brings colour to the mountain paths.
- Facilities – Picnic areas and public toilets sit by the lake, with launch points for kayaks and paddle-boards kept up by local groups. Provision is modest, so plan accordingly.
- Safety – Open-water swimmers should watch the wind, which can get up quickly on the lake. Hikers want sturdy footwear for the unpaved sections and a waterproof layer. The viaduct area has steep drops, so keep children close.
- Accommodation – B&Bs and self-catering cottages are available in Camlough and nearby Newry, some with lake or hill views.
- Local events – The Camlough Lake Water Festival (August) and Crooked Lake Triathlon (June) are the main fixtures; check local listings for dates and registration.
For the best of it, climb Camlough Mountain on a clear morning, then walk the river down toward the market sculptures in the village – the whole loop keeps you well clear of the crowds that gather on Slieve Gullion.