Overview
Templetown Beach – Shellinghill to everyone local – is the most sheltered swimming spot on the Cooley Peninsula: a south-facing Blue Flag cove tucked behind low rock promontories at Louth’s far south-east corner. The sand-and-shingle mix slopes gently, which is what makes it good for families, and the view across Dundalk Bay to the Cooley Mountains and Slieve Foy is the reward on a clear day. The one thing to plan around is the car park – it fills by mid-morning on summer weekends, so come early or come off-season.
A Touch of History
The name is a straight nod to the Knights Templar, who held these coastal lands after the Norman invasion of the 12th century; the shore is thought to have been a medieval embarkation point for pilgrims crossing from Ulster. The order was dissolved in the 14th century, but the name outlived it and later gave the Upton family their title, Viscount Templetown, created in 1806.
Swimming & Watersports
The calm, south-facing water is a reliable summer swim. Lifeguards patrol from 11am to 6pm – weekends in June, daily through July and August, and the first two weekends of September. Beyond the sheltered cove, the open stretch past the promontories catches steadier wind and draws kite-surfers, windsurfers and body-boarders, best from late summer into autumn. The bottom shelves gradually and the sand-shingle shifts, so check conditions and stay within the flags when lifeguards are on.
Walking & Coastal Views
Templetown suits an easy shoreline walk. The beach is wide and flat, with a promenade near the car park that takes wheelchairs and buggies; further along it gives way to shingle banks and driftwood, good for shell-collecting. The beach sits on the Cooley Peninsula Scenic Route, so the road itself has pull-ins for photographs, with Slieve Foy – Louth’s highest peak – rising behind the fields inland.
Nearby Attractions
Templetown’s spot at the peninsula’s edge makes it a handy base for the wider region:
- Carlingford Ferry – A ten-minute drive to Greenore, where the 15-minute crossing to Greencastle in County Down is one of Ireland’s more scenic short ferry rides across Carlingford Lough.
- Slieve Foy Loop – A 9km forested hike to Slieve Foy (1,932 ft) with panoramic views of the bay and peaks. Route details on the Cooley Mountains and Slieve Foy page.
- Ravensdale Forest – Roughly 20 minutes inland, a woodland with waterfalls, boardwalks and a circular trail.
- Annaloughan Loop Walk – An 8km coastal circuit nearby for a longer day.
- Mellifont Abbey – Ireland’s first Cistercian monastery, about 30km inland.
- Cooley Distillery – A short drive inland, with guided tours and tastings.
Practical Information
Parking & Facilities A large free car park sits opposite the beach entrance; it fills quickly on summer weekends, so arrive before midday. There are public toilets, picnic tables and a family area. Barry’s Shop and Grange Post Office in Lower Rath acts as a collection point for the local ‘stamp trail’, a small activity for younger visitors.
Dogs & Accessibility Dogs are welcome out of season and outside patrol hours, but during the bathing season (1 June to 15 September) they are banned from the beach between 11am and 7pm – guide and assistance dogs excepted. The main promenade is flat and accessible, with accessible toilets by the car park.
Getting There The beach is on the R173, part of the signed Cooley Peninsula Scenic Route. From Dublin, take the M1 then follow signs for Carlingford and the peninsula. The nearest services are in Greenore, a small harbour village with a few cafés and the ferry terminal. Public transport is limited – the nearest regular bus stop is in Carlingford, with seasonal local services connecting to Dundalk and Greenore.
Seasonal Tips
The bathing season runs early June to late September, with the biggest crowds and full lifeguard cover in July and August. Autumn brings steadier winds and fewer people – good for kite-surfing and photography – and winter is for storm-watching and empty walks, though facilities thin out and the water turns cold. Pack windproof layers even in summer: the open south coast can turn brisk by afternoon.