Táin Way | Louth

Overview

Carlingford Greenway, Co Louth Courtesy Fáilte Ireland

The Táin Way (Irish: Sli na Táin) is a 40 km long‑distance walking route that loops the dramatic Cooley Peninsula in County Louth, part of Ireland’s Ancient East. Designated a National Waymarked Trail, it is managed jointly by Louth County Council, Coillte and the Walks Partnership Group. The trail is free to use and is marked with the familiar yellow‑and‑white waymarks that guide walkers through a mixture of coastal paths, woodland tracks and upland ridges. Most hikers complete the circuit in two days, although the route can be broken into shorter sections for a single‑day adventure or extended over four days for a more leisurely pace.

History

King John's Castle, Harbour & Mountain, Carlingford, Co Louth © Tourism Ireland

The trail takes its name from the epic Táin Bó Cúailnge (The Cattle Raid of Cooley), one of the oldest stories in Irish literature. According to the saga, Queen Maeve of Connacht marched from her palace in Rathcroghan to seize the legendary Brown Bull of Cooley, only to be challenged by the hero Cú Chulainn on the peninsula’s rugged terrain. A short section of the legendary “Táin March” is followed by the modern walk and is celebrated each June during the Táin March Festival, a community‑run event that runs from Ardee to Carlingford.

The route was devised by trail‑designer J. B. Malone and officially opened on 21 August 1986 by Minister for Tourism, Fisheries and Forestry Liam Kavanagh. A 2010 review of Ireland’s National Way‑marked Trails highlighted the Táin Way’s popularity for both multiday and day‑use walkers, recommending additional looped walks and the removal of short tarred‑road sections.

What to See & Do

Slieve Foye, Carlingford, Co Louth Courtesy Bernice Naughton

Feature	Details
Starting point	Carlingford – a medieval walled town on the edge of Carlingford Lough, with historic narrow streets and a bustling harbour.
Key high points	Slieve Foy (peak 677 m) – offers sweeping views over the Mourne Mountains and the Irish Sea; Clermont Pass beneath Clermont Carn; ridge between Carnawaddy and Castle Mountain.
Scenic variety	Coastal cliffs, mixed‑wood forests, open upland plateaux and historic villages such as Ravensdale.
Cultural highlights	Interpretive panels on the Táin legend, remnants of ancient field systems, and the annual Táin March Festival in June.
Distance & elevation	Total distance ≈ 40 km; total ascent ≈ 1 220 m; highest point ≈ 425 m (as recorded by ActiveME).

The walk begins in Carlingford, climbing the northern slopes of Slieve Foy before descending into the Clermont Pass. From there the trail reaches the village of Ravensdale, a quiet settlement that provides a natural break point and a glimpse of traditional rural life. Continuing onward, hikers follow a ridge that separates Carnawaddy from Castle Mountain, offering expansive panoramas of the surrounding countryside. The final leg retraces the southern flank of Slieve Foy, returning to Carlingford where the journey can be celebrated with a meal in one of the town’s historic pubs.

Because the route intersects the Ulster Way at Black Mountain, walkers can easily combine sections of the two trails for a longer adventure or use the Ulster Way as an alternative entry point. The trail is also part of the broader Táin Trail concept being re‑imagined by Fáilte Ireland, which aims to integrate walking, cycling and driving experiences across Louth, Meath, Westmeath, Longford and Roscommon.

Trail Variations & Options

Full loop (≈ 40 km) – usually tackled in two days, with an overnight stay in Carlingford.
Ravensdale → Omeath (13 km) – a popular 4‑5 hour section highlighted on RTÉ’s Tracks and Trails (April 2026). It follows ancient woodland, passes the 5 000‑year‑old Clermont Cairn and the historic Cadger’s Pad, offering dramatic coastal views.
Carlingford → Ravensdale (≈ 15 km) – a manageable day walk for families or those short on time.
Alternative trailheads – start at Black Mountain (where the Ulster Way meets the Táin Way) or at Clermont Bridge via Omeat.

Each option can be linked to the OSI Discovery Series Sheet 36 or the commercially produced Táin Way Map Guide (EastWest Mapping).

Seasonal Highlights & Events

Táin March Festival (June) – a community‑run celebration that retraces Queen Maeve’s legendary march from Ardee to Carlingford. The festival includes guided walks, storytelling sessions and local craft stalls. More information at www.tainmarch.net.
Carlingford Oyster Festival (August) – while not a trail‑specific event, the festival provides a perfect post‑walk reward with fresh oysters and live music.
Spring & Autumn colours – the mixed‑wood sections blaze with hazel and birch in spring and turn golden in autumn, making these seasons especially photogenic.

Wildlife & Landscape

The Cooley Peninsula supports a diverse range of flora and fauna. Walkers may spot:

Hen harrier – a rare bird of prey that nests on the open upland plateaux.
Irish hare – frequently seen in the heathland around Slieve Foy.
Heather, gorse and wild strawberries – dominate the higher slopes in summer.
Marine life – seals and occasional dolphins can be glimpsed from the coastal sections of the trail.

The trail also passes several prehistoric monuments, including a Bronze‑Age cairn on Clermont and various passage graves visible from the ridge.

Access & Transport

By car – Carlingford is about a 1‑hour drive from Dublin (M1 → N2) and a similar journey from Belfast. Parking is available in the town centre (free street parking) and at the Lumpers Pub car‑park in Ravensdale (≈ €3 per day, showers available for a small charge).
Public transport – Bus Éireann runs several daily services from Dublin and Dundalk to Carlingford (check the latest timetable). The nearest train station is Dundalk, with onward bus connections.
Dog policy – Dogs are not allowed on farmland sections of the trail (approximately 52 % of the route follows quiet roads, the remainder is on private land). Keep dogs on a leash where permitted.
Navigation – In addition to the OSI map, the ActiveME and HiiKER apps provide downloadable GPX files and live tracking. Mobile signal can be patchy on the higher sections, so carry a paper map as a backup.

Accommodation & Facilities

Carlingford offers a range of overnight options, from B&Bs to hotels such as McKevitt’s Hotel and The Red Lion. For walkers preferring a more rustic stay, the Lumpers Pub in Ravensdale provides a simple car‑park, showers and a friendly bar – a popular base for the 13 km Ravensdale‑Omeath section.

Food and drink are plentiful in Carlingford: try the locally harvested oysters, traditional Irish stew, or a pint of craft ale in one of the historic pubs. Most eateries open from 10:00 am and close by 10:00 pm, but it’s worth checking opening times in the off‑season.

Practical Information

The Táin Way is a free, open‑access trail; there is no admission fee and no formal opening hours. Waymarking is maintained by the managing partners, and the route is regularly inspected for safety. The trail is suitable for walkers of moderate fitness; sections involve steep ascents and occasional road walking (about 52 % of the route).

Maps – OSI Discovery Series Sheet 36; EastWest Mapping’s Táin Way Map Guide (1:25 000).
Apps – ActiveME, HiiKER, GPS‑enabled GPX files available from the IrishTrails website.
Safety – Weather can change quickly on Slieve Foy; bring waterproofs, sturdy boots and a fully charged phone.
Leave No Trace – Pack out all litter, stay on marked paths, and respect farm animals and wildlife.

Useful links

Whether you are drawn by the mythic past of Queen Maeve’s cattle raid, the rugged beauty of the Cooley Mountains, or the hospitality of Carlingford’s medieval streets, the Táin Way offers a uniquely Irish experience that blends legend, landscape and local culture.

Tags: [“Scenic”,“Historic”,“Outdoors”,“Free Entry”]