Explore sea louth by foot this autumn, enjoying magnificent scenery, bracing sea air and, of course, mouth-watering local seafood. We’ve chosen some of our favourite seasonal walks that are on or in close proximity to the sea louth scenic seafood trail. Before or after your walk, stop off at one of the 40+ participating restaurants to enjoy a delicious locally sourced seafood dish.
1. An Autumn walk in Louth that has it all – leafy forest, sweeping coastal views and breath-taking mountain trails - the Táin Way is 40km long, though can be broken down into more manageable chunks. Begin in Carlingford and stop to pick up your sea louth passport in the tourist office there before you set off.
2. Blackrock’s ‘Round the Rock’ walk is a great way to take in the pretty seaside village. The walk takes about an hour and is suitable for all, as it is wheelchair and stroller accessible. Alternatively, the ‘Wellie Walk’ is a little more rugged and takes in the beaches and mud flats (this route is tidal dependent). Find out more here. In Blackrock you will also find three fabulous restaurants participating in the sea louth trail. Choose a local seafood dish and keep the receipt, which will count as one of your sea louth passport restaurant stamps. Don’t forget to pop into The Crafty Rock as you walk along Main Street for your Blackrock scenic viewpoint stamp.
Autumn Walk in Blackrock
3. There are several walks and hikes to choose from on the Cooley Peninsula, with something to suit all abilities and fitness levels. John Long’s Pub on the outskirts of Carlingford serves as the trailhead for two of them: the Molly Loop and the Rooskey Loop, both of which are challenging yet enjoyable. The latter is 7km in length and takes 2-2.5 hours to complete, with highlights including the ‘abandoned village’ and Limekiln (disused) and the ruins of Rooskey Priory. Find further information on these and other looped walks in Louth and download maps here.
4. Walk up an appetite in Drogheda before stopping in to one of the participating sea louth restaurants. A team of locals joined forces to map out four Drogheda walks which highlight the natural beauty, rich heritage and history of the town, and range in length from the 1.5km ‘Five Bridges’ walk to the 6.5km ‘Steps’ walk.
5. For an autumn walk in Louth with a difference, the SEEK urban arts trail in Dundalk brings to life the history and stories of the town and the county in an engaging and contemporary way. Tick off the 13 murals painted by talented local and international street artists on a self-guided walking tour. Access a map and more information about the artists and the murals here.
How does it work? The sea louth scenic seafood trail is part of Ireland’s Ancient East. Pick up a sea louth passport from one of the tourist offices (Carlingford, Dundalk or Drogheda) and collect 14 coastal scenic viewpoint stamps plus two restaurant stamps, and exchange your completed passport for an exclusive sea louth memento. Happy exploring!
Keywords: sea louth, scenic seafood trail, walks in Louth, autumn walks Louth, Ireland’s Ancient East