Newry sits in a gap between the Mourne Mountains and the Ring of Gullion, at the head of a fjord-like lough — which means its best family attractions are the landscapes around it, headlined by one of Ireland’s most magical children’s trails.
Why Go
Fairy doors on a giant’s mountain, a ferry beneath the Mournes, and the forest that inspired Narnia — Newry’s surroundings read like a storybook index, and everything sits within twenty minutes of a practical, well-priced base halfway between Belfast and Dublin.
Key Sights
Slieve Gullion Forest Park and the Giant’s Lair — a story trail through enchanted woodland with fairy doors, a giant’s chair, and a witch’s kitchen, drawn from the mountain’s Fionn mac Cumhaill legends; the adventure playpark makes it a full morning.
Carlingford Lough — the scenic Greencastle–Greenore ferry crosses beneath the Mournes to the medieval village of Carlingford on the far shore.
Kilbroney Park, Rostrevor — the famous forest playground and the Narnia trail; C.S. Lewis said this view ‘made him think of Narnia’.
Bagenal’s Castle and Newry Museum — free, with a 16th-century tower house tucked inside a modern building.
Things To Do
- Hunt every fairy door on the Giant’s Lair trail, then conquer the adventure playpark.
- Ride the lough ferry and do Carlingford’s leprechaun cavern tour — pitched squarely (and successfully) at children.
- Cycle or scoot the flat, traffic-free Newry Canal towpath toward Scarva.
- Tackle the Kilbroney mountain-bike trails with older kids, or the gentle riverside loop with younger ones.
- Drive the Slieve Gullion scenic loop for the Ring of Gullion views, with a stop at the summit path.
Travel Time
- From Belfast: about 50 minutes by train
- From Dublin: about 1 hour 10 minutes by train
- City centre to Slieve Gullion Forest Park: about 10 minutes by car
- City centre to the Carlingford ferry at Greencastle: about 20 minutes by car
Travel Route
Newry sits on the Belfast–Dublin main line, but its attractions fan out by car: Slieve Gullion west, Rostrevor and the ferry east. A good two-day pattern: Giant’s Lair morning and canal towpath afternoon on day one; the lough ferry, Carlingford village, and Kilbroney’s Narnia trail on day two. It also makes a natural overnight break on any Belfast–Dublin family road trip.
Planning a longer trip? See our full United Kingdom family travel guide.