Restawyle, self catering cottage accommodation, Carlingford, Ireland
 
   
 
 
   
Slieve Foye: 3½ hours (11 kilometre walk*)
 
General Description: Slieve Foye or Carlingford Mountain provides a rocky and dramatic backdrop to Carlingford village. If you wish to climb this mountain, here is a route but please note that it is a mountain and demands respect despite its modest height. When the cloud comes down, the rocky and undulating ridge requires careful navigation with map & compass. On a clear settled day, the average walker will have no difficulty with this route but if you are in doubt, either do not attempt or start from the car park high in Slieve Foye forest and return by the same route.

Start: from the market square and follow the Tain Way out of Carlingford towards Dundalk. Follow the way till you reach the Golyin Pass. Here you leave the Tain Way till you reach the Golyin Pass. Here you leave the Tain Way and follow a narrow path through the heather up towards Slieve Foye. Aim for an obvious broad gully on the left flank, which is pictured below. Climb this steeply and gain the upper slopes. From here, you may espy the trigonometric pillar glinting above you but it is best to pick a way up through the crags to your right. Thus gain the ridge crest and a view of Carlingford Lough: continue up to the summit pictured above.
 
There are excellent views from the summit extending southwards from Dundalk Bay below you and the sweep down the east coast towards the Wicklow Mountains: look northwards across Carlingford and over to the lofty Mourne Mountains with peaks such as the peaky, twin topped Slieve Bernagh standing out clearly.

After a rest, continue along the broad backed, rocky and undulating ridge. A path can be followed here and there between the hilltops. After c.20 minutes, reach a deeper saddle and turn right downhill over heather slopes. A deep valley opens up on your left, but keep to you right of it and descend to reach the forest. A stile and path leads down to the Slieve Foye Forest car park. Rejoin the Tain Way and turn to follow it back to Carlingford.

Note the marine below you as you cross the deep gully of the Golden River. Marine tourism is probably a greater source of local income now that the once important herring fisheries wiped out in the 1900's.