Lower Jenkinstown: Loop Walk, Dundalk Bay and Magic Hill

A marked loop walk with views of Dundalk Bay and a hill where a car seems to roll uphill: Lower Jenkinstown offers a range of reasons to explore the area. The Annaloughan National Loop Walk follows the slope of Annaloughan Mountain and passes through Rockmarshall Forest. Magic Hill adds a distinctive feature of its own.

Annaloughan National Loop Walk: Route and Starting Point

The Annaloughan National Loop Walk is 8 km long; the walking time is 2 hours 30 minutes to 3 hours. The trail is marked with purple arrows and signs. It starts at a small lay-by with a picnic area beside the main road in Jenkinstown. It is at the junction of the R173 to Dundalk and the R174 to Ravensdale, on the road from Dundalk to Carlingford.

If you are planning the loop walk with your family, its length and stated walking time give you a concrete indication of how much to expect from the outing. This makes it easier to weigh the walk against other travel ideas, without inferring difficulty or necessary breaks from the route details.

Mountain Slope, Views and Forest

The trail crosses the mountain ridge slope of Annaloughan Mountain and offers views of Dundalk Bay. On the return leg, it passes through Rockmarshall Forest, where pines and spruces grow. The mountain slope, views of the bay and coniferous forest offer different landscape impressions along the loop walk. If you enjoy taking in changing surroundings while hiking, you will find more than just one perspective here.

Historic Waypoints

The Annaloughan National Loop Walk passes the OPW Rochmarshall Court Tomb. There is also a memorial plaque along the route commemorating the crew of an RAF B-24 Liberator Mk. II aircraft. The plane crashed in bad weather on 14 March 1942. Alongside the scenery and exercise, these two waypoints provide historical points of reference. The court tomb and the plaque each represent their own stories; their shared location along the route makes them distinct stops on the same walk.

The Unusual Effect at Magic Hill

Magic Hill is in Jenkinstown, a few kilometres outside Dundalk. If a car is put into neutral at the bottom, it rolls uphill again by itself. It is a striking contrast to hiking: rather than a marked route, the focus here is on a surprising movement. If you like to choose travel experiences by type, you can consider the loop walk and this phenomenon as different interests for your stay.

A Legend Nearby

The Long Woman's Grave, also known as The Cairn of Cauthleen, is located nearby. This local landmark lies in the Cooley Mountains above the village of Omeath and is associated with a legend about a Spanish noblewoman. The site adds a story from the surrounding area to the specific waypoints in Jenkinstown. This means you can also consider local folklore as a possible focus for your trip, alongside a hike.

Choosing Lower Jenkinstown as a Destination

The road references mentioned above can help you make a specific location choice: are you looking for a holiday rental specifically in Lower Jenkinstown, or would you prefer to explore one of the places linked below?

More destinations to search: Bettystown, Termonfeckin, Ardee, Tallanstown, Collon, Carlingford, Dundalk and Drogheda.

For the broader travel overview: County Louth.