Overview
Poyntzpass is a quiet border village on the Belfast–Newry railway line, roughly midway between Newry and Banbridge. It straddles the old line between County Armagh and County Down, in low drumlin farmland once prized for the strategic gap that gives the village its name.
The reason to stop is the water. The Newry Canal, an early major canal in Britain and Ireland, runs through the village, and its towpath, now the Newry Canal Way, is flat and traffic-free. It follows the River Cusher past the old Terryhoogan lock, with open views over the drumlins and easy access to Acton Lake (Lough Shark). For walkers and cyclists, including families and anyone wary of hills, it’s about as gentle as long-distance routes get.
Is the towpath open to the public?
Poyntzpass has public approaches to the canal towpath. Read the council’s towpath guidance, keep to the path, share it with other users and take care near the water.
The pass and its history
The village is named for Lieutenant Charles Poyntz, who in 1598, during the Nine Years’ War, forced a route through the boggy corridor between the Lough Neagh basin and Carlingford Lough. After the war the land passed into the Plantation of Ulster; Poyntz was granted 500 acres at Brannock in 1610 and built a defensive bawn that grew into the Manor of Acton, with a small settlement around it by the 1620s. A castle once guarded the pass itself – its remains were still visible into the 19th century, and only ‘Castle Corner’ on William Street now recalls it.
The village carries a sombre, more recent memory too. In March 1998, months before the Good Friday Agreement, two friends – Damian Trainor, a Catholic, and Philip Allen, a Presbyterian – were shot dead by the LVF in the Railway Bar. Their killing drew mourners from both communities and is still remembered locally.
Railway heritage
Poyntzpass station opened on 6 January 1862, closed in 1965, and reopened in 1984. The Victorian brick building keeps its character, and beside it stands the signal cabin that appears in the photograph above. Check Translink’s Poyntzpass station information for current services and access before planning a return by train.
Wildlife and landscape
The canal and its marshes make good cover for waterfowl: swans and geese on Acton Lake, kingfishers and herons along the Cusher. Hares and field voles work the low farmland, and on a clear day the Mourne foothills show on the horizon beyond the flat fields. In spring and summer the oilseed rape turns whole fields yellow, a favourite with photographers.
Practical information
- Getting there: the A1 dual carriageway runs close by, so it’s easiest by car. Check Translink for train services, as the station may not suit every journey.
- Walking and cycling: the Newry Canal Way is free to use. Walk or cycle it towards Scarva or Jerrettspass.
- Facilities: check what is open locally before you go, and bring what you need for a towpath walk.
- Best time to visit: spring and early autumn for the walking weather.
There isn’t a great deal in the village itself – a level crossing, a few churches – and that’s rather the point. Come for the towpath, and you’ll have the canal, the drumlins and the birdlife mostly to yourself.