Overview
Ravensdale Forest climbs steeply off the Cooley Peninsula towards the summit of Black Mountain (506 m), north of Dundalk and inland from Carlingford Lough. It is managed by Coillte and is a quiet, largely uncommercialised woodland that gets walkers and dog owners rather than crowds, and it is often overlooked for the busier Cooley honeypots. The village below grew on the linen trade, once turning a dozen water-mills strung along the Flurry River between Flurrybridge and Ballymascanlon. Today the forest is a way into these trails and the wider Cooley Peninsula Scenic Route.
Walking trails
Coillte lists the red-marked Ravensdale Loop as a 1.3 km moderate walk, and its current notice says the main trails are open while some minor trails remain restricted after storm damage. Follow any signs on site.
- Ravensdale Loop (1.3 km, red markers): a short circuit through broadleaf and conifer, good for families or for testing your boots before something longer.
- Táin Trail (yellow markers): enters the forest near Curralhir Bridge and climbs over the mountains towards Omeath on Carlingford Lough. It is named for the Táin Bó Cúailnge, the Cattle Raid of Cooley, one of the oldest tales in Irish literature.
- Ring of Gullion Way (blue markers): links with the forest, as Coillte describes on its map.
The cross-country Táin Trail and the 40.3 km Táin Way are distinct routes, so check which one you are following. You can also link the forest roads into a longer outing. Beyond the loop, they lead up onto the ridge, where on a clear day the view opens towards the volcanic plugs of the Ring of Gullion and over Carlingford Lough. Signage can be thin once you are off the loop, so download or photograph the Coillte map before you go and use it for the walk you intend to take.
The standing stones
The forest sits on the former demesne of the Clermont estate, and the tracks you walk today were its private driving lanes and turf roads. A cluster of standing stones in the forest is the feature shown in the photograph at the top of this page. Leave them where they stand, and do not climb on them. Along the way you will cross several old stone bridges, their arches mossed over from the estate’s grander days.
Wildlife and the ground rules
You may see deer if you are out early or late when the forest is at its quietest, along with woodland birds through the mixed planting. Take all your litter home with you. Follow closure and dog signs on the day, especially near livestock or on the higher ground where wildlife is about.
Practical information
- Parking: use Coillte’s signed car park.
- Access and safety: the forest floor can be uneven and boggy after rain, so wear waterproof boots. Some minor trails remain restricted after storm damage, so follow the notices on site and check the Coillte page for the current position. Tell someone your route if you are heading onto the longer Táin Trail or Ring of Gullion sections.
- Facilities: check the Coillte page for what is provided at the trailhead, and bring water and food.
Nearby
Use the forest as a base for the peninsula. A short drive reaches Carlingford Castle and the Carlingford Heritage Centre, and the Cooley Distillery is a little further on. The scenic route carries on past coastal villages and rugged peaks like Slieve Foy in the Cooley Mountains.
If you have only an hour, walk the red Ravensdale Loop.