Lough Shannagh
Lough Shannagh walk leads up hill on the ‘Banns Road’, an off road farm track. The route circles Lough Shannagh (in an anti-clockwise direction) with a high point of 587m at Carn Mountain. It also follows and crosses the Mourne Wall on places.
County Down
Distance 5.9 miles
OS Map Sheet 29 + Mourne Outdoor Pursuits Map (1:25,000)
Terrain Unsurfaced, uneven, hilly track
Nearest Town Kilkeel
Route Shape Circular
Grid Reference J284214
Route Type Hill, Mountain
This walk starts at the Banns Road car park.
The track from the car park (known as Banns Road) is in constant use by farmers husbanding their sheep. Please take care not to obstruct the track at any time.
Bann’s Road winds uphill to Lough Shannagh crossing the Mourne Wall and the Miner’s Hole River; the name recalling unsuccessful excavations for metal ores by Cornish miners.
The track proper ends amidst a flat expanse of white granite gravel and eroded peat hags. From here pick your way towards the northern edge of Lough Shannagh, (the lake of the fox), in an anti clockwise direction.
At its north-east corner the lough’s outflow is dammed by a low stone embankment. Cross the river below the dam. Follow the shoreline to the north end of the lough and then ascend (over a boggy, pathless terrain) to a height of 50m to find a path. From here contour left (west) for approx. 600m to reach an obvious grassy gully which ascends directly to the Mourne Wall. Continue left (900m) to the summit of Carn Mountain.
The rocky mountain, which overlooks the Lough, is Doan (594m), which if climbed by the left flank (northwest) provides a rewarding view (this excursion adds an hour to the time taken to complete the walk).
To complete the walk, follow a wall leading left down the south face of Carn Mountain (this is not the Mourne Wall; the latter turns right from the summit to continue over Slieve Muck).
At the base of the hill the wall breaks at its junction with the Miners Hole River. Turn left at the break and follow the left back of the river (no path) back to the stone bridge on the Banns Road Track. (1km)
Return to the start via the same route.
Please be aware – Although, there are numerous walking routes in the Mournes, the majority of these popular walks are not formally designated public rights of way. Most routes have developed over time due to traditional use. Below 600feet (180m) most land is privately owned and is farmed or grazed. Many of the traditional access routes cross this land or pass along farm lanes and quarry tracks. Walkers are advised to respect that they may be walking on private land and are encouraged to make themselves aware of and adhere to the principles of ‘Leave No Trace’ – www.leavenotraceireland.org”
Please remember that much of the land you will cross is private property and access is only available through the goodwill of the landowners. Although some areas of the countryside have been traditionally used for recreation, the public have no general rights to access such land and are only walking with the tolerance of the landowner.
The Ben Crom Reservoir & Lough Shannagh
The approach to Lough Shannagh is from a discreet car park on the B27, 7 km north of Kilkeel on the East Side of the road. A track locally known as the Banns Road leads to the hills.
Translink – journeyplanner.translink.co.uk
Dogs must be kept on leads
Refreshments and toilets at Kilkeel or Silent Valley Visitors Centre.
Grade 5
- There may not be a formalised path, and variable, single file trails are to be expected.
- Gradients and cross slope could be expected to be steep and not limited.
- Obstacles and surface breaks of greater than 75mm measured across the line of the path to be expected.
- Overhanging branches are possible. Passing places and rest areas may not be formalised or provided.
Comments will be reviewed and those that cause offence will be removed. This is at the discretion of WalkNI.
We want everyone to be able to enjoy the walking routes listed on WalkNI safely and easily.
If you have come across any problems whilst walking a route, please let us so we can pass on any issues to the appropriate management body responsible for maintaining the walk.
Walk Route
Lough Shannagh
Beautiful peaceful walk,
Great walk with amazing views from Doan. Be carefull on the North side of the lough with your footing as its full of holes. One of the most picturesque places I have seen.
Walked this this past week. The climb up carn was enough to catch my breath a few times, and although the weather didnt hold for us, there are great views to the central mournes and silent valley and to the silent valley – the walk around shannah was nice. The walk up to lake shannah itself is very picturesque and worthwhile. I wouldnt rate this as being particularly difficult, but when we walked it large portions were very wet, so take waterproof shoes and a spare pair of clean socks! Well recommended. Quiet too, not many people on this vs the high mournes/brandy pad/tollymore etc.