Day Trips & Short Rides
Newry Canal Towpath
Description
This quiet traffic free yet scenic route runs for 20 miles on a towpath alongside the old canal, from Newry Town Hall past Scarva to the Bann Bridge in Portadown. Virtually flat it is suitable for all ages. In Scarva there is the opportunity to stop off at the Visitor Centre for some light refreshments. It is possible to start this journey at either end and use the train to return to the start point. In Newry, A short distance from Steenson’s Bridge is Goragh Wood, which was the principal railway station for Newry and also served as a customs post up until the 1960s. This was the last train stop before crossing the border into the Irish Republic.
Town
Newry
Newry
County
Down
Down
Open
All year
All year
Distance
20 Miles / 32.2km
20 Miles / 32.2km
Time Needed
Family with young children- 5 Hours, family with teenage children - 2 hours 30 mins, Adult cyclists (day trippers)- 2 hours
Family with young children- 5 Hours, family with teenage children - 2 hours 30 mins, Adult cyclists (day trippers)- 2 hours
Gradient
Average
Average
NCN Route Number
9
9
Tourist Information
Armagh Tourist Information Centre Tel: 028 3833 2802, Scarva Visitor Centre- 028 40 623322, Newry: 028 3026 8877
Armagh Tourist Information Centre Tel: 028 3833 2802, Scarva Visitor Centre- 028 40 623322, Newry: 028 3026 8877
How To Get There
There is a train station at both Portadown and Newry, so you could get the train to either Portadown or Newry and then cycle to the other town. Alternatively by car take off at the Craigavon (Armagh) junction on the M1 and follow signs to Portadown, you can start the trail just behind Tescos car park in Portadown and work your way towards Newry.
There is a train station at both Portadown and Newry, so you could get the train to either Portadown or Newry and then cycle to the other town. Alternatively by car take off at the Craigavon (Armagh) junction on the M1 and follow signs to Portadown, you can start the trail just behind Tescos car park in Portadown and work your way towards Newry.


Cycle
Northern Ireland is a joint marketing initiative between Sustrans and The
Countryside Access & Activities Network. The project is kindly supported
by the Northern Ireland Tourist Board, Environment & Heritage Service,
Health Promotion Agency, and DRD Roads Service.