Hi, I’m Rosa Montero and I recently hiked the Cooley Mountains on the east coast of Ireland with three friends. The Cooley Mountains offer one of the best hiking routes in Ireland for beginners. Also known as Slieve Foye, the mountain range is nestled right next to the picturesque town of Carlingford.
Situated on Ireland’s east coast, the route is great for beginners and those who want a relatively short hike with incredible coastal and mountain views. This post covers everything you need to know about hiking this stunning route in the Cooley mountains. Where to begin, where to park your car, and what you can expect along the way.
Cooley Mountain Hike For Beginners
Location: Ireland, East Coast
Starting Point: Slieve Foy Trek (54°01’53.6″N 6°13’54.5″W)
Finishing Point: Carlingford
Difficulty: Easy
Duration: 2 Hours
Distance: 5 Km
Hiking Slieve Foye & the Cooley Mountains
We had some friends staying in the Cooley area so we arranged to meet up in Carlingford on a Sunday afternoon in May. The weather was pretty good. It was dry and cloudy. But the forecast was for blue skies later in the day. Ideal for a mountain hike. The route we planned to take was linear.
We would start on one side of the mountain and finish in Carlingford town. This meant we had to leave a car in the town itself and then drive to the starting location in another. Carlingford has ample parking available. But this was a bank holiday weekend so the town was already quite busy. We found a space along the waterfront on the R173.
What to Pack: Essential Gear
This is a pretty easy hike. The Cooley Mountain hike is ideal for beginners who want to experience a mountain hike without taking on anything too vigorous. Nonetheless, there are a few items we recommend you take a long for the adventure.
1: Backpack
2: Hiking Boots
3: Waterproof Jacket
4: Water
5: Small Snack
6: SPF
7: Sun Hat
8: Hiking Pole
9: Small Binoculars
10: First Aid Kit
A small backpack works well for packing all your essentials. Just stuff everything in there and sling it over your shoulders. It was quite a mild day, so we packed our rain jackets into the bag. They’d come in handy later as a thermal layer when we reached the summit. The hiking poles provide stability on the descent. You can tie them to your back pack when not required – using a carabiner.
Make sure you bring plenty of water and a small snack to keep your energy levels up. I took one of those oat bars with honey and peanuts. Something sweet that packs away easily works well. We also wore some SPF sun cream and a sun hat. Better safe than sorry.
I always take a small first aid kit, just in case there’s an emergency. And, a small pair of binoculars work well for getting the most from the view. You can get some really powerful small binoculars these days. They are lightweight and take up very little room in your backpack.
Starting Point: Slieve Foy Trek
We would be taking a linear route. Starting on one side of the Cooley mountains, hiking our way to the top, and then making our way down the other side and finishing in Carlingford town. It’s quite an easy hike. It took us about 2 hours and the route was very easy to follow.
OK, so where do you start? The simplest way to explain the starting point is to give you the Google Maps coordinates. We parked our car along the side of the road next to the starting point of the Slieve Foy Trek. From here it’s a short walk to the start of the trail.
- Starting Point: 54°01’53.6″N 6°13’54.5″W
Stage One: The Climb
The climb starts almost immediately after you leave your car. There’s a steep ascent as you leave the roadside. We made our way up a steep hill and through a gate before beginning the hike for real. The Cooley Mountains are largely grass-covered and there are plenty of mountain sheep grazing away peacefully.
The path is pretty easy to follow and it begins by taking you left for about 300 meters before turning sharply to the right and ascending towards a peak. The ascent is pretty much a straight line. And, it’s a busy route so you’ll probably meet plenty of other hikers and dog walkers.
When we started our climb it was overcast and cloudy. But thankfully, dry. The weather improved as we made our way towards the summit. And blue skies began to make an appearance as we made our descent.
Mountain Cross Detour
It took us about 50 minutes to reach the highest point of our route. At this point, you can see a cross to your right on a mountain peak. We decided to take this in before cresting the summit and descending to Carlingford itself. The detour to the cross takes about 10 minutes each way but is well worth it. There are excellent views of Carlingford Lough and the surrounding lands. This is a chance to whip out the binoculars and have good luck around.
We noticed plenty of birdlife in the area. The most notable being a Common Kestrel swirling high above us. It has a gray head and tail and a reddish-brown back. I’m pretty sure it was a kestrel. I checked my bird reference book when we got back to base.
Summit – Stunning Views of Carlingford Lough
We then got ourselves back on track and reached the summit of our climb. And there it was. Wow! A breathtaking view of Carlingford, its harbor, and Carlingford Lough in the background. It was just around that time that the sun made an appearance and began glistening off the sea in the distance.
We took some time to rest and appreciate the views. This was also a good time to have a snack and grab some photos. When you reach the top and stop climbing you’ll notice your body temperature drop. Couple this with a stiff mountain breeze and you’ll be glad you’ve packed a jacket in your backpack.
The Descent: Carlingford Here We come
The hard part of the hike was behind us. It was downhill from here all the way into Carlingford village. One piece of advice I recommend is to get your hiking poles out for the descent. They work great on the downhill. If you slip or lose your footing they provide extra support and help prevent a fall. They saved me on the way down as I stepped over a small stream and briefly lost my footing.
The descent was a little quicker. Less stopping on the way down. From the summit, the route descends down to your left. It’s quite a gentle descent to begin with but you’ll need to keep your wits about you. We followed the course of a small stream on the way down. Some of the slopes were quite steep so keep a tight hold of those hiking poles.
The route continues along the edge of a forest and comes to a stile that you’ll have to climb across. Keep straight and follow the signposts that take you down into the center of the town.
Carlingford Arms: Cold Beer & Hot Food
We made it. Two hours after we set off, we were back in the bustling coastal town of Carlingford. And, it was bustling! Although it was a Sunday afternoon, it was a bank holiday weekend. That meant the town was packed full of day trippers, hens, stags, and revelers.
We were hungry. And, thirsty. It was time for a cold beer and some hot food. We made our way to the Carlingford Arms. It’s a bar/restaurant in the center of the town that does hot food at reasonable prices.
Owner manager Sharon greeted us on arrival and quickly got us a table near the door. We ordered four cold beers and a selection of hot dinners from the carvery menu. Service was friendly and fast. The food was great and generous in portion size.
And the beer went down a treat. Carlingford and the Cooley mountains – thank you. We had an amazing time. We’ll definitely be back. And, we’ll be recommending a Cooley Mountain hike to all our friends and family.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Rosa Montero
- B.S. Environmental Science
- Avid Explorer & Globe Trotter
Rosa is a graduate of the University of Arizona, where she delved into the world of green energy and environmental science. Originally from sunny Fresno, California, she moved to Arizona to study. Rosa is the proud owner of a vintage VW camper van. Her trusty companion on countless adventures.
She has a deep passion for clean energy and a love for protecting our planet. Rosa immerses herself in nature through long hikes in Arizona’s famous parks. Grand Canyon National Park and Sedona Red Rock Country. are two of her favorites.
When not exploring on foot, she enjoys cycling. Rosa’s enthusiasm for fighting climate change and safeguarding Mother Earth shines through in her work for RV Solar Power Hub.
