The best walks and hikes around Camly (Macullagh)

Cycling through the Ring of Gullion, you'll always come across places where you just have to stop. The views up here are special - not spectacular in the usual sense, but rather calming and expansive. I took a short break and let my gaze wander over the wide valley. From the heights you can see the green landscape of Northern Ireland stretching gently into the distance. The quiet hills and scattered farms seem peaceful and remind you that sometimes it's the simple things that make a place special. With the trailer for the kids, it was nice to take a quick breather and enjoy the little break. The routes here offer enough variety so that you can really pedal and then roll comfortably again. Sometimes the wind is a bit stronger, but that's part of it if you want to experience nature to the fullest. A little tip: the viewpoints aren't always immediately visible, but if you have a good feeling for beautiful places, you'll find them all by yourself. A short stop and the moment is yours – and of course the vast landscape that lies at your feet

As you walk along the road, the vast landscape of the Ring of Gullion opens up before you. On both sides stretches the Cloverhill Golf Course, nestled in the rolling hills at the foot of Mullaghbane Mountain. The well-kept fairways and greens contrast beautifully with the wild nature around them, and you always have clear views of the green expanses framed by the mountain in the distance. It is an interesting sight how the landscaped lawns of the golf course merge with the surrounding nature. The path leads you further through this peaceful scenery, while the backdrop changes with every bend. Here you feel the peace that the golf course radiates, while the surrounding fields and forests give you the feeling of being deep in nature. A relaxing moment on your hike through this varied landscape.

The Ballykeel Dolmen, also known as the "Witch's Chair", stands alone on the edge of a green river terrace and invites you to take a look back into the past. With its three supporting stones and the imposing capstone, over three metres long, the dolmen looks like a stone sculpture left behind by a long-forgotten culture. The simple but distinctive tripod shape is a testament to the archaic construction that attracted people to this place over 4000 years ago. Excavations around the dolmen have uncovered the remains of a stone mound and Neolithic pottery that tell of the rites and customs of this early community. When you stand among the stones, you feel the mystique of the place - a place that inspires the imagination then and now. Nearby you will find other megalithic structures such as the Portal Tomb of Aughadanove, which together reflect the rich archaeological heritage of the region.

As soon as you cross the gentle ridge of Slieve Gullion, the North Cairn stretches out before you - a slightly smaller hill than its southern neighbour, but no less impressive. The stones that gather here seem like silent sentinels, witnesses of the distant Bronze Age. Two ancient stone boxes were once found here during excavations, which lay hidden in the depths of history. The North Cairn, with its diameter of around 18 metres, invites you to pause for a moment and enjoy the peace. But it is not just the Cairn that is fascinating. Right next to it lies "Calliagh Beara's Lough", a quiet mountain lake that, according to legend, is the home of the witch Beara. On a clear day, the sky is reflected in the calm waters and you can almost feel the ancient magic of this place coming to life. The road here may be rocky, but the landscape rewards with sweeping views and a touch of mysticism that makes Slieve Gullion something special.

Enjoy the many view points to stop and take in the landscape

A tough climb but great views from the top!

To be able to see the Ballykeel dolmen, you'll need to take a small detour from Mill Road onto Ballykeel Road. Here, you can view the Ballykeel dolmen and cairn, which is dated between 4000 and 2500 BC

This lough, located between the northern and southern burial cairns of Slieve Gullion, is the highest in Northern Ireland.