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Newry Canal Path – Newry Canal Towpath loop from Portadown

Routes

Bike touring routes & trails

Newry Canal Path – Newry Canal Towpath loop from Portadown

Moderate

5.0

(14)

102

riders

Newry Canal Path – Newry Canal Towpath loop from Portadown

03:05

55.0km

100m

Cycling

Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels. The starting point of the route is accessible with public transport.

Last updated: May 16, 2026

Tips

Your route passes through a protected area

Please check local regulations for:

Mourne Gullion Strangford UNESCO Global Geopark

Waypoints

Start point

Train Station

Get Directions

440 m

Ground Espresso Bars Café

Highlight • Cafe

Coffee Shop beside the River Bann with good access to Sustrans route 9 / Sustains Newry Canal Towpath

Tip by

12.9 km

Scarva Village

Highlight • Historical Site

Village on the Newry cycle path. There is also a Scarva pilbox - one of many left over from the 2nd World War. Worth seeking out if you've got the time.

Tip by

14.9 km

Newry Canal Path

Highlight • River

Smooth path the entire way and almost 25 km of it. Great for avoiding the Newry traffic

Tip by

17.6 km

A very flat and reasonably scenic cycle from Newry to Portadown and back. A round trip of about 18 miles. Cycling along the route of the old Newry Canal you get a chance to look at the old canal lock gates and gatekeepers cottages. A recommendation refreshment stop in Poyntzpass is Petty Sessions coffee shop, they have an excellent selection of food, sweet and savoury. You can also do sections of the route or in the opposite direction.

Tip by

27.7 km

Lock Keeper's Cottage Ruins

Highlight • Structure

Now in ruins, the lock keeper's cottage is a good reminder of the important industrial history of the canal and the vital roles played by those who worked on it.

Tip by

30.2 km

Newry Canal Towpath

Highlight • Historical Site

This cycle and walking route from the Bann Bridge in Portadown to the Town Hall in Newry is a 20 mile trip on part of route 9 of the National Cycle Network.

The route follows the towpath on the western bank of the, now non-navigable, Newry Canal.

Here's a bit about the Canals history.

Built to transport coal from Coalisland in County Tyrone to Dublin via Lough Neagh, Portadown, Newry and the Irish Sea, the Newry Canal was opened in 1742.

It operated for almost 200 years until it fell into disuse following the growth of the railway network. Frequent interpretation boards along the way give information about the history of the canal.

You will also find lots of art pieces along the route including Sustrans commissioned Millennium Mileposts and a series of pieces which reflect the former work and nature of the Newry Canal.

Tip by

55.0 km

End point

Train Station

Way Types & Surfaces

Way Types

51.2 km

2.63 km

1.07 km

< 100 m

Surfaces

54.9 km

< 100 m

Elevation

Nothing selected – click and drag below to see the stats for a specific part of the route.

Weather

Saturday 16 May

13°C

4°C

85 %

Additional weather tips

Max wind speed: 14.0 km/h

to get more detailed weather forecasts along your route

Our route recommendations are based on thousands of hikes, rides, and runs completed by other people on komoot.

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Newry Canal Path – Newry Canal Towpath loop from Portadown

Ground Espresso Bars Café

Scarva Village

Newry Canal Path

Penny University Coffee House

Newry Canal Towpath

Lock Keeper's Cottage Ruins

Newry Canal Towpath

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