Best Places to Visit Near Armagh
Written by UK Hidden Gems Editorial
Updated 5 August 2026
The best places to visit near Armagh are Creevekeeran Castle, Coney Island, Castle Caulfield, Glenmore Scenic Walk, Warrenpoint Beach, Killyfole Lough, Cranfield Church & Holy Well and Cove Cave.
Armagh, the small cathedral city at the heart of Northern Ireland, sits within reach of a surprising variety of countryside, coast and old stone. Close to the city, the lone ruined tower of Creevekeeran Castle stands in open farmland to the west.
North towards Lough Neagh lie the wooded Coney Island, out in the water off Maghery, and, over in County Tyrone, the roofless Jacobean shell of Castle Caulfield. Further into Tyrone, the Glenmore Scenic Walk climbs through a wooded glen near Ballygawley.
To the south-east, in the shadow of the Mourne Mountains, Warrenpoint faces across Carlingford Lough, while high on the slopes above the Annalong valley hides the granite mouth of Cove Cave. Off west in County Fermanagh, a gentle loop circles Killyfole Lough, and up on the Antrim shore of Lough Neagh a ruined church keeps its old holy well at Cranfield.
Between them these places take in castles, walks, a beach, a cave and quiet water. Here are eight places to visit near Armagh.
Creevekeeran Castle
Photo: Kenneth Allen via Geograph.org.uk
Seek out Creevekeeran Castle A short way west of the city near Tynan, Creevekeeran Castle is a ruined tower standing in the quiet County Armagh countryside. Little of it survives beyond one tall wall, rising several storeys high on a rocky outcrop.
It is a protected monument, though its history is poorly recorded and no firm date can be put to it. The ruin sits alone in open farmland, so it is more a curiosity to seek out on a country drive than a visitor attraction with facilities, rewarding anyone who enjoys tracking down out-of-the-way old stone.
Coney Island
Photo: Graeme McCusker via Geograph.org.uk
Explore Coney Island North of the city, Coney Island is a small wooded island near the south-west shore of Lough Neagh, off Maghery. Trees cover its few acres, which sit out in the lough between the mouths of the Blackwater and the Bann.
On it are the remains of an old motte and a later stone tower from its days as an O'Neill stronghold. The National Trust owns the island, and boat trips run out from the shore at weekends in season, making a memorable little excursion out onto the lough.
Castle Caulfield
Photo: HENRY CLARK via Geograph.org.uk
Visit Castle Caulfield Over in County Tyrone near Dungannon, Castle Caulfield is the roofless shell of a Jacobean manor house in the village that shares its name. Three storeys of wall still stand, with tall chimney stacks and big mullioned windows of dressed sandstone.
A separate low gatehouse of dark basalt carries gun-loops and the Caulfeild coat of arms above its arch. Sir Toby Caulfeild built the house in the years around 1611 to 1619, during the Plantation period, and it is open and free to walk around, a rewarding stop for anyone drawn to Ulster's early seventeenth-century history.
Glenmore Scenic Walk
Photo: Kenneth Allen via Geograph.org.uk
Walk the Glenmore Scenic Walk A little over half an hour's drive into County Tyrone near Ballygawley, the Glenmore Scenic Walk is a short circular trail of about a mile and a quarter through Glenmore Forest, signposted off the Dungannon to Ballygawley road. From a car park on Bockets Road the path crosses a bridge and climbs steeply through a wooded glen, following the river up the valley, with an optional detour to a viewpoint and wooden shelter looking out over pastured hillsides.
The unsurfaced paths are steep in places, with big drops to the river, so take care with children. It makes a quiet woodland walk of around forty-five minutes.
Warrenpoint Beach
Photo: Eric Jones via Geograph.org.uk
Discover Warrenpoint Beach South-east towards the Mourne Mountains, Warrenpoint sits at the head of Carlingford Lough in County Down, a former Victorian resort and working port framed by the mountains and the Cooley hills across the water. The shore here is a mixed sand-and-shingle foreshore rather than a sandy swimming beach, running below a promenade past a restored park and bandstand.
The Edwardian sea baths of 1908 still stand, though closed, and the town has a harbour with fishing boats and a market square. It was designated a bathing water in 2025, and the drive down makes a pleasant seaside outing.
Killyfole Lough
Photo: Kenneth Allen via Geograph.org.uk
Walk around Killyfole Lough Off west in County Fermanagh, between Lisnaskea and Rosslea, Killyfole Lough is a small lough set in gentle drumlin country. A waymarked loop of a mile and a half runs around it, mostly flat, on paths, track and boardwalk, with a bird hide and fishing stands along the way.
Reedbeds, open water and wet woodland make it good for birds, and an old crannog shows in the water when the level drops. Parking and picnic spots serve this quiet reserve, which repays the longer drive out with an easy, peaceful walk far from the crowds.
Cranfield Church & Holy Well
Photo: Kenneth Allen via Geograph.org.uk
Seek out Cranfield Church & Holy Well Up on the Antrim shore of Lough Neagh, at Churchtown Point, Cranfield Church is a ruined medieval church standing in its old graveyard by the water. Little more than the low flint walls survive, with a holy well on the shore just to the east, long tied to a local saint.
Pilgrims have come to the well over the centuries, especially in early summer. The ruin and the well sit together in a quiet spot right beside the lough, a peaceful and atmospheric place to seek out on a day-trip north from Armagh.
Cove Cave
Photo: Eric Jones via Geograph.org.uk
Explore Cove Cave Deep in the Mourne Mountains in County Down, Cove Cave is a granite cave high on the slopes of Cove Mountain, above the upper Annalong valley. It is a rounded opening in a rocky spur with a large mouth, a shallow boulder-strewn interior and water running out from within.
Reaching it is a hillwalk of several miles from the Carrick Little car park up the valley, with a short scramble at the end. This is a mountain feature for walkers rather than a roadside stop, so it makes a proper day out for those happy to head south and take to the hills.
FAQs
How far is Coney Island from Armagh?
Coney Island lies about 20 km north of Armagh, out in Lough Neagh off Maghery, and can be reached by boat trips that run from the shore at weekends in season.
Which castles can you see near Armagh?
Near Armagh you can visit the lone ruined tower of Creevekeeran Castle to the west and, over in County Tyrone, the roofless Jacobean shell of Castle Caulfield near Dungannon.
Is there a good beach within reach of Armagh?
Warrenpoint, around 38 km south-east of Armagh at the head of Carlingford Lough, has a sand-and-shingle foreshore below its promenade, framed by the Mourne Mountains.
Conclusion
From lone ruined towers to a granite cave high in the mountains, the country around Armagh holds far more than you might expect. Close to the city, Creevekeeran Castle stands in its field, while north by Lough Neagh you can reach wooded Coney Island and, in Tyrone, the shell of Castle Caulfield and the woodland trail at Glenmore.
To the south-east, Warrenpoint looks out over Carlingford Lough and Cove Cave hides in the Mournes, while west in Fermanagh a gentle loop circles Killyfole Lough. On the Antrim shore, Cranfield keeps its old church and holy well.
Castles, walks, a beach, a cave and quiet water together show the range of this borderland, and from the fields to the hills, these are the places to visit near Armagh.
