Northern Ireland

Murlough south end nature trail

Welcome to Murlough National Nature Reserve, a fragile 6000-year-old sand dune system cared for by the National Trust and managed as Ireland's first nature reserve since 1967. This trail will take you through Murlough's wide range of habitats, including heathland, species-rich grassland, gorse and bracken scrub, and woodland, plus points of historical interest along the way.

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Total steps: 10

Start point

Murlough Car Park, grid ref: J394338

Step 1

Start at the main Murlough Car Park at The Cottage Café. Enter the Reserve through the pedestrian gate in the centre of the car park. Turn left and follow the boardwalk.

Step 2

Follow the boardwalk to spaghetti junction, where the boardwalks meet.

Step 3

Continue down the boardwalks until you reach a gap in the dunes to the south where you can take in a great view of the Mournes Mountains.

Step 4

This brings you out onto Murlough beach. To find Step 5 go onto the beach and turn left. Follow on past a black marker post until you reach the next yellow post.

Step 5

Turn left back onto the Reserve from the beach.

Step 6

You have found yourself on the aptly named Archaeology Path. Follow this path until you reach the next yellow post.

Step 7

This step brings you to the area that is home to colonies of the endangered marsh fritillary butterfly.

Marsh fritillary

The beautiful marsh fritillary butterfly spends the winter as a caterpillar and can be seen in flight from late May and June. Sadly its numbers are declining all over Europe. The UK is considered a stronghold for this butterfly, however, and it's a priority species in Northern Ireland. The caterpillar feeds on devil's bit scabious: a tall purple flowered plant in full bloom in late August and September. This plant also provides a very valuable nectar source for other butterflies, particularly in late summer.

Step 8

When you reach the yellow post marked 8, you'll find 'Tomorrow's Heathland Heritage' site with its vast array of bell and ling heather.

Heathland habitat

August is the month to appreciate the Murlough heathland in its full glory. Look for the two species of heather: bell heather and common heather or ling. Bell heather's flower heads are purple and flower slightly earlier than the pink ling heather, making for an attractive contrast. Thousands of years of rain have washed out the calcium from the sand, allowing for more acid-loving plants to flourish. Bell and ling heather both grow on the older dunes and this unusual dune heathland remains a priority habitat to preserve.

Step 9

Turn left and follow the path to get good views of Dundrum Castle and the farmland that used to be a satellite landing ground for bombers during the Second World War.

Step 10

Continue on the path that curves to the right to bring you to the Exmoor Kraal. On reaching the gravel lane, turn left (south) and return to the car park – 0.75 miles (1.2 km).

End point

Murlough Car Park, grid ref: J394338

Trail map

Visitor walking across the sand dunes at Murlough National Nature Reserve, County Down, Northern Ireland

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Murlough North Point nature trail

Discover the beauty of Murlough with a walk through this National Nature Reserve, home to 22 species of butterfly.

Woodland at Murlough National Nature Reserve

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Murlough Woodland Walk

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Keel Point, Dundrum, County Down, BT33 0LW

02843751467

murlough@nationaltrust.org.uk

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Murlough south end nature trail

Total steps: 10