Murlough National Nature Reserve Dune Circuit

Murlough National Nature Reserve protects a 6,000-year-old sand dune system on the County Down coast, one of the oldest in Ireland, where layers of ancient dune heath, grassland and scrub have built up over millennia. The 4km circuit follows National Trust boardwalk trails through low, windswept vegetation where rabbit warrens riddle the sandy ground, before the dunes thin and the path opens onto a wide beach with the Mourne Mountains rising dramatically behind. The reserve has a unique coastal character, part heath, part dune, part shoreline, with the particular quality of Irish Sea air sharpening as you approach the water.

This dog friendly walk offers a two-part experience that most dogs find captivating. The dune circuit is rich with rabbit scent and coastal grassland, while the beach provides open space to run and direct access to the sea for swimming. Off-lead potential is limited within the nature reserve itself, as the dune habitat is sensitive and dogs must stay on the boardwalks and marked paths to protect ground-nesting birds and the fragile vegetation. The beach section is more relaxed. Livestock is not a concern. The Mourne backdrop makes this one of the most photogenic walks in Northern Ireland. Parking is available at the reserve entrance, and Dundrum village nearby has the Buck's Head Inn which welcomes dogs.