Take a journey back in time and follow in the footsteps of the legendary Fionn Mac Cumhaill (or Finn McCool) of the Fianna warriors.
According to legend Fionn climbed the slopes of Slieve Gullion to the lake near the summit to find a beautiful young lady sobbing on the water’s edge. Ever the gallant hero, he enquired as to why she was crying, she replied that she had dropped her golden ring in the bottomless lake. Without a moment’s hesitation Fionn ripped off his shirt and dived in, swam down to the bottom of the lake until he found the ring, grabbed it and returned to the top only to find an old hag laughing, it was the Cailleach Beara. The witch had tricked the great warrior, and as he collapsed on the lake’s shore, his body withered into that of an old man.
When Fionn came down the mountain, no-one recognised him, not even the Fianna! However, when his trustworthy Irish Hounds smelled the old man they knew him instantly racing to his side
Fionn, the Fianna, and the hounds forced the Cailleach Beara to restore Fionn to his youth, but it is said that his hair remained white, forevermore, a lasting reminder of her enchantment, and that his fate is said to befall anyone who bathes in the lake at Slieve Gullion to this very day.
Are you brave enough to dip your feet in the Cailleach Beara’s lake in Slieve Gullion?
The Cailleach Beara’s House
The huge burial cairn located on the summit of the mountain, the South Cairn, is known as The Cailleach Beara’s House and is the highest surviving passage tomb in Ireland or the UK.
You can crawl into the burial chamber via a passageway in the side of the cairn on Slieve Gullion. A skylight allows light to enter, so you don’t need a torch. The earliest documented investigation of the site dates to 1789, when the chamber was opened by locals searching for the old lady Cailleach Beara, but only a few human bones were found, did they belong to the Callieach Beara?
Are you brave enough to step inside the Cailleach Beara's House?
Note Slieve Gullion Cairn is currently closed (2026)
A Mountain Walk Exploring Slieve Gullion and the Ring of Gullion AONB Explore Slieve Gullion Mountain (573m) and the surrounding Ring of Gullion Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) on a stunning circular walk combining mountain paths, forest trails, and quiet country roads. Slieve Gullion is the centrepiece of this volcanic landscape and a key feature of the Mourne Gullion Strangford Geopark, recognised for its internationally important geology.
Follow Fionn's Giant Adventure (previously known as the Giant's Lair) at Slieve Gullion Forest Park. Follow the trail, there's so much to explore. Seek out fairies, spells, music and more. Help is at hand as you'll have fairies and warriors to help you follow the trail.
Slieve Gullion is Ireland's Mountain of Mystery. Slieve Gullion Forest Park offers walking trails, a scenic drive, an Adventure Playpark, Fionn's Giant Adventure children's story trail and a Courtyard with coffee shop.
Slieve Gullion Forest Drive is a magnificent 10km Scenic Forest Drive. A vehicle journey will take 20 minutes (approx.) along a narrow one-way road that brings you up and over the mountain. (Narrow but with plenty of places to pull in and take in the view over South Armagh, over Carlingford Lough, and beyond.)
