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Begin at Lower Square in Kilkeel. Head west out of the Square onto Greencastle Street. After about 3.2 km (2 miles) the road divides. Take the right fork and proceed to a T-junction, turn right. At the next junction turn left, through the marshy flood plain of the Whitewater River.
You come to a staggered crossroads, turn left, then immediately right towards Greencastle, where there is a notable Anglo-Norman castle, the ruins of the old Norman Church and mafnificent views of Mill Bay, the Eastern Mournes and Carlingford Lough.
Return back to Greencastle crossroads and turn left to cross Whitewater River. The reed marshes on your left are a nature reserve for wild fowl.
Further along the route you come to Mill Bay, an important migratory wild fowl wintering area. Your route turns right onto Corcreaghan Road, crossing the Whitewaster River again and up Chesney's Brea to the Ballyardle crossroads. At the crossroads, note the old watering trough in the stable yard wall of `Packolet', the former home of General Francis Rawdon Chesney, the discoverer and surveyor of the route of Suez Canal.
Turn left onto Ballyardle Road and then, at the fork, turn right onto Belmont Road. At the end of the Belmont Road turn left onto Newry Road and then turn right onto Drumcro Road, where you can visit The Giant's Grave, a Neolithic court grave at the back of Massforth Chapel's graveyard. At the end of the Drumcro Road there is a junction, turn right onto Mountain Road (the Burial Banks are on the right) and return to the start.
Distance: 19.3km (12 miles)
Grade: Easy
Advice: A gentle cycle mainly on the flat
Points of Interest: Cranfield Beach, Greencastle Castle, Carlingford Bay, The Giants Grave, The Burial Banksh
