Ballykinlar to KILLOUGH.

This section begins at Ballykinlar, find a lane opposite the shop/filling station-follow this, continue through some fields until you reach sand dunes and then the beach. Look right to see an area of beach and dunes used by the Ministry of Defence.

Head northeast, and walk one and a half miles along patches of shingle  and silurian rocks( keep an eye open for Oyster Plant-one of our rarest shingle plants).

The expanse of Tyrella beach curving eastwards towards St John’s Point lighthouse comes into view. Choose to traverse along the beach or walk through the sand dunes behind the beach. In spring and summer this is a good alternative.  Interesting wild plants should be seen, including pyramidal Orchids and Sea Holly towards the end of June and early July. Beyond Tyrella and near Minerstown, Atlantic grey seals often bask on rocks just offshore.

You may need to leave the beach and walk the road for part of the way. Look out for Long Headed Poppies and White Campion on the roadside verges. Beyond Minerstown continue along the beach as it curves towards Saint John’s Point.

The main road to Killough soon leaves the coast but a right fork towards Saint John’s Point continues close to the shoreline for a mile.  From the road this mile provides a stunning vista.Lichen covered rocks in the foreground, backed by an expanse of blue water in Dundrum Bay, and the blue grey Mournes beyond. In late May, on a sunny morning, when the rocks are covered with Sea Pinks it has few equals. You can find a corbelled pig-house here ,possibly unique to the Lecale area.

Take your choice at this point - walk the road or find your way round the coast, Following the coast is more interesting but involves some awkward steps over jagged rocks.  In either case aim to reach the end of the road close to the ruin of St John’s Church  (10th century). From here follow the coast as far as possible     ( part of the Lecale Way), then join a lane and soon a road into Killough.  The stretch of coast from St John’s Point to Killough has an abundance of wild flowers. Sea Pinks, Sea Campion, Birds Foot Trefoil, Stonecrops, Sea Spurrey and Spring Squill make it a veritable rock garden.  Just one rock outcrop harbours the only known Ulster site for Sea Wormwood. In winter Killough Bay holds large numbers of wintering birds  

On a morning with sunshine, a light breeze from the southwest, and the sound of the sea in your ears, this stretch of coastline has few equals.