Drumboy Lough

The water at Drumboy Lough sits dark and still, ringed by low hills that get proper atmospheric when the weather rolls in off the Mournes. It's a working reservoir rather than a beauty spot, but that's partly what makes it worth the trip - no crowds, no gift shops, just a genuine stretch of water where locals come to fish and walk.

You can do a circuit around the lough, which takes a good couple of hours depending on your pace and how often you stop to watch the light change on the water. The paths are decent without being manicured, and there's something refreshing about that. On a clear day you get views back towards the Mourne Mountains, which justifies the detour from Newry. Walkers will appreciate it more than families with small kids - there's no playground infrastructure and it's a bit remote if someone needs a bathroom.

It's free to access and works brilliantly as part of a broader Mourne exploration. If you're based at Hilltop Hideaway - that secluded pod spot about six miles away - you've got a proper outdoor itinerary building: this, a walk in the mountains proper, maybe down to the coast at Warrenpoint. The lough itself is best visited when the weather's decent; winter drizzle adds atmosphere but not much else.

Truthfully, it won't blow your mind. But if you're spending time in the area and like walking without the rigmarole, it's well worth an afternoon.