Kilkeel is the largest fishing port in Northern Ireland, sitting in the flat coastal plain between the Mourne Mountains and the Irish Sea. The southern Mournes rise directly behind the town, offering some of the finest and least-crowded walking in the range, and the Mourne Coastal Route threads east to Annalong and beyond.

A genuine, unpretentious fishing port with excellent fresh fish and direct access to the quieter southern Mournes, Kilkeel makes an excellent and less crowded alternative to Newcastle for those wanting to explore the less-visited southern side of the range.