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Start at the free public car park in Scarva Park. Use the main park driveway back to Old Mill Road, then follow the village pavements along Main Street to the canal. Cross using the separate footbridge beside Scarva Bridge and turn left onto the west-bank towpath. Take care at the park entrance and the unmarked road crossing by the bridge.
Follow the canal south through the fields, keeping the water on your left. The route passes Lough Shark, also called Acton Lake, which supplied water to the summit level of the canal. Continue beside the canal to Poyntzpass and cross Railway Street carefully at the canal and turn around on the short public towpath section immediately south of the road bridge. Return by the same towpath, footbridge and village approach to Scarva Park.
Allow about three hours for the 10 km return including a short stop. The route is mostly level and surfaced, with a short village pavement section and a gentle slope on the park approach. The canal has open water edges and the towpath is shared with cyclists. Keep dogs on a short lead, leave room for passing users and follow any maintenance notices. Parking spaces are limited. Toilets are beside the park car park; check opening signs and return before any advertised gate closing time.
Route and access information: Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council, getactiveabc.com/towpath/ and getactiveabc.com/parks/scarva-park/; OutmoreNI, outmoreni.com/trail/newry-canal-way/ and its Section 3 and 4 walking maps. Checked 4 October 2026.
Cover photograph: Newry Canal and towpath at Scarva, Eric Jones, 18 April 2019, https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/6131054, via Wikimedia Commons. CC BY-SA 2.0, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/. Original photograph, unmodified.
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