Templetown Beach In Louth: Parking, Swimming + Things To Do

If you’re in search of beaches near Carlingford, it’s hard to beat Templetown Beach.

With its alluringly sheltered location, Blue Flag status and a name referencing the Knights Templar, Templetown Beach is one of the most seductive corners of the gorgeous Cooley Peninsula.

In the guide below, you’ll find info on everything from where to get parking to what to do while you’re there.

Some quick need-to-knows about Templetown Beach

Although a visit to Templetown Beach is fairly straightforward, there are a few need-to-knows that’ll make your visit that bit more enjoyable.

1. Location

Situated on a beautifully unspoilt stretch of coast looking out toward the Irish Sea, Templetown Beach lies in the furthest southeast corner of the Cooley Peninsula. It’s a 20-minute drive from Carlingford and a 30-minute drive from Dundalk.

2. Parking

Considering its remote location, Templetown Beach boasts a surprisingly large car park (here on Google Maps)! Just keep in mind that, as this is one of the more popular beaches in Louth, parking can be hard to come by in summer.

3. Swimming

Templetown Beach proudly boasts a Blue Flag status beach thanks to the quality of its water and swimming, kite surfing and all sorts of other watersports take place. Lifeguards on patrol during the bathing season from 11am to 6pm (Weekends in June; Everyday – July and August; First two weekends in September). 

4. Blue Flag

Only 81 beaches in Ireland have Blue Flag status and Templetown is one of them! The award is given to beaches and marinas with excellent water quality and those who maintain high safety standards. So basically, if you like getting your feet wet then this is one of the country’s finest beaches to do just that!

5. Water safety (please read)

Understanding water safety is absolutely crucial when visiting beaches in Ireland. Please take a minute to read these water safety tips. Cheers!

About Templetown Beach

An expansive gently sloping beach consisting of sand and shingle, Templetown Beach is found in an area backing onto sandy dunes. 

It’s also probably the furthest flung corner of the Cooley Peninsula, so although it takes a while to reach, that isolation is also one of the biggest reasons for its popularity. But even despite that, it’s still fairly simple to get to interesting nearby spots like Greenore (with its ferry) and Fitzgerald’s Bar and Restaurant (and thus, access to the sublime Annaloughan Loop Walk). 

The Blue Flag status is also another great reason for the beach’s popularity and you’ll get plenty of people taking advantage of the superb waters here to enjoy watersports such as swimming, surfing, body boarding and kite surfing.

And don’t forget about the rather curious history of this spot too. Remember when I mentioned the Knights Templar?

Well, following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the infamous Catholic military order took ownership of this area and used the Cooley Peninsula as a centre for their operations. And though they haven’t been active for a good 700 years or so, Templetown Beach still pays homage to them in its name. 

These days, Templetown is a much more sedate place but definitely don’t miss a chance to visit this cracking corner of the Cooley Peninsula!

Things to do at Templetown Beach

There’s a handful of things to do if you’re planning a visit to Templetown. Here’s a couple of ideas to get you started.

1. If you’re looking to walk/swim

As I’ve mentioned here already, if watersports are your thing then there are few better places to be. With clean water, lifeguards around throughout the summer and plenty of room, it’s a great spot to get into the sea and enjoy the thrill of riding these waves. 

But if watersports aren’t your thing, then you can simply head down here for a relaxing stroll and take in the gentle sound of the waves breaking against the shore while enjoying views down towards Dunany Point and the rocky Clogherhead headland. 

2. If you’re just in the area

The beach itself isn’t the most scenic of all the beaches in the area (there’s some pretty stiff competition!) so we wouldn’t recommend going out of your way just to see it. However, it is a fine spot to stretch your legs, especially if you’re part of the way through the Cooley Peninsula Scenic Drive, for example. 

It’s also a pretty cool thing to say that you’ve visited the furthest flung corner of the region too! And, of course, once you’re finished here there are plenty more great places to check out in the peninsula in all directions. 

Places to visit near Templetown Beach

One of the beauties of Templetown Beach is that it’s a short spin away from many of the best places to visit in Louth.

Below, you’ll find a handful of things to see and do a stone’s throw from Templetown (plus places to eat and where to grab a post-adventure pint!).

1. The Carlingford Ferry (10-minute drive)

Surrounded by soaring mountains and a vast body of water, taking the ferry across Carlingford Lough is one of the best ways to appreciate this cinematic landscape. Running between Greenore in County Louth and Greencastle in County Down, the Scenic Carlingford Ferry has a fairly short journey time of 15 minutes but unique views from the water are more than worth it!

2. The Slieve Foye Hike (20-minute drive)

And at a solid 9km, the Slieve Foye Loop is no short ramble! But then again, Slieve Foye is Louth’s tallest mountain (1,932 ft high, if you’re wondering). This looped walk takes you through some beautiful forests near the mountain’s base before emerging at a higher level to reveal stunning views of the surrounding landscape. 

3. Ravensdale Forest (20-minute drive)

A gorgeous woodland full of lush forest, pretty wildflowers and flowing waterfalls, Ravensdale Forest couldn’t be more different from Templetown Beach if you fancy a change of scene. Just a 20-minute drive away, it also features a circular loop trail that presents lovely views of the area from certain spots. 

4. The Annaloughan Loop Walk (15-minute drive)

If a day at the beach is a little too leisurely for you, then perhaps take on the magnificent Annaloughan Loop Walk? A beautiful forested trail with some deadly views of the Cooley Mountains and Dundalk Bay, the Annaloughlan Loop is an 8km looped walk that should take just under three hours to complete.

FAQs about visiting Templetown Beach in Louth

We’ve had a lot of questions over the years asking about everything from ‘How long is Templetown Beach?’ to ‘Where do you park?’.

In the section below, we’ve popped in the most FAQs that we’ve received. If you have a question that we haven’t tackled, ask away in the comments section below.