Acton can be explored through a range of themes: the interpretation centre at Sluicekeeper’s Cottage, route connections at Acton Visitor Centre and Lough Shark, and historic buildings in Acton and Poyntzpass. The North South Way Peace Camino passes the Visitor Centre and the lake. Canal history and local history add to these perspectives. If you are planning a trip to Acton, you can first decide whether routes, the waterside landscape or architectural history will be your focus.

Pilgrim Routes and Canal History

The North South Way Peace Camino passes Acton Visitor Centre and Lough Shark. A regional tourism guide from 2025 also lists Acton Visitor Centre as an important stop on Saint Patrick’s Way. These are two distinct pilgrim-route connections: the North South Way Peace Camino names the Visitor Centre and the lake as points along the route; for Saint Patrick’s Way, the Visitor Centre is listed as a stop.

The Newry Canal Way is a 20-mile long-distance route from Portadown to Newry. It follows the restored towpath of the former Newry Canal. The towpath forms part of National Cycle Network Route 9 and is shared by pedestrians and cyclists. Check current trail conditions before using it.

The Guidego app offers a different way to explore the area’s history: it provides a GIS tour with information and photographs about the history of the Newry Canal. The offerings therefore serve different purposes: the towpath is a shared route, while the app provides interpretation with historical images.

Acton Lake and Lough Shark are two names for the same lake. It is considered a refuge for wildlife. The lake was enlarged during the construction of a canal. This brings together its description as a habitat and the history of its enlargement. The name Lough Shark also helps identify the lake as one of the points on the North South Way Peace Camino.

Building History in Acton and Poyntzpass

Acton Parish Church stands at the entrance to the village of Poyntzpass. Built in 1789, it replaced an earlier church commissioned by Sir Toby Poyntz in 1684. The building is listed as Grade B. Its tower bears a Georgian Memento Mori sundial by Thomas McCreash, dating from 1819. The term Memento Mori recalls the transience of life.

The year 1819 provides a shared point of reference for two different places: both the sundial on the tower of the church in Poyntzpass and Acton’s school date from that year. For a look at Acton’s own architectural history, the Mill is also of interest: it is the largest building in the village of Acton and was built around 1835. Together, these dates show different parts of the building history rather than representing a single period.

Sluicekeeper’s Cottage in Acton operates as an interpretation centre. It adds a dedicated local point of interest to the routes and building history. The themes can be chosen according to your interests: pilgrim-route connections link the Visitor Centre with Lough Shark, the Guidego app provides historical information about the Newry Canal, and the buildings tell stories from different years and places in Acton and Poyntzpass.

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