Magic Roads

These will make your mind numb!

Basically this is the deal: You drive to the bottom of a hill and turn off the engine of your car. You slip the car into neutral and let off the brakes and….. your car rolls gently up the hill. Impossible, yet you can feel it happening and see it happening with your own eyes!

Of course it is impossible to roll uphill and the reality is that the upward slope of the road is an optical illusion, albeit a totally convincing one, and you are rolling down a hill. Still, it’s a weird feeling.

Where to find a Magic Road

There are two very well known ones, there may be more and if so I would love to hear about them!

1. Comeragh Mountains, Co Wateford

This is a bit tricky to find, but the Comeragh Mountains are incredibly beautiful and you will enjoy the search!

On the road from Dungarvan to Waterford (N25), turn left onto a road signposted Comeragh Drive (R767). From there follow signs to Mahon Falls. You will first turn left at a crossroad, then right onto a narrow road. You will shortly start desending a hill. At the bottom of the hill there is a single tree – a rag tree – stop here, but the car in neutral, let off the brakes and let the car roll!

Map Coordinates: 52.217903, -7.531496

Here are some people experiencing the magic!

3. Near Dundalk, Co Louth

From the town of Dundalk take the R173 towards Carlingford for about 6-7 miles. Just after a Texaco petrol station take a left turn. Continue until you come to a T junction, turn right, then immediately left. You will be going uphill at this point – go to the top of the hill, then down the other side until you reach a hut by the side of the road. Stop here, let off the brakes and back up the hill you will go!

Map coordinates: 54.022041, -6.292524

Skip to 2.20 in the video below to see this hill do its thing.

Map of Magic Roads in Ireland

Published: December 19, 2008 | Updated: March 31, 2017 | Image Credits

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16 Comments

  • Martha says:

    There is one in Moncton, NB Canada….we call it Magnetic Hill.

  • Crea Crosbie says:

    Magic Tree in Comeragh Mountains Cut Down !
    Wlrfm (Official) The Magic Tree on Mahon Falls has been cut down by vandals. This is mindless blackguarding. If you have any info about who is responsible for this please pass it on to Tramore Gardai. Thanks to Sean Murphy from Mahon Bridge for these pictures http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/album.php?fbid=179265818780820&id=139214626119273&aid=36191

  • Alan Murphy says:

    I was on the magic road in Louth over 10 years ago. CREEPY!

  • Caroline says:

    The magic road that Rachael talks about is actually at Spelga Dam which is another reservoir close to SilentValley reservoir.Yes, there’s two! It’s great fun though wherever it is!

  • john p says:

    exit the n11 for bray Co. Wicklow at the kilcrony exit and your car will seem to roll too far up the slip road-water also flows “up”this piece of road weird!!

  • Mel says:

    I also hear there is one in Cypress. Not sure where but saw it on You Tube.

  • rachael says:

    The first one I ever seen was at Silent Valley in Northern Ireland (County Down). It’s in the Mourne Mountains so it is an illusion but that one in Omeath (near Dundalk – the one you mentioned) is great. That’s in no mountains. Someone said it has to do with water. Silent Valley is the resevoir that provides water to Belfast and the one in Omeath is next to a massive water tank. Either way the Omeath one is the best thing ever.

  • Jay says:

    There is also a magic road in the Dublin Mountains 10 minutes from Tallaght/Rathfarnam at a place called view point. On the road towards Johnney Foxes that goes downhill theres a tree on your left stop your car with your front wheels just before the treewith your car in neutral turn off your engine and release your brakes and the car will roll uphill. Enjoy

  • mark holt says:

    there is also one near aughrim co.wicklow well worth a visit

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