On the south side of Slieve Croob with a panoramic view of the Mourne mountains. Tripod dolmen with capstone gracefully balanced on three tall supporting stones. Castles Many of the mountains have names beginning "Slieve", from the Irish sliabh, meaning "mountain". [12] Mountains [ edit ] The Mourne Wall on Slieve Donard, looking west The eastern Mournes seen from Annalong Wood Sheep graze high into the mountains, and the range is also home to birds, including the raven, peregrine falcon, wren, buzzard, meadow pipit, grey wagtail, stonechat and snipe. The golden eagle, a former inhabitant, has not been seen in the Mournes since 1836. Experience the outstanding scenery of the MourneGullion Strangford UNESCO Global Geopark. Discover the majestic mountains, our primordial forests, and the soft shoals of Strangford Lough in this expansive area. But, to help you plan your trip, here is a complete guide to visiting the Mourne Mountains. What are the Mourne Mountains? The Mournes

The Mourne Mountains & Ring of Gullion is brimming with picturesque towns and villages and at its heart is Newry city. Visit the fishing town of Kilkeel and head to The Nautilus Centre and Mourne Maritime Visitor Centre to learn about the local fishing and maritimeheritage, andsee how nets and boats are mended. You might even get to sample some ofKilkeel’sfamous king prawns. Enjoy a scenicpint at the shores of Strangford Lough, the largest sea lough in the UK and Ireland and plan your adventure to its many mini islands. Venture through the wooded glens of Castlewellan and pop by the castle. Dedicated walkers who complete the trail will receive a special Pilgrim’s Passport and certificate, to remember their journey. On this part of your walk, you will be able to see the impressive Lough Shannagh and Ben Crom Reservoir to your right. Tomkieff, S I, and Marshall, C E. 1935. The Mourne dyke swarm. Quarterly Journal of the Geological Society of London, 91, 251–92.

Mournes Activity map

Rostrevor Forest is near the village of Rostrevor, County Down, between the Mourne Mountains and Carlingford Lough, in the Mourne Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The first trees, primarily sitka spruce, douglas fir and pine, were planted in 1931. Richey, J E. 1927. The structural relations of the Mourne Mountains (Northern Ireland). Quarterly Journal of the Geological Society of London, 83, 653–88. From the rugged granite peaks of the mountains to the picturesque coastline below, the Mournes region is an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. This guide map has information about climbing, rambling or relaxing in the area. Pitfield, Mankelow, Cooper, Cameron, Lusty, Shaw, Linley (2012). County Down and Belfast: mineral resource map of Northern Ireland (PDF) (Map) . Retrieved 14 October 2019. {{ cite map}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list ( link) The farmland landscape of the Mournes is a result of centuries old agricultural practices. The earliest farmers began the laborious process of clearing the land of its Ice Age legacy of countless granite boulders. With the use of seaweed as field manure and lime to reduce soil acidity, the area under cultivation spread throughout the lowlands and pushed slowly up hillsides. Gradually the landscape which we associate with Mourne farmland became established, of which nothing is more evocative than the network of drystone walls - called ditches - which criss-cross the coastal plain. The skills which built them are still very much alive today. Built Heritage of Mourne AONB

After a short distance, the wall ends abruptly and is replaced by a fence. Continue beside the fence until the wall reappears. Cross the fence just before the reinstated wall and follow a path north through peat hags. The path is firm underfoot and generally quite dry; there are a few soggy patches but they are easily avoided. After about 450m the path joins an old bog road. Kilmorey Arms Hotel: Stylish hotel in the southeast corner of the Mourne Mountains and not far from Cranfield Beach. Practising a Leave No Trace ethic is very simple: Make it hard for others to see or hear you and LEAVE NO TRACE of your visit. For more information on Leave No Trace, please visit www.leavenotraceireland.org Due to its location at the centre of the range, the Slieve Doan walk offers breathtaking 360-degree views of the Mournes from all directions. On clear days, the Mourne Mountains can be seen from the Isle of Man [13] and Dublin. [14] Highest summits [15] [16] ( MountainViews Online Database [a])Whether you’re sailing between the islands, or exploring the spectacular countryside, the OSNI Strangford Lough Activity map is a guide to the area. Hiking Slieve Doan for sunset or sunrise is your best option if incredible views are your main point of interest – watching the sun rise or set over the majestic Mournes truly is an experience that is out of this world. Ben Crom Reservoir is upstream of Silent Valley in the Kilkeel River valley, and supplies the same areas. It was constructed between 1953 and 1957. Slieve Doan is one of the most manageable, yet rewarding hikes in the Mournes. So, if you fancy stretching your legs, here is everything you need to know about the Slieve Doan hike. The closest major town to the Mourne Mountains is Newcastle, where the trail to Slieve Donard starts from the main car park. The best places to see in the Mourne Mountains Silent Valley Reservoir.