Mourne Mountains & Slieve Donard (Grade: Strenuous) - Sunday 29 September

Name: Mourne Mountains & Slieve Donard (Grade: Strenuous) - Sunday 29 September
Start: 2024-09-29T10:30:00+01:00
Location: Meelmore Lodge Accommodation and Amenity Site

Schedule

Sun Sep 29 2024 at 10:30 am

UTC+01:00

Location

Meelmore Lodge Accommodation and Amenity Site | Newcastle, NI

Always one of our most popular hikes, with stunning views.....
An opportunity to climb the highest mountain in Northern Ireland, Slieve Donard (849 metres).
Grade: Strenuous
Cost: €35
Booking on this hike is essential. To book go to https://mountaintrails.ie/hikes-beyond-wicklow/slieve-donard-mourne-mountains/
or call +353 (0)86 4466997.
Meeting point: Meelmore Lodge car park, Trassey Road, 10.30am
OSNI Activity Map: The Mournes
Height gain: 900m (2950ft.)
Distance: 17km (10.5 miles)
(Please note: to do this hike you must have good waterproof walking boots, worn in by you, and a waterproof jacket and trousers. Without these items you will regrettably be excluded from participating.)
We begin our hike at the Meelmore Lodge car park, (toilet facilities), and soon find ourselves following the Trassey river into the mountains. A steady climb brings us to the Hare’s Gap where we follow the Mourne Wall over Slievenagogh and Slieve Commedagh, the second highest mountain in this range. From here the views over the reservoirs of the Silent valley to the south and to Tollymore forest and Newcastle to the north are magnificent. We descend again before a final re-ascent to the summit of Slieve Donard, from the large Bronze Age cairn at the summit there are lovely views over Newcastle and the Irish Sea. Making our way down the southern flank on the mountain we make our return by the Brandy Pad, a well-made path famous for being an old smugglers route inland.