Bookstore
Available as paperback
and as e-book.
Mourne Mountains Attractions
Walk this Way: The Mourne Wall Trek
Between 1904 and 1922, the 22-mile (36km) dry-stone Mourne Wall and dam was built to enclose Silent Valley. The Mourne Wall Trek follows the wall in a circuit that climbs over 15 of the Mourne Mountains’ main peaks. The steep path is more than most hikers want to take on, and probably shouldn’t be attempted in a single day (though there are serious hikers who’ve done it in 1 day). But it is a fine, long walk for experienced ramblers and offers wonderful views. There are several different places where you can join the pathway, and you can hike either clockwise or counterclockwise. For more information about the route, including maps and a photo log of every stage, go to www.mournewall.co.uk.
7 Results
- Natural Attraction
Castlewellan Forest Park
Surrounding a fine trout lake and watched over by the stately mid-19th-century Castelwellan Castle (sadly closed to the public), this forest park just begs for picnics and outdoor activities. Woodland walks, a formal walled garden, and an interesting lakeside sculpture trail are… - Historic Site
Drumena Cashel
reland once had thousands of fortifications like this irregularly shaped stone-ring fort, a farmstead dating from the early Christian period; this is one of the better-preserved examples. During the age of the Viking invasions, it likely provided protection for the local population.… - Castle
Dundrum Castle
The oldest visible portions of this castle’s striking and extensive ruins date from the 12th century. This was once one of the mightiest of the Norman castles in Northern Ireland (second only to Carrickfergus), and it still commands the imagination, if nothing else. It's on the site… - Castle
Greencastle Royal Castle
The first castle on this site, built in 1261, faced its companion, Carlingford Castle, across the mouth of the lough. It was then a two-story rectangular tower surrounded by a curtain wall with corner towers. Very little of that survives; most of what you see is from the 14th… - Natural Attraction
Murlough Nature Reserve
Sand dunes, heath land, and forest, surrounded by estuary and sea, make for a lovely outing on a clear, bright day, but you'll want to bring a windbreaker and some binoculars; this is a prime habitat for a host of waders and seabirds. Take a picnic, and you may find your dessert on… - Nature
Silent Valley Mountain Park
Created by the Mourne Wall and dam, the Silent Valley Reservoir is the major source of water for County Down. Easy, well-marked paths wind around the lake, and there’s a coffee shop by the Silent Valley Information Centre. A shuttle bus takes visitors from the center to the top of… - Nature
Tollymore Forest Park
All that’s left of the once-glorious Tollymore House is this delightful 480-hectare (1,186-acre) wildlife and forest park. The park offers a number of walks up into the north slopes of the Mourne Mountains or along the Shimna River (known for its exceptionally fine salmon). The…
