Slieve Binnian
| County | Distance | OS Map |
| Down | 7 miles | Sheet 29 + Mourne Outdoor Pursuits Map (1:25,000) |
| Nearest Town | Route Shape | RouteType |
| Annalong Village | Circular | Hill, Mountain |
| Terrain | Grid Reference (Start) | Grid Reference (Finish) |
| Good tracks and hill paths | J345219 | J345219 |
This fantastic circular walking route follows the Mourne Wall to the summit of Slieve Binnian (747m), traverses between the spectacular South and North Tors before descending along a track past the Blue Lough, Annalong Forest and back to the car park.
| Point of Interest | Blue Lough and Mourne Wall |
| Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty | Mournes |
| Route Description | From the Carrick Little car park, follow a clear, stony track that rises gently between the fields. Note the boulder walls alongside, and the high mountains around the distant head of Annalong Valley. Cross a stone step stile beside an iron gate, and maybe take a look at an information board mounted nearby. Turn left to follow the Mourne Wall uphill. The wall rises steeply on the rugged slopes of Slieve Binnian, but it is an obvious line to follow almost all the way to the summit. There is a break when the wall runs into a bare face of granite, and before this point you should drift to the right and aim for a notch in the top of the mountain. Going all the way to the summit at 2449ft (747m) involves using your hands and taking care on the rock. The reward is an exceedingly fine panorama of the surrounding mountain. In clear weather it's possible to see the Isle of Man out to sea and the Wicklow Mountains beyond Dublin. Pick a way carefully around the base of the Summit Tor to continue walking along the crest of the Mountain. You cross a ruined wall and follow a clear path past the Back Castles. These are a handful of wrinkly little tors that you don't have to grapple with. Simply enjoy the views as you walk past them. The North Tor is a monstrous outcrop of granite towards the end of the crest, and the path passes it on the left side. The ground slopes away more steeply as the path wanders through the heather, past boulders and outcrops of granite on the way down to a prominent gap. Turn right on the gap and follow a clear path downhill. This passes close to the Blue Lough, and by keeping right at junctions with other paths, you'll be led down to a clear track passing a corner of Annalong Wood. Simply follow the track alongside the Forest fence and return to the iron gate in the Mourne Wall. Cross the wall using the stile and follow the track back to Carrick Little car park. Please be aware - Although, there are numerous walking routes in the Mournes, the majority of these popular walks are not formally designated public rights of way. Most routes have developed over time due to traditional use. Below 600 feet (180m) most land is privately owned and is farmed or grazed. Many of the traditional access routes cross this land or pass along farm lanes and quarry tracks. Walkers are advised to respect that they may be walking on private land and are encouraged to make themselves aware of and adhere to the principles of Leave No Trace' - www.leavenotraceireland.org Please remember that much of the land you will cross is private property and access is only available through the goodwill of the landowners. Although some areas of the countryside have been traditionally used for recreation, the public have no general rights to access such land and are only walking with the tolerance of the landowner. |
| Getting to the Start | The Carrick Little car park is at the junction of the Head Road and Oldtown Road near Annalong. The Mourne Rambler bus departs from Newcastle Bus station on a regular basis during the summer months. |
| Facilities | Toilets and refreshments available in nearby Annalong Village. |
| Accessible Toilet Facilities | No |
| Accessible Terrain | No |
| Accessible Signage | No |
| Publication | Route 4 in a pack of walks titled - 'Mourne Mountain Walks' produced by Mourne Heritage Trust |
| Publication Availability | This pack of route cards costs £5.95 and is available from a range of outlets including - Mourne Heritage Trust - 028 4372 4059 Newcastle Tourist Information Centre - 028 4372 2222 email: mht@mourne.co.uk visit www.mournelive.com |
| Share on: |  |  |  | Digg |  | StumbleUpon |  |  | Delicious | Help |
One feedback comment has been left by a reader about Slieve Binnian:
Climbed Wee Binnian and Slieve Binnian with five friends 19/08/09 starting from the carpark on the C313 and going offroad at the Cross Water Bridge completing the circular walk by following the Mourne Wall in an easterly direction back to the carpark.Tough climb to the top at Summit Tor with visibility at 20 to 50 metres throughout. Almost impossible to stay standing on Summit Tor with winds over 60 mph (my estimate).It was a great walk but have to do again to get the view. Bacon rolls in the cafe in Annalong before starting are highly recommended and fish and chips with mushy peas at the Mourne Cafe in Dundrum were outstanding.
Click on a thumbnail below to view the picture gallery for Slieve Binnian.
 |  |  | |  | |
Click on the following attachments for maps and further information on Slieve Binnian.
 | Slieve_Binnian |
Walked Slieve Binnian? Please share your rating and feedback comments.
Know a good walk that is not included on the site? Click the button below to suggest a walk to us.
