Mourne Way
The Mournes are a wonderfully compact range of mountains crowned by Ulster's highest summit, Slieve Donard. From all over County Down the dome of Donard and the serrated tors of Bearnagh and Binnian can be seen crowning a skyline of graceful peaks. The gentler foothills and surrounding farmlands are equally beautiful in their own pastoral way. Not surprisingly the Mournes are a magnet for walkers, and the 26-mile long Mourne Way marries many of the best features of Mourne country walking. Following a mixture of forest trails and mountain paths this route is almost entirely off-road as it travels through the foothills of the Mournes, from Newcastle on the Irish Sea, to Rostrevor on Carlingford Lough.
| County | Distance | OS Map | Terrain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Down | 26 miles (42 km) | Sheet 29 | The route follows forest paths and mixed mountain terrain. Steep in places |
| Start Town / Village | Finish Town / Village | Grid References | Points of Interest |
| Newcastle | Rostrevor | Starts at J376311 Ends at J185180 | Newcastle, Tollymore Forest Park, Rostrevor Forest Park, Rostrevor |
Route Description
The Mourne Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty is a unique, largely granite landscape shaped by ice and man, with stunning vistas of coast, sea and countryside. The high mountains are accessed by old smuggling paths like the Trassey Track and the Brandy Pad. They were heavily used in the 18th and 19th century when the Isle of Man was outside the control of the British Customs and Excise. The wild Mourne coast made a perfect entry point for smuggled goods that were landed under the cover of darkness and carried through the mountains on ponies.
Although much of the notable history along the route of the Mourne Way dates to no more than the 17th century, there are occasional reminders of habitation from much earlier times. Close to the end of the section through Tollymore Forest a small signpost indicates the way to a rocky mound and copse of trees. This is the King’s Grave, a megalithic tomb dating from 1000-1500 BC.
Many of the Mourne peaks are formed of granite which in the past was quarried extensively and shipped around the world. In the Mournes, you will also see many massive dry-stone walls (locally known as ‘ditches’ ) which have been built from this hard rock.
Of particular interest at the end of the walk is Rostrevor Oakwood National Nature Reserve. This is a mature oak woodland covering 41 acres on a steep west-facing slope overlooking Carlingford Lough. Such woodlands are rare in Northern Ireland and at Rostrevor the wood, though natural in form, is possibly the product of regeneration after extensive felling during the late 1730s. Although the woods are not strictly on the Ulster Way route, a fifteen-minute stroll along a good path will give you a flavour of them.
