Mourne Mountains
COUNTRY HIGH POINT
1 J375306 The route begins from Donard car park, which sits at the southern end of Newcastle. Walk to the south-western corner of the car park and follow an access road to reach a fork. Keep left as the road rises gently through parkland, then keep left when it splits again. From here a path enters the lovely woodland of Donard Forest Park and climbs alongside the Glen River to reach a bridge. Go left over the bridge, bear right at its end and continue upstream where the path can be a little rough underfoot. Keep on to next bridge, cross this then go left, from where a better path rises alongside the northern bank of Glen River. Soon a marvellous view of Newcastle and the sandy curve of Dundrum Bay opens out. In time the path gains the upper bridge.
2 J369299 Don’t cross the bridge, instead continue straight on along a superbly engineered path – flanked with rowan and Scots Pine – that ascends gradually south-west past a wonderfully preserved Ice House. This was built during the
19th century as part of the
Donard Lodge estate and was used to provide ice for desserts and cooling wines. The steep, northern slopes of Slieve Donard now come into view as the woodland is left behind. The crystal clear waters of the Glen River plummet downhill while the glen is surrounded by mountains like Slieve
Commedagh – it is a wonderful location. Eventually the path crosses the Glen River via stepping stones.
3 J352283 The fantastic path climbs steadily south towards a saddle separating Slieve Donard and Slieve Commedagh with a stunning outlook extending across Dundrum Bay to the distant St John’s Point Lighthouse.
In turn the path curves right then rises all the way to the top of the saddle beside the incredible Mourne Wall.
It is here that you can appreciate the true extent of the engineering involved in the wall’s construction, which is in fantastic condition. The wall has a stile in it, so a decision can be made as to which side to choose depending on the direction of the wind.
4 J350279 Turn left for a steep pull along a path, ascending in an easterly direction for just over half a mile to gain the top of Slieve Donard. The broad summit is marked
with a large cairn at a Mourne Wall junction, which now drops south into the Annalong Valley. The outlook is absolutely stunning, taking in a large portion of Central Mournes, including Slieve Binnian and Slieve Bearnagh and out over the Irish Sea.
5 J358277 It is then a matter of retracing steps, taking care on the steeper sections back to the saddle before descending alongside the Glen River, enjoying the magnificent scenery, back to the start.