Discover Mourne Mountains

The Mourne Mountains are a granite mountain range in County Down in the south-est of Northern Ireland. They are often called the Mournes or Mountains of Mourne. This region is an area of outstanding natural beauty, partly owned by the National Trust. Views of the Mourne Mountains can be admired from miles away, including from Ardgillan Castle and Demesne. The Isle of Man and the mountains of the Lake District, as well as Snowdonia in Wales can sometimes be seen across the Irish Sea from some parts of the Mournes on clear days. The mountains are also visible from parts of Dublin when the weather is kind and clear. The highest mountain, Slieve Donard which stands at 850 m (2,790 ft) is one of the highest in Northern Ireland.

The Mournes are visited by thousands of hikers, climbers and cyclists every year. It’s the perfect destination for those who love exploring the outdoors. Schools and organisations running the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award exhibitions often visit the Mournes.

Mourne Wall

The Mourne Wall provides a convenient navigation aid when it comes to walking in the area. The Mourne Wall is a 35 kilometre dry stone wall that crosses fifteen summits. It was originally constructed to define the boundaries of the 36 km2 (8,900-acre) area of land purchased by the Belfast Water Commissioners in the late nineteenth century.

Climbing Mourne Mountains

There are a large number of granite cliffs, in the form of outcrops and tors, scattered throughout the range. This has resulted in the Mournes being one of Northern Ireland’s major rock-climbing areas since the first recorded ascents in the 1930’s. The 1998 guidebook lists 26 separate crags, with a total of about 900 routes of all grades. If you love climbing you’ll love the Mourne Mountains.

Mountain Vegetation & Wildlife

A vast array of vegetation and wildlife can be found on the Mournes. The most common are heathers and gorse. Other plants that grow in the area include harebell, roseroot, wild thyme and heath spotted orchids as well as bog cotton.

Sheep graze high into the mountains. The range is also home to birds, including the common raven, peregrine falcon, wren and buzzard, as well as the native meadow pipit, grey wagtail, stonechat and snipe. The golden eagle, a former inhabitant, has not been seen in the Mournes since 1836.