Mourne Way

Down

This route is almost entirely off road, traversing the foothills of the Mourne Mountains from Newcastle on the Irish Sea to Rostrevor on Carlingford Lough.

The Mourne Way starts at Newcastle visitor information centre and heads for Tollymore Forest Park and the 10m-high Cascade Falls. A section following the Shimna River leads to the Trassey Track, one of the busiest walkers' routes into the Mournes. The path passes beneath the steep northern slopes of Slieve Meelmore and around the northwestern base of Slieve Meelbeg to reach Fofanny Reservoir. A road section leads to Ott Mountain car park from where begins the ascent of Butter Mountain (500m), the highest point of the route, with fantastic views over the northwestern Mournes. A steep descent is made to the road at Spelga Pass.

After crossing the infant River Bann (the longest river in Northern Ireland) the route contours around the base of Slievenamiskan and Hen Mountain. A mountain track is followed up the Rocky River valley towards Pigeon Rock Mountain.

Rough, sometimes wet, ground follows to gain the col between Rocky Mountain and Tornamrock. After passing along the base of Altataggart Mountain and a brief climb onto the lower slopes of Tievedockaragh, the open country is left for a forestry section and gradual descent to the official finish at Kilbroney Park above Carlingford Lough.

The Mourne Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty is a unique, largely granite landscape shaped by ice and man, with fine views of coast, sea and countryside.

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Details:

Path Type:	Northern Ireland Quality Routes
Waymark:	Orange fern frond on blue background with path name
Attributes:	Northern Ireland Quality Walks Paths marked on OS mapping AONB Moorland
Start:	J375309 - Visitor Information Centre, Newcastle, Down
Finish:	J186180 - Kilbroney Park, Rostrevor, Down
Open Date:	2007
Web Sites:	WalkNI - Mourne Way

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Publications, Badges and Certificates:

External download	Mourne Way - Walker's Guide  (Walk Northern Ireland  - 2016 )
External download	Mourne Mountains - Walker's Guide  (Walk Northern Ireland  - 2017 )
Guidebook	Mournes Walks  (O'Brien Press Limited  - 2015 3rd edition )

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