Slieve Donard, Co Down

THE IRISH TIMES BOOK OF IRISH WALKS THE IRISH TIMES BOOK OF IRISH WALKS Slieve Donard, Co Down Starting point Newcastle N Bloody Bridge, 5km FINISH south of Newcastle on 1 kilometre the A2 to Annalong. 1 mile iver Glen R Time Mourne Slieve W Commedagh About three-and-a-half all hours. Brandy P ad Slieve Donard A2 Suitability Cove Mt. Presents little in the Bloody Bridge Bloody Bridge River way of navigational ll START a problems. It is entirely Slievelamagan W ne To Kilkeel, r u o Warrenpoint and Newry on tracks and, at higher © IRISH TIMES STUDIO M altitude, it follows the The view of Slieve Donard and Rocky Mountain from Annalong Valley, Co Down. Photograph: Robby Garbett handrail of the Mourne Wall. Accommodation Map Newcastle offers a full range of Ordnance Survey of Northern Ireland: The accommodation. Full details from Smugglers’ trail Mournes, 1:25,000 Newcastle Tourist Office, 048-43722222. The south Co Down uplands and the Mourne Mountains offer some of the granite has a worldwide reputation, and stone rock-climbing on sturdy granite. Divided Years finest, and most accessible, walks in Ireland, writes John G O’Dwyer from here was transported in the 1930s to is the name for the best-known route in this Belfast and used to construct the Stormont area. When it was first ascended by an English PPROACHING Newcastle from There is, however, no need to wait for such a parliament building. More recently, local gran- climber, John Dunne, in 1994, it was regarded Newry, the initial appearance is of yet development to enjoy the South Down uplands, ite formed part of the base for the 9/11 memori- as the hardest natural rock climb in the world. another mundane beach, beer and as they already offer some of the finest, and al in New York City. Your own more modest ascent to Donard’s burger resort. Avert your gaze most accessible, walks in Ireland. Tackling After about 90 minutes the unmistakable 850m summit is complete when you come Aupwards, however, and you will be Slieve Donard, the highest peak in Ulster, may line of the Mourne Wall looms ahead. Ireland’s upon a sturdy tower on the Mourne Wall and inexorably drawn to the great mountains tow- seem a daunting prospect, but it can actually be answer to China’s Great Wall is about two an untidy summit cairn. On a clear day the ering above. Indeed, when Percy French was accomplished in about three hours by following metres high and a metre wide and meanders astounding view stretches north to the Scottish moved to write his famous lines about the a track that leads directly to the summit from for 35km across some of Co Down’s most capti- Hills, south to the Wicklow Mountains and east Mountains of Mourne sweeping down to the Donard Park in Newcastle. vating summits. It was constructed to protect to the Isle of Man. sea, Newcastle was surely the spot he had in A much better outing, however, involves the water sources of the Silent Valley Reservoir. Having imbibed fully of this deeply alluring mind. starting from the memorably named Bloody Today it serves mainly as a welcome handrail panorama, descend steeply northwest for Certainly, Co Down’s tourist Mecca enjoys a Bridge, five kilometres outside Newcastle. for walkers. about 30 minutes on a path alongside the superb location and recently has been trying to Begin by following a track that labours uphill Now part company with the Brandy Pad and Mourne Wall. When the going levels out, leave reduce its dependence on the climatic vagaries beside the Bloody Bridge River. This is the follow the wall northwards towards Donard. the wall and follow a trail to your right, which of seaside tourism by looking instead towards Brandy Pad route, an old smugglers’ trail once The going is of breath-robbing steepness, and drops into the jaws of the Glen River Valley. the towering Mournes. Proposals for a Mourne used to transport illicit cargos of liquor via the you will be glad of an opportunity to stop and Eventually your route enters Donard Wood Mountains National Park, which would turn Hare’s Gap to the other side of the mountains. gaze across the Annalong Valley towards and a sometimes-confusing maze of tracks. Newcastle into the activity-tourism capital for As you ascend this well-trodden path you will Binnian, Lamagan, Cove and Beg. These hand- Stick close by the Glen River, which leads you Northern Ireland, are already well in train. notice a disused quarry on the left. Mourne some hills are famous for offering high-quality directly back to Donard Park. irishtimes.com 26 27 irishtimes.com.

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