About
The Mournes are the highest and most dramatic mountain range in Northern Ireland, and challenging paths and tracks cross 526 hectares of them above Newcastle, including Slieve Donard, the tallest peak in Northern Ireland. The range was immortalised in Percy French's 1896 song 'Mountains o' Mourne' and is credited with influencing C.S. Lewis's The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. From Donard Park the Glen River Path climbs through the trees to the saddle between Donard and Commedagh, crossed by the Mourne Wall; on a clear day the summit looks over Murlough Dunes to the Isle of Man. South of Newcastle, Bloody Bridge recalls a massacre during the 1641 rebellion, and the Mourne Coastal Path opens up a mostly inaccessible shoreline. Reviewers describe a straightforward climb of three to four hours there and back. One tip from visitors: the upper path can be icy in winter. Dogs are welcome on all the trails, on a lead by law wherever livestock graze.
Check today’s timesSee all times
- CountrysideDawn to dusk
Opening times may change at short notice.
The mountain countryside is open from dawn to dusk on the National Trust calendar.
The route up Slieve Donard is a steep mountain path with steps and uneven ground; come prepared for mountain weather.
Ulsterbus service 20 runs between Belfast and Newcastle.
Photo: The Mourne Wall and summit tower on Slieve Donard. Colin Park, CC BY-SA 2.0. Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Slieve_Donard_summit_-_geograph.org.uk_-_5220392.jpg. Licence: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0. Resized and cropped for display; derivatives retain the source licence.
PricingFreeFree for all visitors
Free entry for everyone
Entry
Free for everyone
Pricing details
The mountains are free to visit for everyone; the National Trust publishes no admission charge. Parking arrangements are separate.
ParkingParking not known
The Trust's page does not say how parking is charged.
Parking details
For Slieve Donard, park in Donard Park, Newcastle, and follow the Glen River path from there. For the Mourne Coastal Path, park at Bloody Bridge on the A2, 2 miles south of Newcastle. Neither is described as a National Trust car park and the National Trust publishes no parking charge.
The National Trust notes toilet facilities in the car park.
Reviews & Tips
No reviews yet
No reviews yet. Be the first to share your experience!
Pins
No pin photos yet
