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Mourne Mountains
Mourne Mountains

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Mourne Mountains

Let the Mourne Mountains inspire you

The mountains that inspired C.S. Lewis’ Narnia chronicles, Game of Thrones® filmmakers, poets and songwriters will not fail to inspire you too.

Go trekking or hiking, take the legendary Six Peak Challenge, a walking tour or a thrilling bike ride. Maybe you’d prefer to drive a golf ball or microlight across them! As surely as they sweep down to the sea, their beauty will sweep you away.

First, let’s get our bearings

Since you ask, these 50 million year-olds are in County Down in the southeast of Northern Ireland. They also go by a few names - Mourne Mountains, or the Mountains of Mourne, or simply the Mournes. But don’t worry, it’s the same place!

If you like your scenery spectacular, this Ice Age granite range is home to the highest mountain in Northern Ireland. The daddy of them all, Slieve Donard is 850m - or 2790 ft, if you like. (By the way, ‘slieve’ is an old Irish word ‘sliabh’ meaning mountain).

Thronies - you’re up first

You’ll be delighted to know you can walk through the stunning locations from the original pilot episode and later seasons.

From Season 1, see the entrance to Vaes Dothrak at Sandy Brae. While in nearby Tollymore Forest, you can relive Theon’s escape plans from Season 3. But there are loads more locations around for you to explore.

If you try the Game of Thrones® : Doors of Thrones experience, you’ll locate some of the 10 intricately crafted doors - carved from the trees of Kingsroad - each telling the story of an episode from Season 6. Or if you download the Game of Thrones® Filming Locations Northern Ireland app, you’ll find out what scenes were filmed nearby. Spoiler alert: you’ll love it.

Get ready for the Six Peak Challenge

Whether you’re looking for a family day out or your next hiking challenge, you’re in the perfect place. The Mournes are blindingly beautiful, so enjoy every moment. If you’re blessed with a clear day, the summits of any of its 15 peaks will reward you with unforgettable panoramas.

For the famous Six Peak Challenge you’ll need higher levels of fitness to last the three days. But the images from the tops of Slieve Donard, Commedagh, Bearnagh, Binnian, Meelmore and Meelbeg will be burned into your memory forever.

Calling all adrenalin junkies

You can turn your adventure-ometer up to ‘11’ in the Mournes. Pick your adrenalin fix - rock climbing, abseiling, mountain biking, kayaking, bouldering, coasteering – you name it and it’s doable. Just hook up with a local Adventure Provider first. Then, go and dive, jump or drop to your heart’s content in the most fun-filled mountain range around.

Lose and find yourself in Tollymore Forest Park

Whatever you’re into, Tollymore Forest Park delivers in spades. Take a gentle stroll, go on a family picnic by the River Shimna or go horse riding or nature trailing – it’s big enough for everyone. There’s even room for your Game of Thrones® fan to go location spotting. You’ll also see plenty of curiosities to keep your imagination fired. Or discover that oak wood from here was used in the RMS Titanic. Amazing what you’ll find when you lose yourself here!

Discover another enchanted forest

Castlewellan Forest Park is your cycling, walking or horse-riding path to enchantment. Or you could try to solve your way to the centre of one of the world's largest hedge mazes and ring the Peace Maze bell to let everyone know. We’ll even throw in a stunning castle, forest park, nature playzone and activity centre for you.

You won’t find better places to drive – or putt!

Those of you into golf will be in dreamland here. In the Mourne kingdom, you’ll find world-class courses, like Royal County Down or ‘Our Rory’s’ club in Holywood. Treat yourself to a round at the magnificent Ardglass links course or the parkland perfection of Warrenpoint. Or discover what ‘up and down’ really means on the undulating greens at Kilkeel. And with these views, you’ll find the 19th holes spectacular too.

You can really hear the silence in Silent Valley Mountain Park

As its name suggests, Silent Valley Mountain Park is where you can truly get away from it all. As you follow the waterside, breathe in the freshest of mountain air, soak up the tranquillity or be inspired to take a stunning photo. If silence really is golden, discover this 24-karat experience for yourselves.

Boardwalk – definitely not a bored walk

When you walk the unique boardwalks crossing Murlough Nature Reserve, you’re walking among ancient history. This fragile 6,000-year-old dune system backs on to a sensational beach at Murlough Bay. You’ll have the Mournes as your stunning backdrop as you stroll, go wildlife watching or just take in the crispest of sea air. And if that doesn’t whet your appetite for a spot of grub in nearby Dundrum, nothing will.

Microlight your way across the Mournes

If your adrenalin fix still hasn’t been sated, try soaring over the Mournes on a Microlight Flight. As you can imagine, the scenery below will take your breath away. And if that wasn’t mind-blowing enough, you can even take over the controls and become honorary pilot for a while.

Become a lord of the ring – the Ring of Gullion

Reconnect yourself with nature, history and mythology in the beautiful volcanic landscape of the Ring of Gullion. Here, you’ll find a walking route to suit your tastes with Slieve Gullion at its heart. You’ll even get to watch out for the elusive species of red squirrel at two hides on route.

You’re almost there

This land of make believe, stunning scenery and adrenalin-pumping outdoor pursuits is just under a 2-hour drive from Dublin. To save yourself some time, stop off in Carlingford and catch the 15-minute ferry to Greencastle. You’ll be in the heart of things in no time.

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Number of results: 67

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Tollymore Forest Park - Arboretum Path

Address

Co Down

Type

Type:

Walking & Hiking

Follow the blue waymarker arrows along this trail, passing along the lower edge of the arboretum. The trail gently descends through a stand of semi-mature broad leaved trees before entering the forest plots area.

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Facilities

Provider Preferences
- Free (parking charges may apply)
Mourne Mountain Adventures

Kilkeel

Address

Kilkeel, County Down, BT34 4XY

Telephone
+44 (0) 07873 904 206

MourneMountainAdventures@gmail.com

Type

Type:

Walking & Hiking

Experience the beauty and adventure that hides over every peak and rolling hill in the Mournes with one of Mourne Mountain Adventures’ guided hikes. We provide you with the perfect way to gain an in-depth insight into the region’s incredible flora…

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Slieve Donard from Bloody Bridge

Address

Co Down

Type

Type:

Walking & Hiking

This walk begins in the Bloody Bridge car park (on the coast), follows the Bloody Bridge River and then follows the Mourne Wall to the summit of Slieve Donard (850m).

More Info
Facilities

Provider Preferences
- Free (parking charges may apply)
Ballyhafry & Beyond by Electric Bike– Bike Mourne

Rostrevor

Address

Rostrevor Forest Park, Rostrevor, County Down, BT33 3AA

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 4377 0714

hello@bikemourne.com

Type

Type:

Cycling Tour

Experience Mourne by road with our Self-Guided Tour of the townlands of Ballyhafry, Ballymagreehan, Ballymaginaghy & Beyond by Electric Bike.

More Info
Facilities

Parking & Transport
- On site parking
Kilkeel Harbour

Kilkeel

Address

The Nautilus Centre, Rooney Road, Kilkeel, Down, BT34 4AG

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 4176 2525

kdakilkeel@hotmail.com

Type

Type:

Sea Fishing

Kilkeel Harbour was developed in the 1800s and is now home to Northern Irelands largest fishing fleet. In the ealy days schooners exported granite, potatoes and grain and imported coal, bricks etc.
It is also home to `Salt n Pepper' the resident…

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Mourne Mountain Walk

Newcastle

Address

Newcastle Visitor Information Centre, 10-14 Central Promenade, Newcastle, County Down, BT33 0AA

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 4372 2222

newcastle.vic@downdc.gov.uk

Type

Type:

Walking Holiday

A popular approach to the Mournes. The woods fade away and a granite gravel path runs almost to the great Mourne wall. Look back down the glen to appreciate the elegant sweep of the bay.

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Cloughmor Extreme Adventures

Rostrevor

Address

The Square, Rostrevor, County Down, BT34 3EZ

Telephone
+44 (0) 77 0687 5394

info@cloughmorextreme.com

Type

Type:

Activity Centre

At Cloughmor Extreme Adventures we like to give an experience that everyone will remember.

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Ins, Outs & Whereabouts of the Silent Valley by E-Bike – Bike Mourne

Castlewellan

Address

The Forest Park, Castlewellan, County Down, BT31 9BU

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 4377 0714

hello@bikemourne.com

Type

Type:

Cycling Tour

Experience Mourne by road with our self-guided tour of the Ins, Outs and Whereabouts of the Silent Valley by Electric Bike.

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Facilities

Parking & Transport
- On site parking
Brack Tours Northern Ireland

Newry

Address

6 Margaret Street, Newry, County Down, BT34 1DF

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 3044 5060

info@bracktours.com

Type

Type:

Sightseeing

Our bespoke customized tours are carefully planned to offer the best value and memorable touring experience, in conjunction with unique accommodation providers and immersive, cultural experiences delivered by our “Giant Hosts” and Experience…

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The Narnia Trail

Rostrevor

Address

Kilbroney Park, Shore Road, Rostrevor, County Down, BT34 3AA

Telephone
+44(0)33 0137 4046

kilbroney.park@nmandd.org

Type

Type:

Walking & Hiking

The famous writer, C S Lewis, as a young boy, spent much holiday time in the Mournes and Rostrevor in particular, allowing him to imagine, dream and wonder, and inspiring his creation of the magical world of Narnia.

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Mourne Road Tours - Craft Brewery Tour

Castlewellan

Address

Drumee Gardens, Castlewellan, County Down, BT31 9EJ

Telephone
+44 (0) 7368 529 714

info@mourne-road-tours.co.uk

Type

Type:

Brewery/Distillery Tour

Northern Ireland has become one of the most prominent players in the craft beer and gin boom across the world, and this exciting tour will take you to visit three of the region’s biggest players in the industry.

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Slieve Donard (via Glen River)

Address

Co Down

Type

Type:

Walking & Hiking

Slieve Donard at 850m (2,789 ft) is the highest of the Mourne Mtns. The views from the summit are extensive and on a clear day the Isle of Man, Wicklow, Donegal, Wales and Scotland may be seen, as well as the long stretch of Newcastle Beach.

More Info
Facilities

Provider Preferences
- Free (parking charges may apply)
Mountain Sojourns

Newcastle

Address

195 South Promenade, Newcastle, County Down, BT33 0HA

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 4372 5433

info@mountainsojourns.co.uk

Type

Type:

Walking Holiday

Fiona is an internationally qualified Mountain Leader,offering informative guided mountain hikes and Nordic Walking for groups in Mourne Mountains & Forest Parks in County Down. Other activities include mountain challenges& team building activities.

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The GI Trail

Kilkeel

Address

The Nautilus Centre, Kilkeel, Co Down, BT34 4AX

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 4176 2525

gitrail.ni@gmail.com

Type

Type:

Sightseeing

The GI Trail, a Heritage Lottery Funded project aims to map out all the sites at which the American GIs were based in Northern Ireland during The Second World War.

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61 reviews
Fort Evergreen Pet & Play Farm

Warrenpoint

Address

29 Rath Road, Warrenpoint, County Down, BT34 3RX

Telephone
+44 (0) 7775 350 292

fortevergreentrips@gmail.com

Type

Type:

Open Farm

Our play farm offers a huge indoor soft play area with four dragon slides and a massive free-fall slide, Busy-Bee barrel train ride, zipline & outdoor adventure fort including slides, net bridges & climbing walls. Interact with our amazing animals…

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Facilities

Parking & Transport
- Parking (free)
Facilities

Catering
- Restaurant on Premises
Lough Shannagh

Address

Co Down

Telephone
+44 (0) 33 0137 4046

visitorservices@nmandd.org

Type

Type:

Walking & Hiking

Lough Shannagh walk leads up hill on the 'Banns Road', an off road farm track. The route circles Lough Shannagh (in an anti-clockwise direction) with a high point of 587m at Carn Mountain. It also follows and crosses the Mourne Wall on places.

More Info
Facilities

Provider Preferences
- Free (parking charges may apply)
Lough Shannagh - The Heart of the Mournes - Mountain Ways Ireland

Kilkeel

Address

The Game Keeper Lodge, 270 Moyad Road, Kilkeel, County Down, BT34 4SU

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 3057 0220

info@mountainwaysireland.com

Type

Type:

Guided Tour

Trek to the heart of The Mournes as we trace the fascinating story of Granite.We'll demonstrate this ancient art and also visit the largest and most beautiful natural mountain lake with views far below into the stunning Mountain reservoirs.

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Central Mournes

Address

Co Down

Type

Type:

Walking & Hiking

A circular route in the central Mournes taking in sites such as Annalong Wood, Slievelamagan, Ben Crom Reservoir, Cove Mountain and Annalong Valley, with views over the Irish Sea and to the Isle of Man.

More Info
Facilities

Provider Preferences
- Free (parking charges may apply)
Electric Mountain Biking on the Rostrevor Red Trail – Bike Mourne

Rostrevor

Address

Rostrevor Forest Park, Rostrevor, County Down, BT34 3AA

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 4377 0714

hello@bikemourne.com

Type

Type:

Mountain Biking Trails

Experience the exhilaration of the Rostrevor Red Mountain Bike Trail by E-Bike with our Self-Guided Trail Package

More Info
Facilities

Parking & Transport
- On site parking
Diamond Rocks - Mountain Ways Ireland

Bryansford

Address

Meelmore Lodge, 52 Trassey Road, Bryansford, County Down, BT33 0QB

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 3057 0220

info@mountainwaysireland.com

Type

Type:

Guided Tour

Geologically themed day hike through one of the most picturesque mountains passes in The Mournes, crossing The Mourne Wall to reach the fascinating ‘Diamond Rocks’.

More Info