Overview
The Mourne and Slieve Croob Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) occupies the south‑east corner of Northern Ireland, covering roughly 57,000 ha of diverse terrain. It embraces the dramatic Mourne Mountains, the rolling uplands of Slieve Croob, golden sand dunes, rocky coves, sparkling lakes and the Silent Valley Reservoir. The AONB is a patchwork of natural, built and cultural heritage that rewards every visitor with sweeping sea‑to‑mountain panoramas.
History & Background
The name “Mourne” derives from the 12th‑century Mac Mahon clan, whose settlement gave the range its modern spelling. Between 1904 and 1922 the Belfast Water Commissioners built the 22‑mile dry‑stone Mourne Wall to protect the catchment of the Silent Valley Reservoir, which today supplies water to much of County Down and Belfast. At the summit of Slieve Croob once stood a massive 19th‑century cairn, originally 70 m in circumference and 16 m high; only scattered stones remain.
What to See & Do
The Mourne Mountains
The heart of the AONB is the Mourne range, home to Northern Ireland’s highest peak, Slieve Donard (850 m). The surrounding peaks – Slieve Bearnagh, Slieve Commedagh and Slieve Binnian – are all accessible via a network of marked trails. Popular entry points include the High Mournes Scenic Loop, Donard Forest and the Silent Valley Visitor Centre.
Climbing Slieve Croob
Slieve Croob, the highest hill in the Dromara Hills, offers a compact yet rewarding hike. The most popular route starts at the Dree Hill Road car park and follows a metalled transmitter road up to the summit.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Distance (out‑and‑back) | 4.35 km (2.7 mi) |
| Estimated time | 1 h 30 min |
| Difficulty | Moderate – linear mountain route |
| Terrain | Metalled road, open grass hill |
| Parking | Dree Hill Road car park |
| Dogs | Not allowed (open mountain grazing) |
| On a clear day the 360° panorama includes Strangford Lough, Carlingford Lough, Belfast Lough, the Mourne peaks and, in the distance, Scotland and the Isle of Man. |
Cultural Highlights
- Legananny Dolmen – a 5,000‑year‑old Neolithic portal tomb at the foot of Slieve Croob.
- Tollymore Forest Park – Northern Ireland’s first state‑owned forest, famous for its stone bridges, the Hermitage, and Game of Thrones filming locations.
- Castlewellan Forest Park – home to the National Arboretum and the world‑renowned Peace Maze of over 6,000 yew trees.
- Dundrum Castle – a 12th‑century Norman stronghold overlooking Dundrum Bay.
Visitor Centres & Facilities
Silent Valley Visitor Centre
Located beside the Silent Valley Reservoir, the centre provides interpretive displays about the reservoir’s engineering and the surrounding landscape. Opening hours vary seasonally; visitors should check the latest information on‑site or via the official Mourne Live website.
Tollymore Forest Park – History, Trails and Facilities
Tollymore Forest Park is a 630‑hectare state forest at the foot of the Mournes near Newcastle. Planting began in 1752 under architect Thomas Wright and the park opened to the public on 2 June 1955. Notable historic features include the Barbican Gate, the Clanbrassil Barn, stone bridges dating back two centuries and the famous Cedar Avenue of Himalayan cedars.
Walking routes – Four way‑marked trails run from 0.5 mi to 5.5 mi, such as the Arboretum Path, River Trail (following the Shimna River past the Hermitage) and the Mountains and Drinns Trail. All routes are sign‑posted and connect to long‑distance ways like the Mourne Way and the Ulster Way.
Visitor facilities
- Opening hours: daily 10:00 – sunset (year‑round).
- Parking: main car park (£5 per car) and a lower car park; motorcycle (£2.50), minibus (£13) and coach (£35) rates also apply.
- Amenities: toilets, showers, picnic tables, a campsite for tents and motorhomes (£23 – £27 per night), wheelchair‑friendly paths in the lower‑park area, and an information kiosk.
- Wildlife: otters, kingfishers and dippers are regularly seen along the Shimna River; the diverse woodland supports redwoods, Monterey pines, Deodar cedars, eucalyptus, monkey‑puzzle trees and native oaks.
- Cultural notes: oak timber from the park was used in the construction of the RMS Titanic; the park served as a filming location for the “Haunted Forest” scenes in Game of Thrones – guided tours highlight the Hermitage and surrounding woodlands.
Lesser‑known Walks
Beyond the well‑trodden peaks, the AONB hides a number of quieter routes that showcase different facets of the landscape:
- Windy Gap Pad – a short (≈1 km) farm track linking the Slievenaboley and Legananny Roads, offering big‑sky views and passing close to the Finnis Souterrain and Legananny Dolmen.
- Lough Shannagh Circuit (via Banns Road) – a 10‑km loop that climbs to Carn Mountain (587 m) and skirts the highest natural lake in the Mournes.
- Rocky Mountain – an overlooked trail dropping into the Annalong Valley, popular with photographers for its dramatic winter light.
- Dromara Bridleways Walk – a gentle amble across the northern fringe of the AONB, winding through hedgerows, drumlins and farmed fields; dog‑friendly on a leash.
- The Fallows Trail, Rostrevor – a newer long‑distance loop that skirts Kilbroney Forest, offering forest‑to‑lough viewpoints.
Pilgrimage & Cycling Routes
The AONB forms a key segment of Saint Patrick’s Way, an 82‑km (≈50‑mile) way‑marked pilgrimage route opened in 2015. The trail is divided into seven sections (5 km – 38 km) and features 10 free‑stamp landmarks where walkers can collect a pilgrim’s passport stamp. The route passes through the Mourne foothills, Tollymore Forest Park and the coastal town of Newcastle.
Cyclists can enjoy the Newry Canal towpath, Britain’s first summit‑level canal (opened 1742). The flat, traffic‑free path runs from Scarva through the AONB, following the historic waterway past the Newry River, Lough Shark and the scenic canal summit. Bike Mourne in Scarva offers e‑bike rentals and guided rides, making the towpath accessible for families and less‑experienced cyclists.
Game of Thrones Filming Locations
Tollymore Forest Park’s Hermitage and the surrounding woodlands were used for the “Haunted Forest” scenes in Game of Thrones. Guided tours are available during the summer months, pointing out the exact filming spots and sharing behind‑the‑scenes anecdotes.
Practical Information
The Mourne and Slieve Croob AONB is free to enter; there is no admission fee for the landscape itself. Parking is available at the Dree Hill Road car park (for the Slieve Croob hike) and at several other trailheads such as Donard Forest, the Silent Valley Visitor Centre and the Windy Gap Pad lay‑by. While dogs are prohibited on the open grazing of Slieve Croob, many of the lower‑level bridleways and forest tracks, including the Dromara Bridleways Walk, welcome well‑behaved dogs on a leash.
Tollymore Forest Park fees – car parking £5, motorcycles £2.50, minibuses £13, coaches £35. Campsite fees range from £23‑£27 per night (electricity optional). The park is open daily 10:00‑sunset; parking charges apply year‑round.
The AONB is best reached by car: from Belfast, take the M1 south, exit at junction 8 (Sprucefield), continue on the A1, then follow the Dromara Road, Hillsborough Road, Rathfriland Road and finally the Finnis Road to the Dree Hill Road turn‑off. The drive is roughly 37 km (23 mi) and takes about 35 minutes.
For those staying farther afield, Newcastle, Castlewellan and Kilkeel provide a range of accommodation options, from B&Bs to hotels. Public transport is limited; the most reliable way to explore the AONB is by private vehicle or by hiring a bike for the canal towpath.
Contact & Further Details
- Website: https://mournelive.com/
- Phone: +44 (0) 28 4372 4059
- Address: Causeway Road, Newcastle, County Down, BT33 0DL