Slieve Meelmore – Mourne Wall walk

Overview

For twelve years Slieve Meelmore counted as one of the Mourne Sevens, the seven peaks over 700 m that make up one of Ireland’s classic hill challenges. Then in 2004 a walker checked the figures and found it falls a few metres short. The old maps had it at 704 m; the accepted height is now 680 m (2,230 ft), the seventh-highest of the Mournes. Route guides and signage still quote anything from 687 m to 704 m, so do not be surprised by the discrepancy.

The mountain sits between Slieve Meelbeg to the south and the more famous, tor-crowned Slieve Bearnagh to the east, six miles east of Hilltown. It is classified as a Marilyn. What draws walkers is not a dramatic summit – it is a broad, treeless top with a small stone shelter – but the sustained climb and the Mourne Wall, which runs clean over the ridge and doubles as a handrail in poor visibility.

Name and history

The Irish name is usually read as Sliabh Míol Mór, “great mountain of the ants”, though some prefer Méal Mór, “great bald hill”, which suits the bare, wind-scoured top better. The Mourne Wall that crosses it is the real history lesson. Built between 1904 and 1922, the 35 km dry-stone wall was raised to enclose the catchment of the Silent Valley Reservoir, which still supplies drinking water to Belfast. On the higher, more exposed sections it is the most reliable navigation aid you have.

Walking routes to the summit

Every approach is rugged, with uneven ground and sustained climbing – all are graded strenuous.

Trassey Track approach

From the Trassey Car Park (grid reference J312 314), the route begins on a well-defined track climbing beside Clonachullion Wood. After the kissing gates the path steepens and winds under Spellack’s crags to the head of the valley. At the fork, keep left for Hare’s Gap, where the Mourne Wall crosses the col; from there follow the wall right to the summit. The descent normally follows the wall down to the intersection, then takes the right-hand branch into the valley to a field boundary wall, where you turn right to rejoin the track.

Ott car park circuit

From the Ott Car Park, cross the stile and follow the stone track to the col between Slieve Loughshannagh and Carn Mountain. At the Mourne Wall, turn left and follow it over Slieve Meelbeg before the final climb to Slieve Meelmore. The return drops back to the wall intersection, descends into the valley and follows a stream to the Ulster Way; a short walk along its evergreen section brings you back to Slievenaman Road.

What to see and do

Summit views and features

The top is a broad plateau with a trig point, a small cairn and angular granite outcrops. On a clear day the view runs north to the Sperrins and Lough Neagh, with Strangford Lough away to the east – but “clear day” is the operative phrase, and the summit spends plenty of its time in cloud. The stone shelter gives a windbreak for lunch. The western ridge, Spellack (from speilic, “splintery rock”), offers a short rocky scramble for anyone wanting extra terrain.

Points of interest along the route

• Hare’s Gap – A natural resting point where the Mourne Wall crosses a shallow col, and a historic smuggling route through the mountains.
• Spellack Spur – A distinctive rocky outcrop on the western flank, popular with scramblers and photographers.
• Fofanny Dam and evergreen wood – Seen on the Ott circuit return, a quiet contrast to the open summit.

Flora, fauna and landscape

The lower slopes shift from mixed woodland to open heathland as you climb, and the northern aspects carry heather from August onwards. The granite gives acidic soils and hardy mountain vegetation. Birdlife is active year-round: peregrine falcons, ravens, meadow pipits and curlews are all regular. Mountain hares turn up on the higher ground, particularly in winter.

Practical information and safety

Getting there and parking

• Trassey Car Park – Free, at the base of Trassey Road. Limited spaces; arrive early at weekends.
• Ott Car Park – Small, free, with picnic facilities, near the start of the Meelbeg circuit. Fills fast in summer.
• Meelmore Lodge – Secure parking (check current charges, as reports differ), with toilets, showers, a café, camping and hostel accommodation.
• Public transport – Translink buses run from Belfast to Newcastle (about 1.5 hours); from there rural services or taxis reach Hilltown or the Trassey turn-off. Check timetables, as services are infrequent.

Facilities

• Toilets – At Trassey and Ott car parks, and at Meelmore Lodge.
• Refreshments – Full café and hot meals at Meelmore Lodge; Turnip House, a short walk from the Trassey start, does light bites. There is nothing to buy on the mountain itself.
• Accommodation – Meelmore Lodge (cabins, hostel, campsite), plus B&Bs in Hilltown and Newcastle.
• Dogs – Allowed on leads throughout.

Navigation and safety

The terrain is steep in places, boggy in others, and the loose granite is slippery when wet. There is no trail signage beyond the initial Trassey Track marker. Carry OS map sheet 29 or a reliable GPS. The Mourne Wall is an excellent guide, but the descent off Meelmore is where people go wrong in mist – that is the one section that genuinely needs compass work.

Weather in the Mournes turns fast, and the summit runs much colder than the valleys even in summer. Pack waterproofs, a windproof layer, boots, and enough food and water. Mobile signal is unreliable above the treeline, so tell someone your route and expected return.

Best time to visit

• Late spring to early autumn – Most reliable weather and driest paths. Heather from August.
• Winter – Snow and ice are common above 500 m; attempt only with winter gear, experience and a checked forecast.

Start early from Trassey, keep the Mourne Wall close on the way up, and save extra time for the descent when the cloud drops – that is when the wall earns its keep.