Mourne Mountains

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View of the Mountains of Mourne

The Mourne Mountains (also: Mountains of Mourne; Irish: Na beanna Boirche ) are an existing granite mountain range about 50 km south of Northern Ireland's capital Belfast, situated between Newry and Newcastle in County Down. The most famous peak is Slieve Donard, at 849 meters the highest mountain in Northern Ireland. The area is classified as so-called Area of ​​Outstanding Natural Beauty, this is also the first national park in Northern Ireland arise.

The mountains are a popular recreation area and are visited by many tourists, hikers, mountain bikers and climbers. After a fundraiser in 1993, the National Trust acquired a 5.26 km ² large area in the Mournes. In this lie the Slieve Donard and Slieve neighboring Commedagh, with 767 m the second highest mountain in the area. One attraction is the Mourne Wall. This 35 km long dry wall was built 1904-1922 and surrounds the headwaters of the reservoirs and the drinking water supply of the city of Belfast serve. Originally this wall sheep and cattle are kept away from the drinking water area.

Pictures

Silent Valley Reservoir and Carlingford Lough

Slieve Donard Wood and Analong

Mountain panorama

View towards Kilkeel and Irish Sea