Millstone Mountain facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Millstone Mountain |
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Millstone Mountain, located on the far left
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 460 m (1,510 ft) |
| Prominence | 25 m (82 ft) |
| Geography | |
 Millstone Mountain
Location in Northern Ireland
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| Location | County Down, Northern Ireland |
| Parent range | Mournes |
| OSI/OSNI grid | 28507 J37291 28507 |
| Topo map | OSNI Discoverer 29 |
Millstone Mountain is a cool hill located in the beautiful Mourne Mountains in County Down, Northern Ireland. It's the most easterly (easternmost) peak in the Mournes. It's also one of three smaller peaks that are part of the larger Slieve Donard mountain, along with Thomas Mountain and Crossone.
Millstone Mountain's Past
Millstone Mountain has an interesting history, especially with its name! Long ago, people used to get "millstone" from this area. Millstones are big, round stones used in mills to grind grain into flour. You can still find two old sites where millstones were once produced, located to the south-west and north-west of the mountain's top.
The Granite Quarry
In 1824, a large quarry was opened on the northern side of Millstone Mountain. This quarry was used to dig out granite, a very hard and strong type of rock. Granite from this area was used for many building projects.
The Bogie Line
To move the heavy granite from the quarry, a special type of railway was built. It was called a funicular railway, or the "Bogie Line." A funicular railway uses cables to pull cars up and down steep slopes. This line ran all the way from the quarry down to King Street.
In 1959, the railway was moved to a nearby quarry on Thomas Mountain. Today, both the quarry on Millstone Mountain and the one on Thomas Mountain are no longer used.
The Granite Trail
Even though the quarries are closed, the path of the old Bogie Line is still there! It has been turned into a popular walking trail known as "The Granite Trail." This trail is a great way to explore the mountain and imagine how the granite was once moved. It's a fun adventure for hikers and nature lovers.
