Mourne Mountains facts for kids

"Mountains of Mourne" redirects here. For the song, see The Mountains of Mourne.

Quick facts for kids Mourne Mountains
Beanna Boirche
View of the Mournes from St John's Point, County Down
Highest point
Peak	Slieve Donard
Elevation	850 m (2,790 ft)
Geography
Location in Northern Ireland Show map of Northern Ireland Location in island of Ireland Show map of island of Ireland
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Constituent country	Northern Ireland
Counties	County Down
Range coordinates	54°10′N 6°05′W / 54.167°N 6.083°W / 54.167; -6.083
Geology
Type of rock	Granite

The Mourne Mountains ( morn; Irish: Beanna Boirche), also called the Mournes or Mountains of Mourne, are a granite mountain range in County Down in the south-east of Northern Ireland. They include the highest mountains in Northern Ireland, the highest of which is Slieve Donard at 850 m (2,790 ft). The Mournes are designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and it has been proposed to make the area Northern Ireland's first national park. The area is partly owned by the National Trust and sees many visitors every year. The Mourne Wall crosses fifteen of the summits and was built to enclose the catchment basin of the Silent Valley and Ben Crom reservoirs.

Mountains
Other features
Flora and fauna
Conservation
Recreation
Wind farm proposal
Helicopter crash
Images for kids
See also

Mountains

The Mourne Wall, looking towards Hare's Gap

The name 'Mourne' is derived from the name of a Gaelic clan or sept called the Múghdhorna. The common Irish name for the mountains, na Beanna Boirche, may mean "the peaks of the peak district" or "peaks of Boirche" (a mythical king and cowherd); it was historically Englished as 'Bennyborfy'.

Some of the mountains have names beginning "Slieve", such as Slieve Donard, Slieve Lamagan and Slieve Muck, which is derived from the Irish word sliabh, meaning "mountain". There are also a number of curious names: Pigeon Rock; Buzzard's Roost; Brandy Pad; the Cock and Hen; Percy Bysshe; the Devil's Coach Road; and Pollaphuca (from poll meaning "hole" and púca meaning "ghost or spirit").

On clear days, the Mourne Mountains can be seen from the Isle of Man and Dublin.

*Highest Peaks and Points* (MountainViews Online Database , October 2018)
Rank	Name	Irish name	Translation	Elevation	Prominence
1	Slieve Donard Highest in Ulster	Sliabh Dónairt	Domhanghart's mountain	850 m (2,790 ft)	822 m (2,697 ft)
2	Slieve Commedagh	Sliabh Coimhéideach	guarding/watching mountain	767 m (2,516 ft)	180 m (590 ft)
3	Slieve Binnian	Sliabh Binneáin	mountain of the little peaks	746 m (2,448 ft)	282 m (925 ft)
4	Slieve Bearnagh	Sliabh Bearnach	gapped mountain	739 m (2,425 ft)	304 m (997 ft)
5	Slieve Lamagan	Sliabh Lámhagáin	crawling/creeping mountain	704 m (2,310 ft)	197 m (646 ft)
6	Slieve Meelbeg	Sliabh Míol Beag	small mountain of the ants	708 m (2,323 ft)	193 m (633 ft)
7	Slieve Meelmore	Sliabh Míol Mór	great mountain of the ants	680 m (2,230 ft)	109 m (358 ft)
8	Slieve Muck	Sliabh Muc	pig mountain	670 m (2,200 ft)	155 m (509 ft)
9	Chimney Rock Mtn/Slieve Neir	Sliabh an Aoire	shepherd mountain	656 m (2,152 ft)	131 m (430 ft)
10	Cove Mountain	Unknown	Unknown	655 m (2,149 ft)	100 m (330 ft)
11	Slieve Corragh	Sliabh Corrach	rugged/pointed mountain	640 m (2,100 ft)	15 m (49 ft)
12	Eagle Mountain	Sliabh an Iolair	eagle mountain	638 m (2,093 ft)	263 m (863 ft)
13	Shanlieve	Seanshliabh	old mountain	626 m (2,054 ft)	31 m (102 ft)
14	Slieve Loughshannagh	Sliabh Loch Seannach	fox lake mountain	617 m (2,024 ft)	104 m (341 ft)
15	Slieve Beg	Sliabh Beag	little mountain	596 m (1,955 ft)	41 m (135 ft)
16	Doan	Dún Maol Chobha	Maol Cobha's fort	593 m (1,946 ft)	119 m (390 ft)
17	Slievenaglogh (Northern)	Sliabh na gCloch	mountain of the stones	586 m (1,923 ft)	41 m (135 ft)
18	Carn Mountain	Sliabh an Chairn	mountain of the cairn	585 m (1,919 ft)	50 m (160 ft)
19	Finlieve	Finnshliabh	white mountain	579 m (1,900 ft)	20 m (66 ft)
20	Slievemoughanmore	Unknown	Unknown	560 m (1,840 ft)	154 m (505 ft)
21	Crossone	Cros Eoghain	Owen's cross	540 m (1,770 ft)	12 m (39 ft)
22	Pigeon Rock Mtn/Drumlee	Droim Lao	ridge of the calf	534 m (1,752 ft)	139 m (456 ft)
23	Annalong Buttress	Unknown	Unknown	530 m (1,740 ft)	Unknown
24	Ott Mountain	Ucht	mountain-breast	527 m (1,729 ft)	32 m (105 ft)
25	Ben Crom	Binn Chrom	stooped/curved peak	526 m (1,726 ft)	81 m (266 ft)
26	Rocky Mountain (Eastern)	Sliabh na gCloch	mountain of the stones	524 m (1,719 ft)	60 m (200 ft)
27	Blaeberry Mountain	Unknown	Unknown	520 m (1,710 ft)	Unknown
28	Spences Mountain	Unknown	Unknown	517 m (1,696 ft)	Unknown
29	Cock Mountain/Slievahilly	Sliabh an Choiligh	cock mountain	504 m (1,654 ft)	130 m (430 ft)
30	Butter Mountain	Sliabh an Ime	butter mountain	500 m (1,600 ft)	95 m (312 ft)
	Lesser mountains and hills
31	Slievemartin	Sliabh Mártain	Martin's mountain	485 m (1,591 ft)	Unknown
32	Spaltha	Unknown	Unknown	479 m (1,572 ft)	Unknown
33	Thomas Mountain	Unknown	Unknown	475 m (1,558 ft)	Unknown
34	Tievedockdarragh	Taobh Docrach	difficult hillside	473 m (1,552 ft)	Unknown
35	Spelga	Speilgeach	place of pointed rocks	472 m (1,549 ft)	Unknown
36	Slievemeen	Sliabh Mín	smooth mountain	471 m (1,545 ft)	Unknown
37	Pierces Castle	Unknown	Unknown	465 m (1,526 ft)	Unknown
38	Crenville	Unknown	Unknown	460 m (1,510 ft)	Unknown
39	Millstone Mountain	Unknown	Unknown	459 m (1,506 ft)	Unknown
40	Wee Binnian	Broinn Bhinneáin	breast of (Slieve) Binnian	459 m (1,506 ft)	Unknown
41	Slievenagarragh	Unknown	Unknown	450 m (1,480 ft)	Unknown
42	Slievenamaddy	Sliabh na Madaidh	dog mountain	450 m (1,480 ft)	Unknown
43	Altaggart Mountain	Unknown	Unknown	445 m (1,460 ft)	Unknown
44	Slievenaglogh (Southern)	Sliabh na gCloch	mountain of the stones	445 m (1,460 ft)	Unknown
45	Slievenamiskan	Sliabh Meascáin	butter lump mountain	444 m (1,457 ft)	Unknown
46	Slievenabrock	Sliabh na mBroc	badger mountain	438 m (1,437 ft)	Unknown
47	Hares Gap	Unknown	Unknown	435 m (1,427 ft)	Unknown
48	Hares Castle	Unknown	Unknown	430 m (1,410 ft)	Unknown
49	Wee Slievemoughan	Unknown	Unknown	428 m (1,404 ft)	Unknown
50	Slievedermot	Sliabh Diarmuid	Dermot's mountain	425 m (1,394 ft)	Unknown
51	Slievemeel	Sliabh Maol	bald mountain	420 m (1,380 ft)	Unknown
52	Leganabruchan	Unknown	Unknown	410 m (1,350 ft)	Unknown
53	Craigdoo	Creag Dubh	black rock	408 m (1,339 ft)	Unknown
54	Rocky Mountain (Western)	Unknown	Unknown	405 m (1,329 ft)	Unknown
55	Slieve Ban	Sliabh Bán	white mountain	395 m (1,296 ft)	Unknown
56	Windy Gap	Unknown	Unknown	395 m (1,296 ft)	Unknown
57	Lukes Mountain	Unknown	Unknown	391 m (1,283 ft)	Unknown
58	Slievebane	Unknown	Unknown	390 m (1,280 ft)	Unknown
59	Tornamrock	Torr na mBroc	Torr of the Badgers	390 m (1,280 ft)	Unknown
60	Slievenamuck	Unknown	Unknown	390 m (1,280 ft)	Unknown
61	Gruggandoo	Unknown	Unknown	380 m (1,250 ft)	Unknown
62	Black Stairs	Unknown	Unknown	370 m (1,210 ft)	Unknown
63	Deers Meadow	Unknown	Unknown	370 m (1,210 ft)	Unknown
64	Carnadranna	Unknown	Unknown	365 m (1,198 ft)	Unknown
65	Slieve Roe	Sliabh Ruadh	red mountain	364 m (1,194 ft)	Unknown
66	Slieve Roosley	Unknown	Unknown	362 m (1,188 ft)	Unknown
67	Hen Mountain/Slievenakirk	Sliabh na Circe	hen mountain	360 m (1,180 ft)	Unknown
68	Trainors Rocks	Unknown	Unknown	360 m (1,180 ft)	Unknown
69	Lugagour	Unknown	Unknown	360 m (1,180 ft)	Unknown
70	Leckan More	Unknown	Unknown	355 m (1,165 ft)	Unknown
71	Percy Bysshe	Unknown	Unknown	355 m (1,165 ft)	Unknown
72	Crannoge	Unknown	Unknown	350 m (1,150 ft)	Unknown
73	The Fallow	Unknown	Unknown	350 m (1,150 ft)	Unknown
74	Crotlieve	Crotshliabh	hump-mountain	347 m (1,138 ft)	Unknown
75	Knockshee	Cnoc Sidhe	fairy hill	346 m (1,135 ft)	Unknown
76	Long Seefin	Suidhe Finn	Finn's seat	345 m (1,132 ft)	Unknown
77	Glen Fofanny	Unknown	Unknown	340 m (1,120 ft)	Unknown
78	Slievenagore	Unknown	Unknown	335 m (1,099 ft)	Unknown
79	Moolieve	Unknown	Unknown	332 m (1,089 ft)	Unknown
80	Mullagharve	Unknown	Unknown	330 m (1,080 ft)	Unknown
81	Slievenaman	Unknown	Unknown	323 m (1,060 ft)	Unknown
82	Ardglash	Unknown	Unknown	320 m (1,050 ft)	Unknown
83	Wee Roosley	Unknown	Unknown	320 m (1,050 ft)	Unknown
84	Slievemageogh	Unknown	Unknown	316 m (1,037 ft)	Unknown
85	Slievemiskan	Unknown	Unknown	310 m (1,020 ft)	Unknown
86	Carmeen	Unknown	Unknown	310 m (1,020 ft)	Unknown
87	Grugganskeagh	Unknown	Unknown	310 m (1,020 ft)	Unknown
88	Knockchree	Unknown	Unknown	305 m (1,001 ft)	Unknown
89	Ballyvally Mountain	Unknown	Unknown	300 m (980 ft)	Unknown
90	Cloghmore Glen	Unknown	Unknown	300 m (980 ft)	Unknown
91	Glenmore	Unknown	Unknown	300 m (980 ft)	Unknown
92	The Creats	Unknown	Unknown	300 m (980 ft)	Unknown
93	The Rowans	Unknown	Unknown	300 m (980 ft)	Unknown

Other features

The below sub-headings detail other features and visitor attractions found in the Mourne Mountains.

The Mourne Wall

Mourne Wall on Slieve Bearnagh

The Mourne Wall is a dry stone wall measuring 31.4 km (19.5-mile) long that crosses fifteen summits and was constructed to define and protect the 36 km² (8,900-acre) catchment area purchased by Belfast Water Commissioners in late nineteenth century. This followed a number of Acts of Parliament allowing the sale, and the establishment of a water supply from the Mournes to the growing industrial city of Belfast. Construction of the Mourne Wall was started in 1904 and was completed in 1922.

The Mourne Wall is a listed building since 1996 and 600 repairs were completed in 2018 by Geda Construction.

Forests

Tollymore forest and the Mournes

Tollymore Forest Park is located at Bryansford, near the town of Newcastle in the Mourne and Slieve Croob Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. It covers an area of 630 hectares (1,600 acres) at the foot of the Mourne Mountains and has views of the surrounding mountains and the sea at nearby [Newcastle]. The Shimna River flows through the park where it is crossed by 16 bridges, the earliest dating to 1726. The river is a spawning ground for salmon and trout and is an Area of Special Scientific Interest due to its geology, flora and fauna. The forest has four walking trails signposted by different coloured arrows, the longest being the "long haul trail" at 8 miles (13 km) long. The Forest Park has been managed by the Forest Service since they purchased it from the Roden Estate in 1941.

Donard Forest is located near Newcastle, County Down, Northern Ireland. It borders Donard Park at the foot of the Mourne Mountains. The Glen River flows through the forest where it is crossed by three stone bridges.

Rostrevor Forest is located near the village of Rostrevor, County Down, Northern Ireland. It lies between the Mourne Mountains and Carlingford Lough, in the Mourne Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The first trees, primarily sitka spruce, douglas fir and pine, were planted in 1931.

Reservoirs

Silent Valley and Ben Crom reservoirs seen from the south

All water reservoirs are owned and maintained by Northern Ireland Water (NIW).

Silent Valley Reservoir is a reservoir located in the Mourne Mountains near Kilkeel, County Down in Northern Ireland. It supplies most of the water for County Down, surrounding counties and most of Belfast via the Aquarius pipeline. The reservoir was built between 1923 and 1933 by a workforce of over one thousand men, nine of whom died during construction. The catchment area is 9,000-acres (3,600 ha / 36 sq. km).

Ben Crom Reservoir is a reservoir located upstream of Silent Valley near Kilkeel, County Down, Northern Ireland. Along with Silent Valley Reservoir, which is situated further down the Kilkeel River valley, it supplies water for County Down, surrounding counties and most of Belfast. It was constructed between 1953 and 1957.

Spelga Reservoir is a reservoir in the townland of Spelga (Irish: Speilgeach) located close to Hilltown in the North West of the Mourne Mountains . It was formed by construction of Spelga Dam and sits at over 1,200 ft (370 m) above sea level. The dam was constructed between 1953 and 1957. It has a volume of 2,700,000 cubic metres and a catchment area of 1,340-acres (542 ha / 5.423 sq. km).

Fofanny Dam Reservoir is located approximately 2 km north-east of Spelga Dam and is a much smaller site.

Flora and fauna

Aside from grasses, the most common plants found in the Mournes are heathers and gorse. Of the former, three species are found: cross-leaved heath, bell heather, and common heather. Of the latter, two species are found: common gorse and western gorse. Other plants which grow in the area are: common cottongrass, roseroot, harebell, marsh St John's-wort, wild thyme, wood sorrel and heath spotted orchid.

Sheep graze high into the mountains, and the range is also home to birds, including the raven, peregrine falcon, wren, buzzard, meadow pipit, grey wagtail, stonechat and snipe. The golden eagle, a former inhabitant, has not been seen in the Mournes since 1836.

Conservation

Mourne country near Spelga Dam, the slopes of Slieve Loughshannagh and Ott Mountain with a stream in spate after some recent heavy rain

Following a fundraising drive in 1993, the National Trust purchased nearly 5.3 km² (1,300 acres) of land in the Mournes, which included a part of Slieve Donard (at 850 m (2,790 ft)) and nearby Slieve Commedagh (at 767 m (2,516 ft)), the second-highest mountain in the area.

It has been proposed that the Mourne Mountains be made Northern Ireland's first national park. The plan has been subject to controversy because of the area's status as private property, with over 1,000 farmers based in the proposed park, and also because of fears over the impact on local communities, bureaucracy and house prices.

Recreation

Tors on Slieve Binnian

"Discover Northern Ireland", a website operated by Tourism NI, aids to promote the Mourne Mountains as a popular destination for hiking and taking in views of the surrounding landscape, including local forests and the coastline. The Mournes offer a range of activities for visitors. These include hiking, forest and beach walks, cycling and rock climbing, with nearly three quarters of visitors choosing the Mournes to go walking and hiking.

The Mournes are very popular as a destination for completing expeditions as required for completing the Duke of Edinburgh's Award. However, there are also a number of walking challenges which take place in the Mournes. The Mourne Wall challenge, which is also referred to as the 7-peak challenge because it takes into account 7 of the 10 highest Mourne mountains, is advertised by WalkNI. The Mourne six peak challenge is advertised by DiscoverNI and takes hikers up Slieve Donard, Commedagh, Bearnagh, Slieve Binnian, Slieve Meelmore and Slieve Meelbeg across three days of hiking.

Information and statistics on tourism to the Mournes was gathered by TourismNI in 2014. On a survey of leisure visitors, 79% were found to come from Northern Ireland itself, 15% were from the remaining areas of the British Isles and Republic of Ireland, leaving 5-6% accounting for international visitors. Of all visitors, two thirds usually visit the Mournes on a single day trip rather than choosing an overnight trip and party sizes have averaged between 3 - 4 people.

There are many granite cliffs, in the form of outcrops and tors, scattered throughout the range, making the Mournes one of Northern Ireland's major rock-climbing areas since the first recorded ascents in the 1930s. The rock forms are generally quite rounded, thus often depending on cams for protection, but with good friction. The 1998 guidebook lists 26 separate crags, with a total of about 900 routes of all grades.

Wind farm proposal

Since 2015, German-owned company ABO Wind has applied to build a wind farm at Gruggandoo in the western Mourne Mountains. Its first two applications were turned down, and its revised application is to build eight turbines standing 142 metres (466 ft) high, along with a network of access tracks, substations and a control building. The turbines would be among the tallest structures in Ireland. The company claims they could power 37% of homes in the district. There is opposition, as the wind farm would be in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and would impact wildlife and habitats. Local protest group, Mourne AONB Against Windfarms, warn it would open the door for further wind farms to be built in the Mournes and other protected areas. Planning officers for Newry, Mourne and Down District Council deem the wind farm "unacceptable" and recommended the council reject it. In 2020, councillors instead voted to ask for a public inquiry.

Helicopter crash

On 23 October 2010 an AgustaWestland AW109 (tail number: N2NR) was operating a VFR flight from Enniskillen Airport to Caernarfon Airport, Wales. While en route the helicopter crashed into the western side of Shanlieve, killing all three passengers and crew on board. The cause of the accident was determined to be pilot error in heavy fog.

Images for kids

The Mourne Wall on Slieve Donard, looking west