Northern Ireland Outdoors Forum - Hiking, camping and more
General => Meets, places, trips and reviews => Topic started by: whoRya on October 20, 2012
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My last day walk in the Mournes was the 7 sevens. Having covered many of the bigger hills on the day and a wee bit of training prior to that, I was keen to go somewhere a bit different for a change. In the summer I had stayed in the campsite at Cranfield and loved the view of the Mournes from that perspective. The range seemed more expansive since the smaller hills to the West aren't obscured by the higher Mournes.
Anyway I decided that it was time to take in a few of the hills that I hadn't been to yet. I had doubts though, even on the morning of the walk I was wondering if I should take the opportunity of pleasant weather to enjoy some of the bigger ones. On the map the higher elevations appeal to me.
Myself and a friend headed off, sticking to our guns, using Rostrevor as a starting point. As we approached Rostrevor the hills looked pretty impressive rising steeply right from the water's edge.
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8465/8103528382_6eff7ed300_z.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/76526252@N05/8103528382/)
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8327/8103511663_6aae180e0b_z.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/76526252@N05/8103511663/)
We started off from the visitor centre at the forest park heading first to the Cloghmore Stone via Fiddlers Green, then up onto the summit of Slievemeen (472m).
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8336/8103509687_ce66173d7c_z.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/76526252@N05/8103509687/)
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8325/8103507333_ec889cba3b_z.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/76526252@N05/8103507333/)
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8188/8103519008_e34be0d2f8_z.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/76526252@N05/8103519008/)
From there it was a pleasant walk across to the summit of Slievemartin (485m). We were entertained by the continuous industry of a helicopter that was lifting materials up to the higher reaches of the trail construction that was being carried out. There is a lot of work going on here. I'm sure the MTBrs are looking forward to it's completion.
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8049/8103502159_6f60d0863a_z.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/76526252@N05/8103502159/)
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8186/8103513928_98a2d04e80_z.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/76526252@N05/8103513928/)
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8048/8103497317_30f5ff9e68_z.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/76526252@N05/8103497317/)
From Slievemartin we headed down across Slievefadda and onto the long spur of Knockshee (347m) which enjoys commanding views on each side. The end of Knockshee made a lovely spot for a bite of lunch.
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8468/8103494985_5a1d21b087_z.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/76526252@N05/8103494985/)
After a bit of watching the world go by we headed back towards Slievemartin for a little while before dropping down off the side of Knockshee to meet the Watergap River. This pretty little river makes it way down through a deep gorge which at some points had an almost sheer drop of 50 or 60 feet. After crossing the river we followed it's path up towards Crenville.
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8188/8103492121_4a3fba13ce_z.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/76526252@N05/8103492121/)
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8329/8103503930_20e94d118d_z.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/76526252@N05/8103503930/)
Upon meeting the forest we followed the forest line over The Rowans until we picked up on a track marked on the map that took us into Rostrevor forest and onto the main forest tracks. From there it was downhill all the way back to the visitor centre.
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8334/8103486927_eb33576d40_z.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/76526252@N05/8103486927/)
It was a great day out with pretty much perfect weather. The temperature was just perfect for walking and the views over Carlingford Lough, over to the Cooleys and over the Kingdom of Mourne were just stunning. These hills in the Mournes have a lot to offer, you'll not feel short-changed. And with plenty of places nearby for a post-walk Guinness, it is a great place to reflect on the day's activities.
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Beautiful pictures.
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Good thread with fabulous photos :)
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Looks like a great day out with great weather too.
Good pictures.
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love the pics, did a very similar walk last year with the scouts and camped by the edge of the forest at yellow water, i have BAD memories of crossing the rowans, aka, the bog of eternal stench >:(
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Brilliant pictures, looks like a top day out.
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we did a similar walk earlier in the year, fantastic photos. Kilbrooney park has a lot to offer, esp for the family day out and the cyclists out there.
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Thanks for the kind words people. There doesn't seem to be a whole lot on the forum about this area; hopefully it will be useful for folk planning a walk.
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Amazing pictures !!! looks like yoiu got nice water n all ;-)
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I was working in the area today and parked up in Kilbroney to have my lunch, as it was a beautiful sunny day i called the office to say i'm taking the afternoon off and away i went for a little dander (approx 1 mile) to visit the cloghmore stone. But I ended up doing 4 miles with my usual "i'll just go a little further" routine. Wonderful place, the upper car park itself it a sort of hidden gem, then a short but steep walk up to the stone, after that i sampled some of the new mtb tracks by foot, they look great! then off to the summit of Ballynagelty (bet you never heard of that one before, neither did i) and on my return journey decided to hit slieve martin as it was too close too ignore ;D
(http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd496/landyliam/prtscrnofroutefromgpsonquo-600pw.jpg)
the route
(http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd496/landyliam/P1240516Small.jpg)
view of the upper car park at kilbroney, lovely spot, about 15 picnic tables and loads of parking space, not much winter sun here but in the summer it gets the afternoon sun.
(http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd496/landyliam/P1060241Small.jpg)
a pic from the car park last summer
(http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd496/landyliam/P1240521Small.jpg)
the cloghmore stone, great spot for a bivvy ;)
(http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd496/landyliam/P1240523Small.jpg)
the stone from afar, slieve martin in the background
(http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd496/landyliam/P1240527Small.jpg)
found this spot near the stone, great pic for kids to scramble up, about a 3-5 meter climb and just enough slope to make it interesting
(http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd496/landyliam/P1240531Small.jpg)
view from one of the mtb trails
(http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd496/landyliam/P1240541Small.jpg)
view of killowen point (where i was working earlier) from Ballynagelty
(http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd496/landyliam/P1240523Small.jpg)
view from ballynagelty lookingthe other direction, great wee spot (and i was well sheltered today from the cool northerly breeze)
(http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd496/landyliam/P1240557Small.jpg)
(http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd496/landyliam/P1240563Small.jpg)
rostrevor and warrenpoint
(http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd496/landyliam/P1240573Small.jpg)
then off to slieve martin
(http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd496/landyliam/P1240576Small.jpg)
another view of slieve martin
(http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd496/landyliam/P1240584Small.jpg)
on the drive home tonight the moon was amazing, this pic doesn't really do it justice though
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It seems the sun always shines on Slievemartin. Some nice photos Liam, the late afternoon winter sun gives a real warmth to them.
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Nice one Liam,class photos,is that hen in the last shot
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Yes that's Hen, i actually adjusted my route home to try and get a view of the moon with a decent mountain in the foreground.