Topic: Slieve Binnian (Read 28253 times)

RedLeader · « **on:** September 23, 2009 »

I'm pondering a solo run up Binnian on Friday. Anyone any advice on routes? I'll be wanting to start at Carrick Little car park.

I'm thinking of this:

Route Carrick Little - Slieve Binnian County County Down
Difficulty Moderate to Hard
Distance 11.3km (7 miles)
Typical time Three hours
OS grid reference J345219, Ordnance Survey Ireland Discovery series 36
Starting point The car park at Carrick Little.

Blister rating: 3/5 View rating: 3/5

Why I love this walk

Slieve Binnian, the third-highest mountain of the Mournes — which Percy French reminds us in song sweep down to the sea — is the most rewarding walk in Northern Ireland, with its spectacular views across to the Isle of Man, south to Carlingford Lough and a panorama of 35 summits.

Leading from the front as we leave the Carrick Little car park is Gerry Gibbons and Ben, his faithful mutt. With the majestic Mourne Wall as our guide it’s a steep grind up Binnian’s rugged slopes until we hit a bare granite face.

A five-minute scramble up and through it brings us to the 746m (2449ft) summit. We take our seats, like the gods in a theatre, for a quick sandwich and to feast on the view. Then it’s north along the Back Castles, a chain of wrinkled tors. Depending on the seasons and the light, they resemble Breton dolmens, Celtic monks’ cells or Easter Island monuments.

We edge left around the North Tor as the path descends roughly through heather and bog, jolting down to a clearly-defined gap where we turn westwards to the sea, skirting the Blue Lough. The drama is all over from here, as we stroll down through the shelter of Annalong Wood back to the car.

The route

1 From the Carrick Little car park, follow a clear, stony track that rises gently between the fields. Note the boulder walls alongside and the high mountains around the distant head of Annalong Valley. Cross a stone stile beside an iron gate, and maybe take a reassuring look at an information board mounted near by.

2 Turn left to follow the Mourne Wall uphill.

The wall rises steeply on the rugged slopes of Slieve Binnian, but it is an obvious line to follow almost all the way to the summit. There is a break when the wall runs into a bare face of granite, and before this point you should drift to the right and aim for a notch in the top of the mountain. Going all the way to the summit at 747m (2,449ft) involves using your hands and taking good care on the rock.

3 The reward is an exceedingly fine panorama of the surrounding mountain. In clear weather it’s possible to see the Isle of Man out to sea and the Wicklow Mountains beyond Dublin. Pick a way carefully around the base of the Summit Tor to continue walking along the crest of the mountain. You cross a ruined wall and follow a clear path past the Back Castles.

4 These are a handful of wrinkly little tors that you don’t have to grapple with. Simply enjoy the views as you walk past them. The North Tor is a monstrous outcrop of granite towards the end of the crest, and the path passes it on the left side. The ground slopes away more steeply as the path wanders through the heather, past boulders and outcrops of granite on the way down to a prominent gap.

5 Turn right on the gap and follow the clear path downhill. This passes close to the Blue Lough, and by keeping right at the junctions with other paths you’ll be led down to a clear track passing a corner of Annalong Wood. Simply follow the track alongside the Forest fence and you will return to the iron gate in the Mourne Wall. Climb aross the wall using the stile and follow the track back to Carrick Little car park.

666_pack · « **Reply #1 on:** September 23, 2009 »

yep jonno thats the route I,ve been up but both times due too low cloud and high winds I had to come back down the way I came as navigation along the Binnian massif looked dodgy.

But best off luck

RedLeader · « **Reply #2 on:** September 23, 2009 »

Quote from: 666_pack on September 23, 2009

as navigation along the Binnian massif looked dodgy.

Could you give me some more info?

666_pack · « **Reply #3 on:** September 23, 2009 »

the summit of binnian is a big place and those times I was on it my nav skills weren't up to much and I personally didn't feel that confident up there (as I said bad mix of low cloud and high winds and no prioir knowledge of the terrian)

Now If the weather turned I can now take and walk on a bearing which in turn a gave me a lot more options than just walking back the way I came.

666_pack · « **Reply #4 on:** September 23, 2009 »

but don't let my bad luck with weather put you off jonno. tis a great hill and well worth the effort.......

hopefully you get view like this

Slieve Donard looks fantastic in this picture taken from Slieve Binnian

Wolf_Larson · « **Reply #5 on:** September 23, 2009 »

That should be a great trip jonno, ill keep my fingers cross for the weather.

Good luck, regards Dave.

chris · « **Reply #6 on:** September 23, 2009 »

looks like a sound route mate, your can pretty much follow the wall the whole way up then cutting back round to the blue lough gets you onto a path the whole way down simple as mate! hope you enjoy it.

Pete · « **Reply #7 on:** September 24, 2009 »

Thats a route we could use chris...I'd love to summit both soon!

RedLeader · « **Reply #8 on:** September 24, 2009 »

Is there much of a path from the summit down to the Blue Lough? That said, the opportunity of a camping weekend on Salt Island might postpone my epic solo journey!

666_pack · « **Reply #9 on:** September 24, 2009 »

i see you might be putting this one off jonno....................
all being well I am ressurecting my solo overnight which will start with Binnian (3-4 oct) if you wanna meet me for the first bit?

RedLeader · « **Reply #10 on:** September 24, 2009 »

Quote from: 666_pack on September 24, 2009

i see you might be putting this one off jonno....................
all being well I am ressurecting my solo overnight which will start with Binnian (3-4 oct) if you wanna meet me for the first bit?

Sounds like a great idea. Count me in.

666_pack · « **Reply #11 on:** September 24, 2009 »

done.

chris · « **Reply #12 on:** September 24, 2009 »

Quote from: Pete on September 24, 2009

Thats a route we could use chris...I'd love to summit both soon!

I've walked that route before, its sound enough, i've done binnian but there are another few i havn't bagged round there then i think i've pretty much done them all.

666_pack · « **Reply #13 on:** September 25, 2009 »

bollocks.

Jonno i'll have to rain check Binnian as I will be working here.

http://www.oktoberfestbelfast.co.uk/

I really must start writing stuff down

Wolf_Larson · « **Reply #14 on:** September 26, 2009 »

Quote from: jonno on September 24, 2009

Quote from: 666_pack on September 24, 2009
i see you might be putting this one off jonno....................
all being well I am ressurecting my solo overnight which will start with Binnian (3-4 oct) if you wanna meet me for the first bit?

Sounds like a great idea. Count me in.

LOOOOOOOOOOOOL

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Author Topic: Slieve Binnian (Read 28253 times)

RedLeader

Slieve Binnian

666_pack

Re: Slieve Binnian

RedLeader

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666_pack

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666_pack

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Wolf_Larson

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chris

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Pete

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RedLeader

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666_pack

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RedLeader

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666_pack

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chris

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666_pack

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Wolf_Larson

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