| I love hill walking and hiking, especially in the | | | | About 4/5 miles north east from the previous |
| Mourne mountains in Northern Ireland which are | | | | carpark brings you to another easily accessible |
| so accessible to everybody. But being a | | | | route that starts at the base of Slieve Meelbeg |
| photographer (and a bit lazy) I'm always eager to | | | | and leads up the 'Brandy pad' to the 'Hare's gap' |
| get to the best views as quickly as possible so | | | | and then up the side of Slieve Bearnagh. (The |
| that I have more time to absorb the views and | | | | 'Brandy pad' is an old smugglers route that was |
| find as many potential compositions as possible. | | | | used for many years to smuggle alcohol and |
| So if you are a bit lazy like me, then the following | | | | tobacco from the coast into the center of the |
| two recommended routes to spectacular views | | | | country!) |
| should interest you! | | | | There are two routes you can take here, you |
| Route 1 - Slieve Loughshannagh / Carn Mountain | | | | can either climb the Hare's gap on the left hand |
| This was the first ever walk I did in the Mournes | | | | side which is a sort of small 'U' shaped valley |
| and in my opinion offers some of the best views | | | | between Slieve Bearnagh and Slievenaglogh, or |
| of the whole area. Access is from a carpark over | | | | you can go right which takes you further up the |
| the hill from the Spelga dam and once there it is | | | | side of Slieve Bearnagh and over the Mourne wall. |
| approximately a 40 minute walk to the top of | | | | If you choose the latter route you are again |
| Slieve Loughshannagh! | | | | greeted with the most spectacular view of Doan |
| The climb up is pretty uneventful until about | | | | and the silent valley in the distance. You are |
| halfway up you get come the Mourne wall. Once | | | | getting near the center of the Mournes here, |
| you climb over the wooden stile you are greeted | | | | almost surrounded by hills and mountains. It feels |
| with the most spectacular view of Doan and lough | | | | like you have entered some kind of prehistoric |
| Shannagh down below. From here you can either | | | | plateau which is silent, barren and beautiful! |
| continue on up Slieve Loughshannagh on the left | | | | If you are interested in climbing to the top of |
| or climb up Carn mountain on the right. Carn | | | | Slieve Bearnagh then taking the Hare's gap route |
| mountain is slightly higher than Slieve | | | | will be easier. Once over the gap there is a stone |
| Loughshannagh however the views from the | | | | stairway built into the mountain on the right that |
| latter are better. | | | | leads up the side. The rest of the climb up is |
| From here you can see a whole panorama of | | | | relatively easy. I should point out though that the |
| summits in a semicircular shape including Slieve | | | | view from the Hare's gap itself is not nearly as |
| Meelbeg, Slieve Meelmore, Slieve Bearnagh, Slieve | | | | breathtaking as the previously mentioned route. |
| Donard and Slievelamagan from left to right. | | | | If you want to get an idea of what you can |
| Further right brings in views of Doan, the Silent | | | | expect to see on these routes then please take |
| Valley and Ben Crom reservoirs. Beyond this the | | | | a look at the photos on the website. There are |
| view stretches all the way to the coast. | | | | many images available there of these routes and |
| Route 2 - Slieve Bearnagh / The Brandy Pad | | | | many other areas of the Mournes too. |