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Mountain/Rock |
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54.18020°N / 5.92138°W |
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Hiking |
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Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter |
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2789 ft / 850 m |
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Slieve Donard is the highest peak in Northern Ireland and is part of the Mourne Mountains, a mountain range in the Southeast of Northern Ireland. Slieve Donard is only 850 meters (2,790 ft.) high, but for climbing the peak you need to climb every single vertical meter, since the ascent starts literally at sea level: at Newcastle Beach. Climbing Slieve Donard is rather easy, a well-marked trail leads all the way to the summit from the starting point in Newcastle. The route is graded T2 with a few passages of T3. The trail leads through dense forests and along many small streams. About halfway up, the dense forest makes place for the typical Irish Highlands: wet, grassy slopes with boulders covered by mosses; a sign of the wet climate.
The Glen River Route
The most common route to the summit of Slieve Donard starts at Newcastle. To be more exact: There is a parking place directly west to the point where the Glen river flows into the Irish Sea. This is along the Newcastle Boulevard. At this parking place the trail starts. It is named the Glen river path, because it follows the river up the mountain. You keep heading up the valley trough the dense forest. At about 350 meters above sea level the forest abruptly stops and the landscape immediately changes into the typical Irish Highlands. Without the cover of the trees, you are exposed to the elements: Strong winds and/or heavy rain are very common here. Keep heading up the mountain along the Glen River. Eventually you will reach the saddle between Slieve Commedagh and Slieve Donard. At this point you have reached the famous Mourne Wall. Follow the wall towards the east up to the summit of Slieve Donard.Irish mythology suggests the Cairn on the summit as being the tomb of mythical figures, and an entrance to the ‘’Other world’’ The earliest sources give two names for the mountain: Benn Boirchi (modern spelling: Beann Boirche) and Sliab Slánga (modern spelling: Sliabh Slángha). Beann Boirche means "Boirche's peak", referring to a mythical king who was believed to have had supernatural powers.
From the 5th to 8th centuries, Ireland was Christianized. A local Christian missionary, Saint Donard (known in Irish as Domhanghairt), became associated with the mountain. According to tradition, he was a follower of Saint Patrick. Donard made the Great Cairn into a hermit'cell. It is believed that Donard was blessed by Saint Patrick: Donard would not die but live on inside the mountain as a perpetual guardian. The writings of Gerald de Barri indicate that in the late 12th century the old names of the mountain were going out of use and were replaced by Sliabh Domhanghairt, Slieve Donard.
The Mourne Wall passes over fifteen mountains, including Slieve Donard, and was built in the early 20th century. The wall goes up the southern slope to a stone tower and then down the western slope towards Slieve Commedagh. It took almost 18 years to build, from 1904 to 1922, with stonemasons working in the mountains from March to October each year. Some stones from the summit cairns were used for the construction.
Use good hiking shoes. Hiking poles can be useful. Use warm and waterproof clothing. The weather can change rapidly here and strong winds and rain are very common in the area.
Belfast: (Slieve Donard can be climbed as a daytrip from Belfast)