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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.

Source: www.walkni.com

Things to see: The best walk in Northern Ireland, with rugged beauty and views of the Isle of Man and 35 other summits.

Pub rating: 3/5

Pub: Mourne Seafood Bar, Dundrum
A good spot to have a bowl of chowder or oysters with a pint of Guinness if you are not driving back to Belfast.

Where to stay

Rathdune House
A B&B offering 14 spacious en-suite bedrooms, a relaxing lounge with open fire and help from the owners in planning your visit to Downpatrick.

Slieve Donard Resort and Spa
This imposing Victorian hotel opened as a luxury holiday destination in 1898 and recent investment has transformed it into one of Europe’s finest spa hotels.

Log on to chat with other walkers at the Times Health Club

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