Slieve Donard
849 m
United Kingdom
Also known as Sliabh Dónairt, Слив ДонардAlso known as
Sliabh Dónairt · Слив Донард
- Elevation
- 849 m
- Prominence
- 825 m
- Difficulty
- 2/10
- Hike
- Best Season
- May–Jun
- Routes
- 2
Routes
2The most popular route, straight from the seaside town of Newcastle: up the wooded Glen River, along an open valley to the saddle between Slieve Donard and Slieve Commedagh, then steeply beside the Mourne Wall on granite steps to the summit cairn and tower. About 9.3 km and 830 m of ascent return; 4–5 hours.
Elevation Profile
- Distance
- 4.8 km
- one way
- Ascent
- +842 m
- start → summit
- High Point
- 849 m
- Time Up
- 3h 24m
- DIN 33466
- Time Down
- 2h 17m
- DIN 33466 · same way back
Start at the Donard Park car park at the southern end of Newcastle (about 20 m), with toilets. Walk uphill beside the Glen River through Scots pine, oak and birch, crossing to the far bank at the first of three bridges; for about 400 m the path runs above a deep riverbed where the bank overhangs, then crosses back at the second bridge. At the third bridge cross the forest road and follow the rough track towards the mountains, with fenced forest on the right, to a gate and stile. Above the forest the path follows the river for about 2 km up the open valley, passing the old ice house, then crosses it and climbs to the saddle between Slieve Donard and Slieve Commedagh (about 590 m), where it meets the Mourne Wall. Turn left and climb steeply beside the wall, largely on pitched granite steps that are slippery when wet, to the summit (849 m), with the small stone tower on the wall and the remains of the Great Cairn. Return the same way, keeping close to the wall down to the saddle. Do not try to descend directly towards Newcastle: the Eagle Rocks cliffs on Donard's north side have steep approaches. The summit is exposed and much colder and windier than the town.
Start
Donard Park6 m
- Translink buses from Belfast to Newcastle; Donard Park is a short walk from the town centre
- Parking at the trailhead
Stages
| Day | Stage | km | m ascent | m descent | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Donard Park → Slieve Donard | 4.8 | 842 | 0 | 3h 24m |
Waypoints
- Parking: Donard Park6 m
Large free car park with toilets
- Summit: Slieve Donard849 m
Key Passages
- Overhanging riverbank above the Glen River
- Open valley to the saddle
- Steep pitched climb beside the Mourne Wall
Equipment
0/5 packedDownloads
Route confidence 80%Overview
The highest mountain in Northern Ireland and Ulster (850 m), rising straight from the sea above Newcastle in the Mourne Mountains. The Mourne Wall runs over its summit, where a Neolithic passage tomb, the highest known in Britain and Ireland, still survives as a low cairn.
Slieve Donard stands at the north-eastern corner of the Mourne Mountains in County Down, less than 3 km from the shore at Newcastle, so almost every metre of its height is climbed. Its granite slopes carry the Glen River valley to the north, the Bloody Bridge valley to the south-east and the steep Eagle Rocks cliffs facing the town. The Mourne Wall, a 2 m dry-stone wall linking fifteen summits, climbs over the top, where a small stone tower stands beside the remains of two prehistoric cairns.
The two classic routes, from Donard Park via the Glen River and from Bloody Bridge on the coast road, are straightforward but steep, with 800 m or more of ascent on eroded, partly pitched paths. In clear weather the summit view takes in Belfast Lough, the Isle of Man, Slieve Gullion and, on the best days, the mountains of Wicklow, Wales and Scotland.
The mountain is popular year-round; the Mourne Wall is a reliable handrail in mist, but the summit is exposed and often cold and windy, and winter can bring snow and ice.
Climbing Notes
A hill day of 4–5 hours with about 830 m of ascent from near sea level. The Glen River route is the most popular and easiest to follow; the Bloody Bridge route is quieter and includes a river crossing that can be impassable after heavy rain. Wear boots with good grip for the wet granite steps, carry warm and waterproof layers even in summer, and in mist use the Mourne Wall as a handrail back to the saddle. Avoid the Eagle Rocks cliffs on the north side.
Most Mourne routes are not public rights of way; land below about 180 m is mainly private farmland, so keep to established paths and keep dogs on leads. In winter, snow drifts can build beside the wall and microspikes or crampons may be needed.
History
The Irish name Sliabh Dónairt means 'Dónairt's mountain', after Saint Donard (Domhanghart), by tradition a 5th-century follower of Saint Patrick who lived as a hermit on the summit and is said to guard the mountain still. Earlier names were Beann Boirche and Sliabh Slángha. The Great Cairn at the summit is probably a Neolithic passage tomb (3300–3000 BC), and the Lesser Cairn 210 m to the north-east an Early Bronze Age cairn; an annual late-July pilgrimage to the summit continued until the 1830s. Royal Engineers camped on the summit for months in 1826 for the Principal Triangulation, damaging the cairns; two men died in a snowstorm on the descent. The Mourne Wall was built between 1904 and 1922 to enclose the catchment of the Silent Valley reservoirs. In April 2021 a large gorse fire burned on the eastern slopes for three days.
Season
Best May–Jun- January: Possible
- February: Possible
- March: Good
- April: Good
- May: Best (best window)
- June: Best (best window)
- July: Good
- August: Good
- September: Best
- October: Good
- November: Possible
- December: Possible
- Jan
- Snow and ice possible beside the wall; short days
- Feb
- Winter conditions possible
- Mar
- Variable
- Apr
- Longer days; Easter crowds
- May
- Long days, often dry
- Jun
- Long days
- Jul
- Busy; Donard Park fills at weekends
- Aug
- Busy holiday season
- Sep
- Often settled, quieter
- Oct
- Wetter, shorter days
- Nov
- Wet and windy, short days
- Dec
- Short days; snow possible
Access & Permits
- Rules
- Most Mourne routes are not public rights of way; land below about 180 m is largely private farmland and access depends on landowner goodwill
- Dogs must be kept on leads
- Avoid the Eagle Rocks cliffs on the north side
- Getting There
Newcastle (County Down)
Belfast City (BHD) or Belfast International (BFS)
- Translink buses from Belfast to Newcastle; Donard Park is a short walk south of the town centre
- By car: Donard Park car park at the south end of Newcastle; Bloody Bridge car park on the A2, 3 km south towards Kilkeel
Hazards
- Weather
- River crossing