|
 Log in |
Register
|
|
|
Fieldnotes
| The Mountains of Mourne, Co. Down – Area Overview First of my notes on my Homeland (promise). I've been meaning to get around to contributing for a while, considering that I was born and breed in the area (before settling in Bayern, Deutschland) & have started on the research trail. First an overview of this proud & beautiful Kingdom. These wild steep-sided granite hills, made famous the world over in a Percey French song (..."where the Mountains of Mourne sweep down to the sea") present an unforgettable aspect. They reach to an average height of about 600m and are largely inaccessable except with a good pair of walking boots, the ring road & one road through the Deers Meadow right in the middle of it all. Get yerself 1 map... OS of Northern Ireland „Mourne Country – Outdoor Pursuits Map, ISBN 1-873819-07-2. It's got all ya need a easy to pick up in bookshops in Kilkeel, Warrenpoint or Newcastle. Lots of sites of interest in the area – from Antiquarian (eg. Kilfeaghan Dolmen with it's 40 ton cap-stone) through to the early Church & the Norman's ( Greencastle Castle 1260 CE ) – if ya'll feel like getting/stayin' fit it's got some of the top Hill Walks in Ireland. So if ya want to explore the Mourne area, i'd recommend that you stay in Carlingford Town, which is just over the County Louth, a day is needed for this place alone. Amazing seafood ....plus 2 castles, Royal Mint, most of the ancient town walls, 2 ancient Churches, lots of character & to top it off the best view of the Mournes....EVER! Rostrover village is another good option, very charming & bloody great pubs. But don't stay in Newcastle, it's the main tourist centre & very tacky, however the beach & Murlough National Nature Reserve do deserve a visit. The highest mountain in the Mournes & Ulster is Slieve Donard ( 852 m) – safe & easy climb & on a good day you'll get a view of what looks like the whole of Ireland, West Scotland, Wales, Cumbria, etc. At one time the mountains were a remote and ungovernable area inhabited by smugglers, now it's just windsweep & very rugged farmers who you won't understand as the old Mourne spek ( as we call it ) is absolutly crazy. Theirs hundreds & thousands of miles of ancient tracks going in all directions through open moorland and upland pastures, which make excellent walking country. The upper sections of the Mounrne Mountains are all characterised by wee fields with dry-stone walls – a custom which remains very strong to this day. Check out the Mourne Wall, it's the largest, 35km long and 2m high, which encloses the water catchment of Silent Valley. Slán S |
Posted by Schlager Man 4th February 2002ce Edited 31st October 2010ce
|
Comments (0) |
|
| You must be logged in to add a comment | |
Top of page